Guaranteed

Guaranteed may refer to:

Guaranteed (Level 42 album)

Guaranteed is the ninth studio album by the British musical group Level 42, released in 1991, their first album of the 1990s. The album was released by RCA records and it was the first Level 42 studio album released by a label other than Polydor.

Overview

Guaranteed was the first Level 42 album without a songwriting contribution from former member Boon Gould (who had contributed lyrics to some songs for the 1988 album Staring at the Sun following his departure from the band). Several songs were co-written with lyricists Drew Barfield and George M. Green. Guaranteed was also the first Level 42 album to be released following the death of guitarist Alan Murphy (who had taken over from Gould for Staring at the Sun and related tours).

The lineup credits for the album listed all of the musicians involved rather than clearly defining the separation between band and guest players. This reflected the ongoing personnel shifts within the band. All cover art and inlay photos implied that the band consisted of Mark King, Mike Lindup and Gary Husband plus a guitarist, but was less clear on the latter's identity—inlay photos featured Allan Holdsworth while cover artwork featured Jakko Jakszyk. In practise, Holdsworth (who had played with the band during its recent London residency at the Hammersmith Apollo) only contributed electric guitar solos to five of the album's songs in the studio—"Seven Years", "A Kinder Eye", "She Can't Help Herself", "If You Were Mine" and "With A Little Love". Band associate Dominic Miller contributed all rhythm guitar work (as he had done for Staring at the Sun). Jakszyk (formerly with 64 Spoons and a top session guitarist) played no part in recording the album, but was hired for touring and promotional work and hence featured in the album artwork and the promotional video clips for "Guaranteed", "Overtime" and "My Father's Shoes".

Guaranteed (Eddie Vedder song)

"Guaranteed" is a song written and performed by Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder from the Into the Wild soundtrack (2007). It is the final track on the album, and also features a hidden track of "Guaranteed" (Humming Vocal) after about two minutes of silence following the regular version of "Guaranteed".

Lyrics

Like the other songs on the soundtrack, "Guaranteed" is based on the story of American wanderer Christopher McCandless. After graduating as a top student from Emory University in 1990, McCandless decided to give up all of his savings and money and travel across the United States. In April 1992, McCandess hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness with little food and equipment, hoping to live a period of solitude. Nearly five months later, he died of starvation near Denali National Park and Preserve. Director Sean Penn said that as soon as he heard the song he "just felt that for sure this is the musical voice of (actor) Emile (Hirsch's) character."Eddie Vedder has said that the lyrics "Don't come closer or I'll have to go/Owning me like gravity are places that pull/If ever there was someone to keep me at home/It would be you" are for McCandless' sister, Carine.