"Precious" is the first single off Defiance Part 2 and reminds me of Arms and Legs with a figure staring into a mirror. Here the object of the song does not have a precious moment and it seems to be about intelligence with a reference to Mensa and cool ending. The object of the song ends up in a hall of mirrors with an ambiguous musical ending. Interesting song that does not grab you at first but it has a depth to it and it sinks in.
The artist looks in a mirror and there:"Ain't no magna cum laude staring back at me." Hunter sings in a self-depreciating manner that he falls below the standard required but it only takes a minute of your precious time to consider him. The perspective seems to shift to address another unnamed person such as a lover, parent, or friend to just take a minute or two of their precious time; for his part, Hunter would go to any lengths to respond yet the other will not positively respond with giving him their time. A bit more clarity is provided as the song unfolds since it's not a matter of "alpha or beta" indicating the other is a male figure. There is no "mensa" or "genius" there. At the end of the song the singer returns to the mirror image but it's a "whole other mirror" and it's laughing at the singer. He seems to be saying that this male figure would not give him the time of day but then the mirror of life mocks him after struggling against this unnamed male figure.
‘Precious’, which features the late lamented Taylor Hawkins, Joe Elliott and Brian May. I may sound like a stuck record here, but it’s another classic Hunter track, it could really only ever have been penned by him.
- Precious
Taylor Hawkins: Drums
Brian May: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Bass
Joe Elliott: Background Vocals
James Mastro: Sax Abuse
Ian Hunter: Piano
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