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YES - Big Generator (1987)
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Hector Enrique View Drop Down
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Points: 727 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (3) Thanks(3)   Quote Hector Enrique Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 23 2024 at 10:26
Of the "minor" albums, so to speak, Big Generator is one of the best, and it seems to me that it is generally underrated. It's not the progressive symphonic style of their glorious era, but "Shoot High Aim Love", "Final Eyes" and "Holy Lamb" are excellent songs. For me it is a good album.
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I remember that there was a video on MTV for Shoot High, Aim Low. Anyone know the meaning of that song. It is a bit of a head scratcher, like Freewill by Rush. “I will choose a path that’s clear! I will choose the ability to choose.” It sounds great, but the logic is a bit lost on me. Maybe someone can enlighten me.

^ Weird Al just gets better and better with age.

Edited by Jaketejas - January 23 2024 at 16:56
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Originally posted by Jaketejas Jaketejas wrote:

I remember that there was a video on MTV for Shoot High, Aim Low. Anyone know the meaning of that song. It is a bit of a head scratcher, like Freewill by Rush. “I will choose a path that’s clear! I will choose the ability to choose.” It sounds great, but the logic is a bit lost on me. Maybe someone can enlighten me.

^ Weird Al just gets better and better with age.


The song, according to Jon Anderson's announcements on many shows of the tour, is about war; specifically, a future in which mankind will live beyond war. In most of these announcements, Anderson explains that the "Bluefields" mentioned in the first line are in Nicaragua. At the time the album was being worked on, a legal battle between the U.S. and Nicaragua had occurred over U.S. aid to anti-government guerrillas. 

Anderson also explains that Trevor Rabin, who performs lead vocals on the song (alternating with Anderson) is singing in "dreamtime", while Anderson is singing in real-time.

Trevor Rabin expained the song's message is "To live beyond war"


Bluefields is the capital of a self-autonomous region of Southern Nicaragua. If you look at a map, you can't go further than the Blue Fields, because you'd drive into the sea.

"We hit the blue fields

(In the blue sedan, we didn't get much further) 
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Points: 1993 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Jaketejas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 23 2024 at 20:48
That reminds me of the sad story of Benjamin Linder.
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Anderson has always had an abstract bent.   But Peart was quite clear in his writings and 'Freewill' is an ode to exactly that: Independent thinking, liberated form any established beliefs, religion, philosophy or politics.   That was still a somewhat novel idea in 1980.
"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."   -- John F. Kennedy
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Originally posted by Jaketejas Jaketejas wrote:

I remember that there was a video on MTV for Shoot High, Aim Low. Anyone know the meaning of that song.

There are actually two things going on at the same time in this song. One reflected in the vocals by Jon Anderson and the other with the vocals by Trevor Rabin.

Andersons part refers to a war in Nicaragua, with reference to Bluefields, a port that was invaded by US marines in 1912.

Rabins part refers to lovers in a car in the same place at some future date.

Sort of a "make love, not war" sentiment.

In my opinion the best explanation of the lyrics is in the song itself.

"Who says there's gotta be a reason?
Who says there's gotta be an answer?" 
I should have been a pair of ragged claws
Scuttling across the floors of uncertain seas
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Points: 12 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote FM1977 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2024 at 06:06
My first post on the forum, so hello, glad to be here. I was searching Trevor Rabin and this post came up first.

Big Generator. I don't consider this a YES album beyond the name and beyond the support the name provided the album. But I do consider it a really great record and the production really furthered my interest in Trevor Rabin as a composer and producer.
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Originally posted by FM1977 FM1977 wrote:

My first post on the forum, so hello, glad to be here. I was searching Trevor Rabin and this post came up first.

Big Generator. I don't consider this a YES album beyond the name and beyond the support the name provided the album. But I do consider it a really great record and the production really furthered my interest in Trevor Rabin as a composer and producer.

Welcome to the PA forums - the Big Generator of debate in The Endless River of Time. Smile
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Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Originally posted by FM1977 FM1977 wrote:

My first post on the forum, so hello, glad to be here. I was searching Trevor Rabin and this post came up first.

Big Generator. I don't consider this a YES album beyond the name and beyond the support the name provided the album. But I do consider it a really great record and the production really furthered my interest in Trevor Rabin as a composer and producer.

Welcome to the PA forums - the Big Generator of debate in The Endless River of Time. Smile


Thank you!
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Originally posted by Jaketejas Jaketejas wrote:

Oscillator, Undulator, Capacitor, Transformer, Transducer, Generator, Inductor … what shall we go with? Let’s go with Generator. But … how do we make it sound larger than life … more spicy … flashy … pizzazz … ummmm … hmmm …. er … Big Generator? That’s it!

Funny thing about the title:

If you watch the 9012Live concert video, the filmmakers incorporate some "pseudo-found-footage" from what seems to be a mid-1960s color-TV show (whether it's authentic or re-created, I've never been sure) that serves as connecting links between the songs. At both the beginning and end of the film, some of the characters are discussing "the sound of big generators". This video was released in early 1985, 2-1/2 years before the Big Generator album came out.

The big mystery is: did the band already have the "Big Generator" song/concept ready for their next album and decided to include a little foreshadowing in the video? Or, did they see the footage and become inspired to come up with a song/album title called "Big Generator"? Or (least likely of all), is it all just a COINCIDENCE??? 
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Points: 649 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Boojieboy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2024 at 17:58
I think the biggest problem for Big Generator over 90125 was that the latter was fresh and new. There was a lot of energy and momentum going into what was new project with new chemistry.

The band was in different shape and frame of mind in the years after 90125. They obviously doddeled around in the studio for years to come up with material. People tend to overthink and overanalyze with that much time, so all freshness is lost.
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Originally posted by Hector Enrique Hector Enrique wrote:

Of the "minor" albums, so to speak, Big Generator is one of the best, and it seems to me that it is generally underrated. It's not the progressive symphonic style of their glorious era, but "Shoot High Aim Love", "Final Eyes" and "Holy Lamb" are excellent songs. For me it is a good album.

It's more than a good album imo. I prefer it over 90125 even though 90125 might be more consistent. BG seems to go places that 90125 didn't want to (or couldn't) go. Those songs are great but I would also add the rhythm of love (maybe one of the most unlike Yes things they ever did), I'm Running and the title track.


Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - January 25 2024 at 18:25
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Cristi View Drop Down
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Great live version Big smile
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^ The Live version is so much better than the official video for Rhythm of Love. Thumbs Up
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Points: 40709 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 13 2024 at 16:29
Jawohl mein Herr! Big Generator fails to generate much excitement in Hitler's bunker. Confused
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Points: 5390 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Hrychu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 13 2024 at 16:31
I love the Downfall caption parody format! It's so simple yet so universal! If you're creative enough you can shoehorn in pretty much any event!

Edited by Hrychu - February 13 2024 at 16:32
“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.”
— Ernest Vong
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Points: 40709 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 13 2024 at 16:39
Originally posted by Hrychu Hrychu wrote:

I love the Downfall caption parody format! It's so simple yet so universal! If you're creative enough you can shoehorn in pretty much any event!

I like the bit at the end where Hitler says "I may as well start listening to Marillion." LOL
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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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Points: 40709 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 14 2024 at 04:59
Originally posted by Hrychu Hrychu wrote:

I love the Downfall caption parody format! It's so simple yet so universal! If you're creative enough you can shoehorn in pretty much any event!

Hitler may not like it, but Big Generator is still a good album by the standards of the time. After all, we can't expect YES to have come up with a classic 1970's album in the middle of the 1980's when prog was generally going in a more pop-oriented direction, or as the Germans would say, "Mann kann nicht auf zwei Hochzeiten gleichzeitig tanzen", meaning one can't dance at two weddings at the same time, which, roughly translated into English means "You can't have your cake and eat it." - although Boris Johnson may disagree. Tongue


Edited by Psychedelic Paul - February 14 2024 at 05:05
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While I'm a fan of 90125, I can listen to Big Generator but I don't love it. I totally dislike the title track and only Shoot High saves it, IMO. 
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Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Jawohl mein Herr! Big Generator fails to generate much excitement in Hitler's bunker. Confused





What can I say? Hitler is a jerk. 
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