The W's: The Devil Is Bad
The W's ir kristīgu mūziķu grupa, kas spēlē ska/svinga stilā. Tā dibināta 1996.gadā Oregonas Valsts universitātē ASV, bet populāra kļuva pēc sava pirmā albuma Fourth from the Last iznākšanas 1998.gadā. Viņu mūzikas swing pop stils, miksēts ar ska skaņām, radīja līdz tam vēl nedzirdētu unikālu skanējumu kristīgās mūzikas industrijā. Grupas dziesmas ātri vien nonāca kristīgo radiostaciju un pārdošanas reitingu augšējās ailītēs, tika apbalvotas ar divām Gospelmūzikas asociācijas Dove balvām.
The W’s dibinātāji ir četri puiši – Andrew Schar [vokāls, ģitāra], Valentine Hellman [tenorsaksafons, klarnete], Todd “The Rodd” Gruener [basģitāra] un Zak Shultz [bungas]. 1997.gada nogalē Shultz grupu atstāja, taču viņa vietā stājās jauni dalībnieki – Bret Barker [trompete], James Carter [alta saksafons, fona vokāls] un Brian Morris [bungas].
1997.gada nogalē The W’s piedalījās tolaik jau populārās kristīgās ska grupas Five Iron Frenzy koncertu atklāšanā un albuma prezentācijā, kur viņus ievēroja ierakstu kompānijas Five Minute Walk Records pārstāvis. Drīz vien klajā nāca arī The W’s debijas albums Fourth From the Last, kas jau pirmajā pārdošanas nedēļā aizkļuva līdz 4.vietai Billboard karstāko hītu un mūsdienu kristīgās mūzikas čārtos. 1999.gadā albums ieguva Dove balvu nominācijā “Gada labākais modernā roka albums”, bet dziesma The Devil Is Bad saņēma balvu nominācijā “Gada labākā dziesma modernā roka stilā”.
Grupa daudz ceļoja pa ASV, uzstādamās tādu kristīgās mūzikas zvaigžņu kā dc Talk, Jennifer Knapp, Five Iron Frenzy un Soul-Junk koncertu atklāšanā. 1999.gada nogalē klajā nāca viņu otrais studijas albums Trouble With X, kas arī ieguva kritikas un klausītāju labvēlību. Lielā mērā pateicoties arī The W’s mūzikai, visā Amerikā uzplauka tā sauktā swing revival kustība un šis mūzikas žanrs kļuva ārkārtīgi populārs.
2000.gadā grupa turpināja aktīvi koncertēt un gatavojās sava trešā albuma ierakstam. Diemžēl tas tā arī nekad neieraudzīja dienas gaismu, jo 2000.gada decembrī The W’s mūziķi paziņoja, ka pārtrauc kopdarbu.
The W’s diskogrāfija:
1998 The Echoing Green/The W's Split EP [dažas grupas dziesmas albuma otrajā daļā]
1998 Fourth from the Last
1999 Trouble With X
She was walking in the garden one day
When a snake slithered round her feet
Follow me right over to this tree
And I'll give you something good to eat
I don't know, are you sure? I don't think it is right
It doesn't matter just open your mouth and take a tasty bite
She said to him I think it's a sin but boy does it look right
He said to her just take my word
And I promise that you'll see the light
Why don't you skidilly-dee?
'Cause I don't wanna see your face round here no more
Why don't you skidilly-doo?
'Cause this is now and that was before
Cause you are the devil and the devil is bad (hey!),
you are the devil and the devil is bad (hey!),
you are the devil and the devil is bad (hey!),
you are the devil and you are bad
The tempter met him in the desert one day
Are You the Son of God?
Turn these stones into wholesome bread
And make your hunger stop
Even though his hunger had grown real strong
He turned and simply replied
Man does not live on bread alone but on the word of God.
Turn from him and worship me
And the kingdoms of the world are yours
Away from me with your evil ways
'Cause I worship and I serve only God
Why don't you skidilly-dee?
'Cause I don't wanna see your face round here no more
Why don't you skidilly-doo?
'Cause this is now and that was before
Cause you are the devil and the devil is bad (hey!),
you are the devil and the devil is bad (hey!),
you are the devil and the devil is bad (hey!),
you are the devil and you are bad
She was walking in the garden one day
When a snake slithered round her feet
Follow me right over to this tree
And I'll give you something good to eat
I don't know, are you sure? I don't think it is right
It doesn't matter just open your mouth and take a tasty bite
She said to him I think it's a sin but boy does it look right
He said to her just take my word
And I promise that you'll see the light
Why don't you skidilly-dee?
'Cause I don't wanna see your face round here no more
Why don't you skidilly-doo?
'Cause this is now and that was before
Cause you are the devil and the devil is bad (hey!),
you are the devil and the devil is bad (hey!),
you are the devil and the devil is bad (hey!),
you are the devil and you are bad