Forty Six & 2
"Forty Six & 2" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Tool | ||||
from the album Ænima | ||||
Released | January 5, 1998 | |||
Genre | Alternative metal, progressive metal | |||
Length | 6:03 | |||
Label | Freeworld Entertainment | |||
Songwriter(s) | Danny Carey, Justin Chancellor, Adam Jones, Maynard James Keenan | |||
Tool singles chronology | ||||
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"Forty Six & 2" is a song by the American progressive metal band Tool. It was released as the fourth single from their third major label release Ænima in 1997 and received radio airplay.[1]
Title and theme
Popular belief dictates that the song title references an idea first conceived by Carl Jung and later expounded upon by Drunvalo Melchizedek concerning the possibility of reaching a state of evolution at which the body would have two more than the normal 46 total chromosomes and leave a currently disharmonious state.[2][3] The premise is that humans would deviate from the current state of human DNA which contains 44 autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes. The next step of evolution would likely result in human DNA being reorganized into 46 autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes, according to Melchizedek.
Furthermore, it is believed the song references a wish to experience change through the "shadow"; an idea which represents the parts of one's identity that one hates, fears, and represses, this exists as a recurring theme in the work of Carl Jung.[4]
The song is mostly in 4/4 time with some sections of 7/8 in between. In the intro, Danny Carey plays 4 measures of 7/8 on his ride cymbal over the rest of the band playing in 4/4, and they all meet up on the downbeat of the 5th measure in 4/4. During the bridge there are 3 measures of 7/8 followed by one measure of 4/4. During a particular quad fill, the drums are in 3/8, the guitar plays one measure of 9/8 followed by one in 5/8 all while the bass keeps time in 7/8.[5]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Forty Six & 2" | 6:03 |
Chart performance
Chart (1998) | Peak
positionL |
---|---|
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[6] | 22 |
References
- ^ Akhtar, Kabir (July 16, 2001). "The Tool FAQ: G25". The Tool Page. Retrieved April 24, 2007.
- ^ Cross, Alan. "Tool" Archived October 21, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. The Ongoing History of New Music. Corus Radio. September 30, 2001. "At our current level, according to this dude, our chromosomal composition can be expressed as “44 & 2" That’s a disharmonic state of consciousness, we need to add those two new chromosomes, hence '46&2.'"
- ^ Lewis Goldberg (June 1, 2006). "Finnegans Shake". New Times Broward-Palm Beach. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
- ^ The Tool FAQ, G36.
- ^ http://www.toolnavy.com/archive/index.php/t-964.html
- ^ "Tool Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.