Aye Davanita

Album: Vitalogy (1994)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Aye Davanita" sounds like it might be a kirtan designed to bring the listener toward enlightenment, but it's really just gibberish, with the band messing around in the studio and lead singer Eddie Vedder making random wordless sounds.

    It's one of two interludes on Pearl Jam's third album, Vitalogy, along with "Pry, To." Guitarist Stone Gossard had the idea to insert these, which in the world of hip-hop were quite common. The rock band that got Gossard's attention with it is Urge Overkill, which put interludes on their 1993 album Saturation.
  • By this time, Pearl Jam fans had a good handle on the band's values and musical identity, but the media often portrayed them as angsty and joyless. There was also a lot of discussion about the meanings behind their songs and what Eddie Vedder was even singing. "Aye Davanita" pokes fun, with words that really are indecipherable in a song with no message.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.