Interactive Lightning Round Poll: Loved Songs
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Forum Name: General Music Discussions
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=127282
Printed Date: February 22 2025 at 10:30
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Topic: Interactive Lightning Round Poll: Loved Songs
Posted By: Logan
Subject: Interactive Lightning Round Poll: Loved Songs
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 11:15
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Since there will be a delay between Interactive Polls (last one ended officially on Friday and the next one can not go up until this Friday), I thought it might be fun to have a quick lightning round. We'll see if we can get our votes up before the next poll starts. The idea is you have until tomorrow to nominate a song. That song must be one of your favourites (I do ask this time to try to keep to shorter tracks). Lightning rounds might be fun to do when there will be delays between the generally two week long Interactive polls. Mention and nominate one song that you love, is meaningful to you, and feel represents you somehow, and I will add to the list quite quickly. This time knownness can help to make listening easier, so when you vote (for two choices maybe or just one this round not your own?) I ask that you not exclude ones that you know or know very well. My nomination is one I nominated in an earlier Interactive Poll: Nick Drake's River Man. So please to any who want to participate please try to get up your loved by you song of choice up quickly (I was going to include one in PA, but then thought no, let's stick to ones not in PA -- important thing is the song is really important to you). I don't expect a huge amount of participation, and that;s okay, since this is a lightning round. The list. Nick Drake - River Man Sfinx - Din Nou Acasa King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man (Including "Mirrors") Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Dead Flag Blues Bruce Springsteen w/ Tom Morello - The Ghost of Tom Joad (live) Silly - Raus aus der Spur Donald Byrd - Cristo Redentor Andrew Lloyd Webber/ Tim Rice - Everything's Alright (from "Jesus Christ Superstar") Jackson Browne - For a Dancer Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Trilogy Emmylou Harris & Albert Lee - Country Boy Sound of Contact - Not Coming Down Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadić - Jovano, Jovanke The Beach Boys - 'Til I Die Sebastian - Flyv Lykkefugl* |
Replies:
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 11:42
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nice idea, i hope i can come up with a song. i'm writing with my phone,my laptop broke this morning,took it to be repaired. i don't know how to post videos with the phone. i'll see what i can do |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 11:49
| ^ Sorry to hear about your laptop, Cristi, and thanks for the words. I do post topics off my phone quite often (I always manually tag videos and keep my fingers pressed on the screen to copy paste text or a link with my phone). That said, if you mention the song, I can always add the video if it's a problem (if you don't mind, I can edit it into your post or just quote you and then add the video. That would be no problem to me). |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 11:53
| ^ thanks for your help, i'll think of a song soon and post the artist - song name |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 12:47
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Sfinx - Din Nou Acasa |
Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 13:24
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Trying to come up with one that hits the criteria, just a crazy busy day. Great idea though, Greg! ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 13:26
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This is difficult because there are so many possibilities for different reasons. For example, a track that I posted very recently in the A-Z thread, Peter Hammill - Stranger Still, speaks to me in a personal way, and I even changed my signature to a lyric from that track. Van der Graaf Generator - A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers, my all time favourite track, is probably too long for this poll. Van der Graaf Generator - Lost or Van der Graaf Generator - Pioneers Over C are my next favourite shorter tracks. Peter Hammill - Mr X (Gets Tense) is my favourite Peter Hammill track from a musical perspective. Or I could go for the most important track in my musical life: King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man (Including "Mirrors") ------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man. |
Posted By: TCat
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 14:12
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The track I would have nominated is "Starless" by King Crimson. Two problems with that: It's too long for this poll and (see above). So, I'll go with this because it matches the mood of the day (and the weather, it looks like it's 9 pm outside and it's between 3:30-4:00 pm, dark from an approaching storm). TCat's Quick Pick: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - "Dead Flag Blues" (EDIT: Please note: The video posted here is just the first movement of the suite, so if you have to listen to the selection through another method because this one won't work for you, you only have to listen to the first 6 minutes 7 seconds of the suite) ------------- https://ibb.co/8x0xjR0" rel="nofollow">  |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 14:23
