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Dellinger

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Posted: November 11 2017 at 21:27

It's an OK song, I guess... even a good one. But not much more than that.

Larkstongue41 View Drop Down

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Posted: November 11 2017 at 20:54

Most people say yes??????

Definitely not Oldfield's best piece although I'd say it's his best pop song.

I never liked it but I must admit I enjoy listening to it right now. Bandwagon bias? Maybe.

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DeadSouls

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Posted: November 11 2017 at 20:33

Best song ever.

Walkscore

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Posted: November 11 2017 at 20:17

On the issue of great Mike Oldfield songs, while I love all the tunes and albums that have been mentioned, there are three really interesting songs you should check out if you don't know them. These aren't necessarily his best songs, but there are up there among a special list of really moving pieces, and I think provide a window on Oldfield's own psyche.

The first is "No Dream" from Oldfield's album 'Heaven's Open'. The album is actually quite poor, but the interesting thing about this album is that Mike Oldfield sings all the songs, unlike other albums in which he brings in other singers. This particular song is really interesting, in that Oldfield is talking about himself, and it is really awesome musically. The other two are from his more recent album 'Man on the Rocks'. While again, this is not an album that most will write home about, the tunes "Castaway" and "Nuclear" are really awesome, really emotional, and speak to his feelings from his marital breakup (Castaway is also a double-entendre, in that he was cast away, but also he moved to the Bahamas and so is like an island castaway in that sense). Really from-the-heart gut-wrenching tracks.

kenethlevine View Drop Down

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Posted: November 11 2017 at 20:16

Hercules wrote:

It's a great song, but To France is better, as is Family Man (though he didn't write that on his own), Shadow on the Wall and Heaven's Open.

Personally, I think Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn are far inferior to the period from QE2 to Discovery.

I agree it's a great song and one of my favourites. BUT my fave Oldfield single is definitely the incredible "Pictures in the Dark" from 1985. And I would probably put "Crime of Passion" just ahead of Moonlight Shadow even though it's basically a testosterone counterpart to MS. "To France" is also great, and so is "Heaven's Open".

I agree that his peak period was precisely QE2 thru Discovery, though I don't think it is vastly better than the TB thru Ommadawn

Hercules

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Posted: November 11 2017 at 17:25

It's a great song, but To France is better, as is Family Man (though he didn't write that on his own), Shadow on the Wall and Heaven's Open.

Personally, I think Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn are far inferior to the period from QE2 to Discovery.

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The.Crimson.King View Drop Down

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Posted: November 11 2017 at 16:09

I've always loved Moonlight Shadow...my fave Oldfield song ever Wink

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Squonk19

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Posted: November 11 2017 at 15:37

Prefer 'Northern Lights' by Renaissance - that's close to pop/prog perfection.

Don't mind 'Moonlight Shadow' but still prefer 'On Horseback', 'In Dulce Jubilo' or even 'Portsmouth' of his shorter pieces - although I draw the line with the 'Blue Peter' Theme!

Edited by Squonk19 - November 11 2017 at 15:42

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someone_else View Drop Down

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Posted: November 11 2017 at 15:32

Apparently I'm a cheesehead...

Vompatti

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Posted: November 11 2017 at 14:22

It's pretty much a perfect pop song without any of the cheese that's rampant on his longer pieces, so I would say yes.

Poll Question: Is it unironically the best piece of music Mike Oldfield ever wrote?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Yes	9	[27.27%]
No	24	[72.73%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted