Album: Zen Arcade
Year: 1984
(Mould)
Kicking off with a stuttering drumbeat and a glistening tornado of a guitar riff that sprays from the speakers like sparks, “Whatever” is a quantum leap in Bob Mould’s songwriting, yet another reason that side three of Zen Arcade is so fucking superior.
Just listen to how Greg Norton’s bass switches from ominous to hook-filled as Grant Hart punctuates the verses with quick little drum rolls that explode against the guitars again and again and again, never once losing the lightspeed forward momentum.
These dudes could play!
And yet, with a song as gorgeous and cathartic as “Whatever,” their virtuosity feels like a given, because you get so immersed in the song itself, especially on the bridge, where Mould channels an ocean of pain and rage and sadness:
Mom and dad, I’m sorry
Mom and dad, don’t worry
I’m not the son you wanted but what could you expect?
I’ve made my world of happiness to combat your neglect
After that bridge there’s an extended instrumental break: not a solo, per se, more like the Hüskers giving us both a moment to think on what Mould just sang, as well as a slight break from all of the intensity. But only a slight break, as the song skids into a break — Grant Hart taking just a bit of a rest — and Mould apologizes to his parents once again, as the song speeds toward its conclusion.
Which is the chorus repeated over and over and over again.
Whatever you want
Whatever you do
Wherever you go
Whatever you say
Whatever you want
Whatever you do
Wherever you go
Whatever you say
Whatever you do
Wherever you go
Whatever you say
Whatever you want
Whatever you do
Wherever you go
Whatever you say
Over and over and over, with Hart and Mould’s vocals getting crazier and crazier, and overlapping with each other in an absolute frenzy over and over and over whatever you want whatever you do, even as the all of the music stops except for the sustain on Mould’s guitar over and over and over wherever you go whatever you say until “Whatever” just completely exhausts itself and collapses into a heap on the floor.
In an era where “What-EVER” was a term of sarcasm and coolness, Hüsker Dü instead made that word the focus of one of their most sincere and intense songs.
“Whatever”
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