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Thanks to Logan who, with this poll, has returned to my original inspiration: posting songs that have meant a lot to our lives. I grew up with the music of Bruce Springsteen, and in 1995 I discovered, thanks to him, John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, of which I had already read Of Mice and Men. I discovered this exceptional American novel thanks to the song The Ghost of Tom Joad, inspired by the book's protagonist. I read the book, watched the 1940 film with Henry Fonda, and fell in love with John Steinbeck, whose books I read almost all of (I recommend to everyone, besides these two already mentioned, In Dubious Battle). In this song there is all of John Steinbeck's humanitarian philosophy, Springsteen's lyrics are able to summarize Steinbeck's message in a poetic way, and this song represents me very well, also because two Italian Americans sing it. I love it both for the lyrics and for the energy with which Springsteen and Morello sing and play it, because I see that they believe in what they sing with all their heart. ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 14:27
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Not sure whether another poll will bring an opportunity for this one... in memory of Tamara Danz, 1952-1996, best singer of the German Democratic Republic. I don't think I can say that this one "represents" me in some way, however it brings back memories of the first years of my interest in music when I regularly listened to the "Beatkiste" from the east of our divided country on long wave (I don't know anyone else from the west who did that), which was a bloody good show really, on which I first heard the Comsat Angels (!) and Talk Talk (!!) and some good stuff that the GDR had on offer. They also once brought a long Tangerine Dream interview (who were quite communist at the time), a Pink Floyd special etc. Silly - Raus aus der Spur, lyrics: https://songstranslation.com/silly/raus-aus-der-spur/" rel="nofollow - https://songstranslation.com/silly/raus-aus-der-spur/ |
Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 15:29
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For something completely different from me. This was my mother's favourite song. She left far too early, at age 47. ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 15:35
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Nice, a blitz poll. I will post something that I think was rather seminal in the development of my musical consciousness and thus the development of my musical preferences... I have a vague memory, I must have been five years old, that my parents bought their DUAL record player, sound system and loudspeakers and probably also some vinyls to play: Simon & Garfunkel (Sounds of Silence), Tchaikovsky (Symphonie pathétique) and the 2LP soundtrack of Jesus Christ Superstar... This last one, we listened to it regularly as kids, it fascinated us and especially me. A couple of years later, during one of our holidays to England, our parents took us to see the West-End theatre performance in London; I was probably 8 or 9 at that time. Very impressive! Anyway, this soundtrack has kept its special place in my listening experience and now of course also in my collection (and I prefer it by far over the classic Broadway recording!). The melodies, the vocal performances, the story-telling, the distorted guitars, the synth sounds and the orchestrations... Many things that really fascinated me from the start (I only saw the film itself much later...). So, almost every track from this album is special to me, but I propose Everything's Alright. Musically maybe not the most interesting, but the vocal performances are stellar, by the three main characters: Yvonne Elliman (in the role of Mary Magdalene - what a majestic voice!), Carl Anderson (Judas) and Ted Neely (In the role of Jesus. Yes, I really think he is much more interesting in this rock-opera than Murray Head who did the Broadway performances..): ------------- The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 15:43
Greg, we could wait until thursday to choose the nomination, and vote starting from friday. How about it? ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Logan wrote:Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 15:45
You like to win easily, dont you?  ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 16:09
Absolutely Lorenzo. Since Nickie is fine with delaying her poll, I would rather this be not such a blitzkrieg idea and instead start voting on Friday. |
Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 16:35
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Good idea, less rushy! ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 13 2021 at 17:39
------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 14 2021 at 02:18
