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Massive Attack — Unfinished Sympathy
Album: Blue Lines
Avg rating:
7.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2640









Released: 1991
Length: 5:05
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I know that I've been mad in love before
And how it could be with you
Really hurt me, baby, really hurt me, baby
How can you have a day without a night?
You're the book that I have opened
And now I've got to know much more
The curiousness of your potential kiss
Has got my mind and body aching
Really hurt me, baby, really hurt me, baby
How can you have a day without a night?
You're the book that I have opened
And now I've got to know much more

Like a soul without a mind in a body without a heart
I'm missing every part

Like a soul without a mind in a body without a heart
I'm missing every part
Like a soul without a mind in a body without a heart
I'm missing every part
Like a soul without a mind in a body without a heart
I'm missing every part
Comments (101)add comment
as a young child of very nervous parents, I was escorted everywhere by a retired military officer, Sir Albert,a s a reward for good exam results I was given 24 hours to spend alone with friends...... I had a day without a knight......... I'll get my coat
 Mackmoney3000 wrote:

This is 30 years old and still sounds new, which is an achievement on its own


“Unfinished Sympathy" is a song by the English trip hop group Massive Attack. It was released on 11 February 1991under the temporary group name Massive.
Outstanding after all these years 👍
Ahead of its time, genre creating masterpiece 
 Lumpy13 wrote:

This was 1992, people!  This rest of the sheeple in our country were listening to Right Said Fred.



Granted it was a bit of a guilty pleasure, but I liked Right Said Fred! 
Blue Lines, one of my top 10 albums of all time. Perfect
GREAT!  Thanx RP!   
 Lumpy13 wrote:

This was 1992, people!  This rest of the sheeple in our country were listening to Right Said Fred.



Loved these guys and nothing wrong with lovin a bit of Right Said Fred 
 artsoft wrote:
One of my favorite song in my life... I am currently so sad.... about my life, my history, my kids, my wife ... far away from me. My parents, becoming older an older... I dont what happens with me in future. It seems that the future is already gone. I am sending warm regards and heart greetings into this cruel world. I cannot understand people fighting against other people and countries. I am so sad...


Cheer up! The world's consistent. Perpetually churning. This is the challenge of living in a global neighborhood. I have it on good authority things were pretty fucked up for thousands of years before now. One thing about hitting rock bottom - there is no where to go but up. Or you could just stay there.
One of my favorite song in my life... I am currently so sad.... about my life, my history, my kids, my wife ... far away from me. My parents, becoming older an older... I dont what happens with me in future. It seems that the future is already gone. I am sending warm regards and heart greetings into this cruel world. I cannot understand people fighting against other people and countries. I am so sad...
The best English band EVER.

You heard...


 jef wrote:

Rootin Tootin Putin's fave band....



Then Putin's got good taste in music.
Rootin Tootin Putin's fave band....
 khardog145 wrote:

I had never heard of them & my son turned me onto this approx. 2008.  I was blown away.  



How I missed out on these guys back in the 90s is beyond me. I remember seeing the album cover but must have thought it was rap.
BAM - Solid 10
Amazing vocals by Shara Nelson. I'm sad it took multiple clicks through wikipedia to figure that out!
 Lumpy13 wrote:

This was 1992, people!  This rest of the sheeple in our country were listening to Right Said Fred.



I'm to sexy for this comment.
 Mackmoney3000 wrote:
This is 30 years old and still sounds new, which is an achievement on its own
 I feel the same way about "Tomorrow Never Knows" which came 20 years before it in release and one song after it in today's mix!  What a great pair!
This is 30 years old and still sounds new, which is an achievement on its own
 MicMen wrote:
Für mich gibt s nichts schöneres...
 
einverstanden 
Für mich gibt s nichts schöneres...
the album/cd cover is a D.O.T. violation
I love the video to this song....
I had never heard of them & my son turned me onto this approx. 2008.  I was blown away.  
doesn't get better....
best Bristol boys ever
 Donar wrote:


Definitely and this one is a masterpiece i think.
 
Right?  Not bad for a debut album either, and wow, 1991 seems like AGES ago (my freshman year of HS)
I've been at an 8 for awhile on this one, maybe I'll go to 9 one day....not today....Long Live RP!!
This reminds me of a Prodigy song but I can't put my finger on it. Is anyone else having the same impression and can point me to the source?
During the first Gulf War of 1991 Massive Attack changed their name into Massive.

Don't no for sure...
 Alastair wrote:
One of the few bands that genuinely moved music on. You can hear their influence in so many other acts to this day.     
 

Definitely and this one is a masterpiece i think.
 ckevin63 wrote:
Sounds like Banksy.
 

We all know 3D is not Banksy.
You were ill informed if you think he is.


...No I'm not going to tell you who he is.
Always reminds me of my first time in a club.
The whole day was amazing.
rattles shakes...
One of the few bands that genuinely moved music on. You can hear their influence in so many other acts to this day.     
 ckevin63 wrote:
Sounds like Banksy.

 
Not really for me.. I'd say Banksy sounds like a mix of The Clash with Manu Chao.
Sounds like Banksy.
Sublime for ever
Still sounds so good after all these years.{#Clap}
easy 10.  Surprised my CD still plays as was played to death when this came out.
 Sjaaks wrote:
Still can see the woman walking down the street in the music video... {#Smile}
 

What a brilliant video. Memorable.
 jukes1 wrote:
Hymn Of The Big Wheel - 10

this song...? not-so-much 

 
de gustibus....
Hymn is mediocre at best for me but this is +100
{#Crown} 
always loved the arrangement on this song ! zesty
This is a great late nite tune, but I'll still take it on a Wednesday morning here in Chicago.  After all, it's late nite somewhere in the world right now.
Superb.  There's nothing wrong with Shara Nelson's solo album from that era, either.
awesome
Nice to hear this again. RP must have so many high ranking songs, please continue to play the favorites.
 The_Walrus wrote:
Just sublime, one of the best ever

 
100 percent agree! Still got goosebumps after all this years.
Just sublime, one of the best ever
 katiecopstick wrote:
If there was a God this would be his intro music
 

 
{#Clap}
I was living in Bristol in 1991.  Thank you Massive Attack for the great memories and to R.P. for bringing them back.
I'm hearing some new variety in the music, Bill...
Thanks for that!
Change is GOOD!  {#Hearteyes} 
 omersegev wrote:
Masterpiece.

