| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
JJLehto 
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Status: Offline
Points: 34550
|
 Posted: May 29 2012 at 18:08 |
 colorofmoney91 wrote:
Progressive rock lyrics have never really gotten to me in an emotional way or whatever. But I don't think people listen to prog for the lyrics, so it barely matters anyway. |
This manrobot speaks truth
|
 |
Alitare
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 08 2008
Location: New York
Status: Offline
Points: 3595
|
Posted: May 29 2012 at 17:11 |
|
Oh give me your lips for just a moment and my imagination will make that moment live. Mmm, give me what you alone can give - a kiss to build a dream on.
|
|
JJLehto
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Status: Offline
Points: 34550
|
Posted: May 29 2012 at 13:09 |
|
Yup
|
|
colorofmoney91
Prog Reviewer
Joined: March 16 2008
Location: Biosphere
Status: Offline
Points: 22774
|
Posted: May 29 2012 at 12:49 |
|
Progressive rock lyrics have never really gotten to me in an emotional way or whatever. But I don't think people listen to prog for the lyrics, so it barely matters anyway.
|
|
|
|
Mr. Maestro
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 05 2010
Location: Knowhere, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 918
|
Posted: May 29 2012 at 11:36 |
For a very long time, I didn't pay much (if any) attention to lyrics - they just weren't a factor for me in enjoying prog. To a great extent, they still aren't, but I think I can now appreciate really good lyrics when I hear them. Discovering VdGG and Peter Hammill probably had a lot to do with that. Anyway, I don't really think prog lyrics tend to be any worse than the lyrics of other genres - it's just much more jarring to hear awful lyrics combined with such sophisticated music as prog.
|
|
"I am the one who crossed through space...or stayed where I was...or didn't exist in the first place...."
|
|
areazione
Forum Groupie
Joined: July 12 2008
Location: Italy
Status: Offline
Points: 47
|
Posted: May 29 2012 at 10:32 |
prog058 wrote:
This could also be called the Fish appreciation thread.
Prog bands, while excelling musically, are often lackluster in the lyrical department.
Most prog musicians probably don't take an interest in language and literature, and this is probably the reason why.
What are your thoughts?
|
I usually don't pay attention to lyrics. When I'm willing to do so, I prefer opera or poetry. Playing the perfect music for the perfect words, and viceversa, is such a divine effort that only a few can achieve entirely. As Churchill once claimed "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time". Stated in different words, "prog lyrics are the worst form of word composition, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time".
|
|
Umbra profunda sumus, ne nos vexetis, inepti; non vos, sed doctos tam grave quaerit opus
|
|
coolerking
Forum Newbie
Joined: May 18 2011
Status: Offline
Points: 6
|
Posted: May 29 2012 at 09:34 |
I remember Q magazine reviewing (I think) Big Generator and they said Jon Anderson's lyrics would struggle to get a pass in A level English.
He definitely comes up with certain phrases that fit beautifully to certain passages of the music but in general I find his lyrics incomprehensible.
|
|
KingCrInuYasha
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 26 2010
Location: USA
Status: Offline
Points: 1281
|
Posted: May 29 2012 at 01:09 |
Alitare wrote:
What the hell is wrong with a solid Roy Orbison single? |
Nothing. "Pretty Woman" is a classic, and no, I'm not talking about the Van Halen version.  That reminds me: one of these days I need to get a decent Roy Orbison comp.
|
|
He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball!
|
|
Alitare
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 08 2008
Location: New York
Status: Offline
Points: 3595
|
Posted: May 28 2012 at 17:48 |
That's a frightening image by itself. I dunno. I believe I've become obsessive over time. My mind breaks it down this way:
I could read a book for six hours. -Why do that when I can play a video game for four? --Who do that when I can watch a film in two? ---Why do that when I can watch an episode of the Twilight Zone in half-an-hour? ----Why do that when I can listen to a 7 minute song? -----Why do that when I can listen to a 2 minute song?
But that is something else. When it comes to lyrics, as with most anything, wasn't Theodore Sturgeon relatively close to the mark? |
|
The Dark Elf
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: February 01 2011
Location: Michigan
Status: Offline
Points: 13049
|
Posted: May 28 2012 at 17:29 |
Alitare wrote:
No, I'm asking. I've been on an interesting music kick lately. |
Well, for one, I think the dyed black hair when he was 80 was a little over the top. 
