I've become aware of at least 5 Prog/Prog-related tracks that seem to be, to one degree or another, based on Ravel's Bolero.  They all sound different, and don't always follow the original melody (Zappa's is probably the closest) but the thing they have in common is that they imitate that distinctive, kind of Spanish-march beat.

So, I'm just seeing what the favorites are, and guessing there are more (I thought Renaissance had done something like a Bolero, but couldn't find it--maybe I'm remembering wrongly ).  Anyway, post if you know of any more.

For an “other”, though, since you asked.

From Russia’s http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=6020" rel="nofollow - Arsenal .

You missed Thijs Van Leer's version of Bolero

Damn, that's quite good!  Thanks for posting.

I might even vote for it (haven't voted myself yet), but I'll sleep on it.  Others are good too.

sorry to spoil the fun, but "The Devil's Triangle" is based on "Mars - The Bringer of War" from Gustav Holst's "The Planets" suite

And to be honest, it’s probably my favourite Bolero, so I should probably have voted for “other”.

Wow! this is just excellent too.

Thanks for the correction. Mars is one of my favorite pieces from the Planets (which is my favorite symphony/orchestral work of all).

 Still, it has that distinctive bolero-like beat I mentioned.

Lol, I was JUST talking to a buddy about how that's my favorite Sabbath record, but that exact song is SO out of place and feels like studio filler so bad. Everything about it feels bad to my ears, and rushed, lol.

Rush's Jacob Ladder is a bolero

Oddly, I never thought of Devil's Triangle as a bolero, but I guess it's a valid stance

I think so too. While I can understand why it was pointed out that it was based on Mars, I think that misses the point. It definitely has that bolero feel to it.

There are actually quite a few boleros in rock and prog, and even more that use boleros within passages of their songs (particularly in the bridge).

I guess it’s a question of whether we are recognising boleros or Ravel’s Bolero?

It definitely has a bolero feel to it, and it’s definitely not the only classical piece of music about war to use that beat, and have the similarity pointed out.

Regarding his 7th symphony, Shostakovich reputedly said:

“I suppose that critics with nothing better to do will damn me for copying Ravel’s Bolero. Well, let them. That is how I hear war.”

I don't know how many of you are familiar with this great song (originally by Violeta Parra) arranged in a bolero style by historic Chilean band Los Jaivas. The whole album Obras de Violeta Parra is highly recommended, especially to those who like South American prog with folk influences:

Like it. and it sounds proggy enough to me.

Wow, quite good, and definitely bolero-y. i only have one Los Jaivas album, so its nice to hear some of their other music.

Wouldn't surprise me if Ravel was an influence on Holst, though I couldn't find any direct evidence (only that Schoenberg was).  But also, as I listen to the Triangle again, the song structure (of building and repetitiveness) is more Ravel-bolero-like than Holst-Mars-like, at least to my ears.  Definitely more ominous and war-like though, than any of the others.

I'm a big fan of this one too.  It is actually edited out on some albums, something to do with copyright laws I think.  BTW, the "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" section is a cover too, for those that didn't know that.

Finally case me own vote, for Arsenal (other), even though I just heard it, really like it.

I'll have to check out more of this band!

Unfortunately, I don’t think their Bolero was ever released on an album. It was a single only release, as far as I can tell. Glad you liked it, though. I almost voted for it myself.

 

 

 

 

Oooh, I like this. Very different from the Detieti I posed an hour or so ago!