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Topic ClosedInterpreting songs
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Vibrationbaby View Drop Down
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Points: 6898 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 29 2007 at 11:30
Sometimes when I listen to progressive rock song I insert my own meanings particularily if it`s instrumental. Prog has a lot of room for the imagination. A good example would be Roundabout which was written by Howe and Anderson about the scenery on their way from Scotland to London. I don`t know how many interpretations I`ve read or heard of that  one. (  in the UK a traffic circle is known as a roundabout )
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Atavachron View Drop Down
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Points: 65549 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 29 2007 at 06:43
'I Talk To the Wind' was a Giles, Giles & Fripp tune that was used by the band they morphed into, King Crimson, on ItCotCK. But it is essentially a very hippy-dippy, Beatles-esque, Britpop little number and was when KC re-recorded it. What does it mean? It means he talks to the wind.. it's that simple. If you want to hear the real 'I Talk to the Wind', get GG&F's 'Brondesbury Tapes' .. it's a real hoot and a pretty significant link in the early prog chain.
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Points: 54 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 29 2007 at 06:33
Originally posted by rileydog22 rileydog22 wrote:

In response to the question about Tubular Bells, the grunting on the "Caveman" section was a joke.  Virgin asked Oldfield to add prominent vocals to at least one section of the album, so it could be released as a single.  The rest, as they say, is history.  




Thanks for your answers, I had even thought that no one would reply to his topic.
It's very possible that Atavachron and soundspectrum are right. Maybe often artist compose certain strange, complex songs to let us interpret them in our own way, especially the instrumental ones, but they didn't mean anyhing particular when composing it.
Please, give your interpretation to songs with lyrics if you've come up to one .
Has anybody an idea about "I talk to the wind", already mentioned before? Or "Lucky Man" by ELP - what is the moral of this song?
And one more thing, I don't want you to think that I'm concerned only on lyrics and message of songs. Of course, music is the most important thing and that's what makes prog so interesing, while words add yet more charm to the music (look at my signature)

Edited by Harold Demure - March 29 2007 at 06:35
You can choose a ready guide
In some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide
You still have made a choice
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Atavachron View Drop Down
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Points: 65549 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 29 2007 at 05:20
unless a song has an actual story, I'm against interpretation (unless of, course, it's your own).








Edited by Atavachron - March 29 2007 at 05:21
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rileydog22 View Drop Down
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Points: 8844 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2007 at 22:00
In response to the question about Tubular Bells, the grunting on the "Caveman" section was a joke.  Virgin asked Oldfield to add prominent vocals to at least one section of the album, so it could be released as a single.  The rest, as they say, is history.  

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soundspectrum View Drop Down
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Points: 201 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2007 at 20:18
ehh sometimes you cant take it too seriously...that seems to be the problem with a lot of prog
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Points: 99 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2007 at 19:59
Often times I get really into meanings of albums.  I am a sucker for concept albums and usually end up beating my head against a wall trying to find a concept when there is none.  Topographic oceans to me definately has an extremely elaborate concept, but I'm still working on what it is.  For anyone else who replys, add the song supper's ready to the list.  I've always heard it's a bunch of songs strung together, but Peter Gabriel seems like to careful of a lyricist to just string songs together without meaning.  Great topic though, look forward to hearing replys a little more informed than this rambling message.
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Harold Demure View Drop Down
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Points: 54 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2007 at 18:35
I have recently wondered a lot about whether a prog song has to have it's message, "meaning" . How do you think, do prog artists always want to tell us some story or maybe sometimes they just compose some fine riffs, melodies, put them together and make a good song? I'm talking not about the lyrics only, but also about instrumental pieces.
For example, Tubular Bells. Why these strange roars (I wouldn't call it singing) appear in the second part? What is the point in such original vocals, maybe the only reason was to make something original and that's all? But as far as I am concerned, it reminded me of a werewolf (you can laugh at me if you want).
Another example - Hamburger Concerto. Do you see any particular story on this album? And what about Tales From Toporaphic Oceans?
There are so many other examples, but generally, do you find a "message" or "meaning" of a song important, or fine melody is enough for you? When I listen to some album, I usually feel that there is a story told but often I recognize only few excerpts from it, even if it's instrumental music.
I know that everyone can interpret music in his own way, but if instrumental album is divided into short songs and each has it's own title, the musicians probably wanted to guide us to some story that they tell on the album. A good example of such album is The Snow Goose. Do you imagine some particular tales while listening to instrumental music?
As for lyrics, don't you think that sometimes they are really mysterious? And for an addle-head in interpreting poetry like me it's difficult to guess what the musicians want to express. BTW, are there any topics concerning interpreting lyrics? Sorry, but I can't see the point of a song "I talk to the wind" (for example), of course the rest on this album is obvious but this one is somehow difficult for me... Maybe it would be a good idea to create a topic where we could show our own interpretations of certain songs? If ou're interested in it, of course.

PS. Sorry for my English   

Edited by Harold Demure - March 28 2007 at 18:36
You can choose a ready guide
In some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide
You still have made a choice
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