A snippet of "Bitter Sweet" from the "GONE WILD II" double album released in 2009

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Bitter Sweet (5:25)
(R.Smith, M.Sturgess)
(c)Polar Music New Zealand / Bourbonite Studio's 2007-2009

- Rob Smith - Lead & Backing Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards, Drum Programming
- Richard Anderson - Lead & Backing Vocals
- Matt Sturgess - Bass Guitar

Vocal Arrangements: Rob Smith & Richard Anderson
Musical Arrangements: Rob Smith & Matt Sturgess

Written & Recorded at:
Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand
Bourbonite Studio's, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand

Richard:
This is one of those songs that we didn't know how it was going to shape up, in the end I think it turned out better than what we might have otherwise planned it...sometimes things happen in the studio that take a song to a whole other place, which was indeed the case with this song and one or two others as well. My lead vocal on this track is one of my favourites of my own voice (of course Rob's is always great!). It was a pleasure to have been asked to help out with a bit of singing on
this one, all round i think this is one of our steadiest new tracks...it really does it for me this one. Lyrically Rob went to a whole other place than is sometimes his norm, it's definitely GW in all its glory on this baby.

Rob:
"Bitter Sweet" lyrically came from some conversation Richard and I were having through e-mail, (we're prone to come up with a few ideas that way) anyway, I sat down and wrote the lyric, and then thought "wow!" this is one of my better lyrics", (a famous Robbie Williams line) I also had an idea going that I kept on playing on the guitar when ever I picked it up, so I developed that into a two guitar piece, both doing different things but complimenting each other, and "Bitter Sweet" was born. While working on the track, I thought it would suit Richard's voice, and so it turned out to be, as he brings quite a different vibe with his vocal delivery. I like the way his vocal section and mine work well together for the song!

Matt:
This one I used a slap style bass as it needed to punch instead of my normal bass. The chorus went quite melodic for me so I decided on
two bass styles for it. Punchy and smooth all in one. I’m pleased how it came out too. I was impressed with Richard's vocal on this as well it
made the song what it is. Not forgetting to mention also Rob’s brilliant guitar work.

Bitter Sweet (5:25)
(R.Smith, M.Sturgess)
(c)Polar Music New Zealand / Bourbonite Studio's 2007-2009

Bitter sweet
On my tongue
The taste of life
Is so numb

Do I chew it up?
Without a doubt
Take it down
Or spit it out?

Grab the chance
Or play it safe?
Do I sacrifice?
My inner faith

I wonder through darkness without a light
I wonder through light in the darkness
Like the sheep who is lost looking for the shepherd
Should I blame him for my wanderings?
Should I blame others for my misgivings?

The world stops turning
For no-one
Do I grab a hold?
And go along for the ride

Make of it
The best I can
And fight
For what I truely believe

Or will I be purposefully stubborn?
A lost and lonely soul
Going nowhere
Achieving nothing
Hmmmm
Bitter sweet

Do I wander?
Through the people knowing faces
Or do I wander?
Through the faces knowing people

Do I speak?
The words they want me to say
Or do I speak?
The words I want them to hear

Should I discard them?
If they have their own opinions
Or should I embrace?
Their differences

(Guitar Solo)

Bitter sweet
Life and death
There is a taste
On my breath

Did I swallow life?
The best I could
Or did I choke?
Because I should
Hmmm
Bitter sweet