Listened to the album non stop while serving the Army... 

 
US Army? Thank you for your service.

BTW, love this song...reminds me of another great album from the same era, Pet Shop Boys' "Behaviour"......wonderfully moody album.


I have always loved this song. Also the 1shot video is amazing...
Whoa.  Is this really from 1991?  

Good song, but there are much better on the album, IMO.   
Nice  Vocal
Masterpiece.

Listened to the album non stop while serving the Army... 
 Patricula wrote:
I actually checked to see if any of the browser windows I had up was playing a looping banner ad that was playing at the same time of this song. 
Holy cow was this song (checks my spelling...) cacophonous and discordant!

 
It seems like a pretty standard "trip-hop" kind of dance tune with some sampling added.  I don't hear any specific cacophony or discord, but I guess it depends on one's definitions of those words.  I tend to prefer literal definitions.
Very Moby-ish.
If there was a God this would be his intro music
 
Hymn Of The Big Wheel - 10

this song...? not-so-much 

I may have said this before, but, man, my little tube amp loves this.....
People rating this sucko-barfo....you have "ishoos"...try to deal with 'em...huh?
One of those songs that sound great when are listened early in the morning.
 peter_james_bond wrote:
Still amazing! Love those strings with the trip hop beat.{#Music}
 

Groovy still.
Very good stuff. I like this.

Sounds like Sophie B Hawkins is back...
The two, Unfinished Symphony and Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover could be bookends ...
Amazon link should help RP overhead...


Ouch.
 Patricula wrote:
I actually checked to see if any of the browser windows I had up was playing a looping banner ad that was playing at the same time of this song. 
Holy cow was this song (checks my spelling...) cacophonous and discordant!
 
I checked my iTunes to see if it had hiccuped and was playing one of the (not very good) songs I occasionally download only because they're free.
Since I'm listening with just one ear bud (left ear), this sounds quite odd.....
Are they sampling a Jon Bonham drum line (cut short) from L.Z.III = Immigration Song... no can't be.

I don't want to like it, but I can't help myself. Some depth here.
obligatory to show up on this decade 90's revival
Way ahead of their time.
 Lumpy13 wrote:
This was 1992, people!  This rest of the sheeple in our country were listening to Right Said Fred.
 

They both could easily fit in the same format. This is really bad. Not Massive Attack, I usually like them, but this song.... Oy vay!!{#Puke}

I never really got this. It was on several best of the decade lists, but I always found it a bit "meh!"
This song is just brilliant - turn the volume up
This song is the Bohiemn Raposdy of Dance music.  Simply fantastic and timeless

A Master piece 
Every time this tune comes up on my playlist, I think "How did Moby get into here??".  Definitely not my favorite from this album.
This was 1992, people!  This rest of the sheeple in our country were listening to Right Said Fred.
A classic of the early 90's.
Thank you, Bill, wherever you are!
 Bridieboo wrote:
Fantastic!!  I wish all the guys in Massive Attack were still recording.  Great video for this song.

They are see  https://massiveattack.com/
Wonderful! Probably my favourite song of the 90s. Love Massive Attack - also more Shara Nelson please Bill!

Still can see the woman walking down the street in the music video... {#Smile}

 peter_james_bond wrote:
Still amazing! Love those strings with the trip hop beat.{#Music}
 

me, pareil
 ZedLeppelin wrote:

It's Shara Nelson.

 
It's Yucky.  Too squeaky and missing subtle tones.

 Patricula wrote:
I actually checked to see if any of the browser windows I had up was playing a looping banner ad that was playing at the same time of this song. 
Holy cow was this song (checks my spelling...) cacophonous and discordant!
 
Well....it is unfinished. {#Wink}
This gets a pass since its Massive Attack, but I can't say I really care for it.
Fantastic!!  I wish all the guys in Massive Attack were still recording.  Great video for this song.

I actually checked to see if any of the browser windows I had up was playing a looping banner ad that was playing at the same time of this song. 
Holy cow was this song (checks my spelling...) cacophonous and discordant!

...widely considered to be progenitors of the genre known as trip hop
 bam23 wrote:
The drumming rather distracts, for me. Maybe rock does not always need a drum kit working away all the time. Just maybe.

 
In 1991 this drumtrack pattern has been absolutely hip. ;) Ok nowadays it sounds a bit "outmoded". But its still a massive track though.


 newwavegurly wrote:
Who is the female vocalist in this one? Does anyone know?
 
It's Shara Nelson.

Ugh. This is hideous!
Who is the female vocalist in this one? Does anyone know?
 mblake wrote:
The track Unfinished Symphony is from the album Blue Lines, not Protection.
 

Yep...this is the song that really got me into Massive Attack way back in the day. Have never grown tired of this one...
_always_ glad to hear the Massive
great set!
Still amazing! Love those strings with the trip hop beat.{#Music}
I usually like Massive Attack fairly well, but this is sorta lame. I agree with the comment that the drum machine is annoying.
The track Unfinished Symphony is from the album Blue Lines, not Protection.
The drumming rather distracts, for me. Maybe rock does not always need a drum kit working away all the time. Just maybe.