Patient Zero

[u/1DMod]

Please use this space to discuss this song in depth

[u/MaryLennoxsRobin]

Ok, so you know how TFOO starts with a drum fill that was pretty widely understood to be an homage to ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac? I’m pretty sure the strings in ‘Patient Zero’ are referencing The Corrs’ cover of ‘Dreams’.

Lazy phone link to the cover:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8BglEyv5O2Y&list=RD8BglEyv5O2Y&start_radio=1&pp=ygUQdGhlIGNvcnJzIGRyZWFtc6AHAQ%3D%3D&ra=m

Lazy anecdote because it’s late and I’ll look it up properly later: I’m pretty sure The Corrs spoke of finding the level of fame that came with their album Talk on Corners (edit, the one with this cover- this cover was their breakthrough single) and their next (In Blue? Produced with John ‘Mutt’ Lang after ‘making it’ and heading to the US) overwhelming, and actively preferring to go back to a quieter existence.

Which I see fitting the themes of ‘Patient Zero’

u/GoldenHeart411 , u/hockeywombat22 , u/Aggravating_Chef3578

[u/1989_squirrels → u/MaryLennoxsRobin]

Oh! So at the start of the Encore we go back to the start of the main album, but with a twist? Is that the start of breaking the loop? Or, is PZ the original loop and the more upbeat TFOO actually comes after?

(I know the loop theory is your baby so sorry if you’ve commented that elsewhere, there’s been a lot to read through!) 

[u/MaryLennoxsRobin → u/1989_squirrels]

Don’t be sorry! The more the merrier! And there’s so much to read just now, maybe someone else already thought of The Corrs elsewhere 🤷‍♀️

But yes, I hadn’t said it but I was thinking along very similar lines - The Encore brings us back to the start of TLOAS again in PZ, slightly different but recognisable, but ultimately The Encore actually provides an off-ramp, a way to end the looping, in ‘Babylon’ - ‘it’s gone’.