The whole kind of conception (idea) of this was to put it together in an easy way that it could be rushy, but two days to nominate and two days to vote was more rushy than would have been ideal and when I saw the message about delaying your poll, then I thought it would make sense to extend it (I was thinking maybe by Thursday at the time cause nomination is the very easy part, at least for me -- when I see a new poll, ideas come to my mind immediately). I did rather want to see how well a lightning round could work as a stopgap when there are delays between polls (even if few people participate in a lightning round, it could still be fun). My preference would be more than one every two weeks of the Interactive Polls -- maybe with each poll lasting two weeks, but an overlap so that when one is doing the nomination round another is doing the voting round and I liked the one a week as it started (then they went to two weeks, two and a half weeks or even three weeks sometimes), but I realise this is hard on people such as yourself who take the time to do write-ups of the selections, and for those who need lots of time to listen to suggestions multiple times. I come up with suggestion ideas very quickly even in the harder polls, and with this being based on one's favourites that are meaningful to you while not worrying about knownness the task becomes easier still to come up with one. My general memory might be poor now, but I still have a good memory when it comes to remembering music. With this running longer, I would have approached this differently but I am happy for it to have little more time to breathe if it isn't putting you out. By the way, I had meant to exclude Prog, but failed to express that or maybe I was just thinking all that matters is that it is meaningful to you. I put this poll together as fast as my fingers can go and had some conflicting ideas. What matters is that the music matters to people, Prog or not, well-known or not. I definitely am more interested in seeing what people have as favourite songs rather than how the votes go. Since the nomination round is lasting a couple of days longer, I won't put the nominations up in the list as people mention them (I had planned to do that). Also, I was thinking to make this just vote for one or two, but now we can probably make it three again. Well, assuming enough people participate. Might be weird then if no one else contributes. Note if this post is overly rambly and badly expressed or thought out (been trying to keep the rambles to a minimum), I recently got woken up out of sleep after one hour, and then I can't get back to sleep when that happens. Excuses, excuses. ;) |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 14 2021 at 04:18
Does it work? https://youtu.be/mzRbeHyIomk ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 14 2021 at 05:55
| ^ Your embed had worked for me, Lorenzo, and so does that as labeled "Bruce Springsteen & Tom Morello - The ghost of Tom Joad (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 2009)" youtube link for me. |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 14 2021 at 05:58
We've never posted songs THIS famous in the interactive polls.
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Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 14 2021 at 07:56
 ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: September 14 2021 at 07:57
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One of my all time favorites ...song and artist....my mom and brother both died some years back not far apart, and this song always captured that for me. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: The Anders
Date Posted: September 14 2021 at 15:14
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Enjoy this poll everyone, sadly I won't be able to participate in it because of the songwriting retreat I will be taking part in in a few days. But I will be back for the next one. |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 14 2021 at 15:28
Good! My official nomination is: in the comments on youtube you can read the lyrics ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 14 2021 at 15:45
Ah, that's too bad as I love to hear your choices as well as your insights into the music. Have fun at the retreat. By the way, I was going to mention this earlier, and your post helped me to remember. I'd love to hear from as many people as people about a song that is really meaningful/ special to you. So in that regard, if it seems appropriate for those who don't feel they can take part in the voting and listening process, maybe you would still like to mention a choice and mention that you can't participate in the full process when you post your choice. I could then add those to the poll with asterisks to indicate that these are choices from people who don't intend to fully participate. Then it could be up to others if they want to consider those choices to vote on, or they could be treated like bonus tracks (an extra bonus vote, I kind of like the extra vote idea). |
Posted By: JD
Date Posted: September 14 2021 at 19:44
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Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Trilogy ------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: tigerfeet
Date Posted: September 14 2021 at 20:47
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This really is a guilty pleasure kind of poll and i'm gonna go out there with one of my favorite tracks of all time. This song by Albert Lee is also guilty of making me feel like getting up and doing something positive (or at the least to air guitar and spin around the room !!