Other than that, I see nothing wrong with Mr. Orbison. "Blue Bayou" and "Crying" are lovely songs. Not my cup of tea, but I would not deign to tell you what to listen to.
|
|
...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
|
|
Alitare
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 08 2008
Location: New York
Status: Offline
Points: 3595
|
Posted: May 28 2012 at 17:26 |
|
No, I'm asking. I've been on an interesting music kick lately.
|
|
The Dark Elf
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: February 01 2011
Location: Michigan
Status: Offline
Points: 13049
|
Posted: May 28 2012 at 17:24 |
Alitare wrote:
What the hell is wrong with a solid Roy Orbison single? |
I give up, Al. What the hell is wrong with a solid Roy Orbison single?
|
|
...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
|
|
Alitare
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 08 2008
Location: New York
Status: Offline
Points: 3595
|
Posted: May 28 2012 at 17:20 |
|
What the hell is wrong with a solid Roy Orbison single?
|
|
Epignosis
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: December 30 2007
Location: Raeford, NC
Status: Offline
Points: 32524
|
Posted: May 28 2012 at 17:19 |
The Dark Elf wrote:
Epignosis wrote:
Just a friendly warning, but there is a rule against posting full lyrics in the forum. |
But if I edit out all the oh's and ay's the song will only be 30 seconds long. 
p.s. I edited out the last few stanzas. |
|
|
|
|
The Dark Elf
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: February 01 2011
Location: Michigan
Status: Offline
Points: 13049
|
Posted: May 28 2012 at 17:15 |
Epignosis wrote:
Just a friendly warning, but there is a rule against posting full lyrics in the forum. |
But if I edit out all the oh's and ay's the song will only be 30 seconds long.
p.s. I edited out the last few stanzas.
Edited by The Dark Elf - May 28 2012 at 17:16
|
|
...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
|
|
Epignosis
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: December 30 2007
Location: Raeford, NC
Status: Offline
Points: 32524
|
Posted: May 28 2012 at 17:07 |
|
Just a friendly warning, but there is a rule against posting full lyrics in the forum.
|
|
|
|
The Dark Elf
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: February 01 2011
Location: Michigan
Status: Offline
Points: 13049
|
Posted: May 28 2012 at 16:49 |
Really, I think this thread is unfairly targetting prog lyrics. It is far simpler and more to the point to say that rock music, and pop songs in general, contain inane lyrics. offhand, I can think of relatively few prog songs that have lyrics as sophomoric as the following:
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You don't have to go oh oh oh oh oh
You don't have to go oh oh oh oh oh
You don't have to go
Ay ay ay ay ay ay
All those tears I cry ay ay ay ay ay
All those tears I cry ay ay ay ay ay
Baby please don't go.
When I read the letter you wrote
It made me mad mad mad
When I read the news that it brought me
It made me sad sad sad
But I still love you so, I can't let you go
I love you- ooh baby I love you
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Every breath I take oh oh oh oh oh
Every move I make oh oh oh oh oh
Baby please don't go
Ay ay ay ay ay ay
You hurt me to my soul ay ay ay ay ay
You hurt me to my soul ay ay ay ay ay
Darling please don't go....
Edited by The Dark Elf - May 28 2012 at 17:14
|
|
...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
|
|
Epignosis
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: December 30 2007
Location: Raeford, NC
Status: Offline
Points: 32524
|
Posted: May 28 2012 at 16:00 |
ScorchedFirth wrote:
prog058 wrote:
This could also be called the Fish appreciation thread.
|
Damn right, that man knows how to turn a phrase, he understands the power words can have. My other favourite would have to be Peter Hammill. Still life for example, I went and printed out at the library, just because I liked it so much. It really is like poetry, which is especially clear when it's laid out on the page as such.
|
I think you misread the intent of the comment you quoted.
|
|
|
|
ScorchedFirth
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 16 2012
Status: Offline
Points: 257
|
Posted: May 28 2012 at 15:35 |
prog058 wrote:
This could also be called the Fish appreciation thread.
|
Damn right, that man knows how to turn a phrase, he understands the power words can have. My other favourite would have to be Peter Hammill. Still life for example, I went and printed out at the library, just because I liked it so much. It really is like poetry, which is especially clear when it's laid out on the page as such.
|
breathing, eating, defecating, screwing, drinking, spewing, sleeping...
|
|
Arrested Decay
Forum Newbie
Joined: October 13 2011
Status: Offline
Points: 32
|
Posted: January 12 2012 at 18:15 |
|
Her name was Pat,
and we sat
under a treeeee
She kissed meeee~
(Not being hateful, I love that song. I'm just saying.)
|
|
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.
/PAlogo_v2.gif "Progarchives.com Homepage")
Prog often Plagued by Poor Lyrics?