So, I thought i'd treat the poll to a special live rendition of "Country Boy" with some really exciting accompanying guests musicians. Bon appétit! ------------- I'm sorry, if you were right, I'd agree with you. Robin Williams. |
Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: September 14 2021 at 21:25
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So, coming up with ideas of songs to nominate was fairly quick. Deciding on one wasn’t too bad. But then trying to write this up wasn’t so easy. And now looking back, I ended up writing much more than I had intended. The song is “Not Coming Down” by Sound of Contact from the album Dimensionaut. The band only lasted for one album with notably Simon Collins (son of Phil) on lead vocals and drums and Dave Kersner on keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals. The album is a sci-fi concept album of an unnamed man who travels time, space, and dimensions. He struggles with isolation and loneliness and tries to reunite with his soulmate. Many of the songs do stand alone outside the arc of the story, which is part of what I like about the album. The story doesn’t hold up much to me. But the themes do. The music is very much crossover prog and the hooks are good though it does run long at nearly 74 minutes. A solid album, released in 2013. The song ended up sticking with me in 2015. In March of 2015, my youngest brother was getting married in Thailand, and I flew from Florida to California to meet my parent and my other brother and his family so we would all fly to Thailand together. Second night I was at my parent’s house, my dad collapsed and had to be hospitalized. He had a blockage in his small intestine and would need a noninvasive endoscopic procedure. He and my mom would not be able to make my brother’s wedding. The surgery would take place the day before we were to fly out. But it got delayed and my brother, his family, and I left the day before. Now for reasons I am still not sure of, he couldn’t get an endoscopy and the surgeon had to cut into him, which prior to us leaving was explained as something risky at my father’s age (he was 86) and they would need to get signed permission. The result was my mom was alone to make that decision when it happened, and she agreed to it but not understanding fully about the possible consequences. My dad got a serious infection as a result and ended up in the hospital for weeks and then in a nursing facility. I ended up flying back and forth between California and Florida several times. My phone at the time didn’t have much memory so I had a limited number of albums to listen to as I flew cross country and didn’t really have much thought about adding or replacing music. The album and this song were there and it stuck with me as I played it on my flights back and forth. The theme of the song is open to interpretation, and I projected my dad’s fragile state as what he wasn’t coming down from. I listened to it countlessly. My dad had moments where it seemed like he would recover, but in the end, he was placed in hospice and passed away four months from the time he had collapsed. I was able to bring my son out a couple of times on my trips out and back so that was good. My dad and I did not have any common tastes in music so I doubt he would have cared for this. And while it’s anchored to the end of his life, it is one of the few songs that makes me think of him. So that’s my story. Later on, I found out that most of the song had been written by Dave Kerzner and it was inspired by the passing of his friend Kevin Gilbert (Toy Matinee, Giraffe) and the “fragility of life”. The video is pretty good. I had not watched it before until I was looking for it on YouTube. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 14 2021 at 23:02
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That is very moving, George, and I'm so sorry for your loss. In some ways it's similar to what I went through with my dad. The song I most associate with that time is Khan's "Hollow Stone". I'm quite uncomfortable sharing this, but Nick Drake's "River Man" is a very important song to me which I only discovered a few years ago during a dark time in my life. Suffice to say, my best friend killed himself a few years ago after going missing for a couple of weeks. I tried to reassure the mother who would call me every day while he was missing, while I tried to contact the police frequently and tried to talk to them differently to warn them about certain concerns, but never got a response from the investigating officer who I was told was the only one with which to speak. Police didn't listen, my predictions all came true, and the mother blamed me for his death -- apparently I had made her not concerned enough, but I was very concerned. I only found out about his death later from a friend who told me the family blamed me. I blamed myself thinking about what I could have done differently, replaying things over and over again in my head, and thinking about what more I should have done. My depression became very bad which led to a life changing incident with me (my attempt that I think helped lead to a stroke). During my convalescence (I'll never be quite the same), I found this song, and while it is so melancholy, I also found it cathartic. It moves me hugely and I find it life-affirming in a way. Before I knew Nick Drake died at 26 due to an overdose of antidepressants (the same age I married), this song I already found profoundly beautiful and moving. It has helped me to deal with my sadness and regrets, feelings of desperation, worthlessness, isolation, guilt and alienation. I so wish Nick Drake was still with us (he's be old now), and my friend, but the song has helped me to deal with the trauma of his death and any trauma I caused my family. That song deeply resonates with me.
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Posted By: The Anders
Date Posted: September 15 2021 at 08:55
Well, the thing is, I have almost too many choices in that category, and much of it is something which people here most probably know already. But I will think about it and see if I can come up with something.
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 15 2021 at 09:58
| Since I had intended for this to be a lightning round (two days for nominations, two days to vote), I was expecting ones from various people that likely would be well-known, and so asked people not to exclude the known from the voting. I thought that having some known ones would make listening easier in a time crunch. My choice is well-known ("River Man") and I nominated that in another round (easy choice for me), and a choice like "21st Century Schizoid Man" would be very well-known at the forum. But of course it's up to you, and hopefully you can think of something that feels extra special to you somehow. If there aren't a lot of nominations, and it looks like there won't be, even if people can't fully participate, I probably won't bother with the asterisks idea and just have those as regular votes. This topic didn't build up the energy and steam that I thought it might. A sense of urgency helps with a lightning round. |
Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 15 2021 at 11:29
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George and Greg, both very moving stories. Thank you for sharing them with us. ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 15 2021 at 13:40
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Thank you Nickie, there is catharsis in sharing as long as it seems someone is caring. I didn't feel at the time I had anyone willing to really listen, which made my state worse. It was a difficult situation to be in, trying to console someone on the one hand and taking a completely tack with the police expecting they would listen to my concerns and take them seriously. The police handled it the opposite way I warned them about, and never tried to contact me. I'm okay with the mother blaming me as she must have been in tremendous grief and really feeling very guilty, and I expect the policeman in charge wouldn't want to admit to any culpability, but I am not okay with the way police failed to deal with or address my concerns. I never complained to them, but I wish I had. I would always tell my mother to register complaints when wrong was done or something was handled badly, She would tell me, "Well, there's no point now, it's done. No need to stress more about it," I'd say, whether it helps you or not, the point is so it is less likely to happen to someone else. One does feel powerless in so many situations and in so many one ultimately is powerless. On another note: if there are no more nominations coming soon, since this has slowed to a trickle, I would like to consider putting the nominations up sooner. Nickie, I'd say if putting up your poll on the weekend is more convenient and beneficial, then you should do so. Just my thoughts. I actually see little issue with polls overlapping, and in fact we still see older Interactive Polls getting bumped with comments and votes since not everyone can get that done in the allotted time or has some further comments to make. I feel guilty about an earlier conceived poll that was planned to be done a little earlier, I pointed out the schedule, and then the poll was decided against. My heart was in the right place (well-meaning), but I think I addressed it badly and should have just left it to Lorenzo instead of sharing my 122 pence. You know the saying, the road to hell is paved with good intentions (I'd add bad intentions -- lol). This poll of course was me trying something on the fly to see if it could work as a little stopgap Interactive corollary idea of a poll when there were delays due to circumstances. I, like others, am quite addicted to the series.
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Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 15 2021 at 13:49
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Hello Greg: Yes, the same reasoning for reporting past abuse (of varying kinds), to try and stop someone else's suffering from it. I am sorry you felt so alone then, but perhaps now you have some better resources and trusted friends, should you need them. I'll see how things go, again, a very busy week here, I wouldn't fret about how the poll was entered, often a weekend allows more people to participate, which I why I prefer to have two of them in a poll, you've not yet had one weekend, even if it's meant to be more rapid response. ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 15 2021 at 13:57
| ^ Have two full weekends for yours. I never wanted this to delay your poll and wouldn't have done it had I thought it might. It wasn't my turn and I wasn't considering this as part of the official series (a non canon round). As you say, this was meant to be rapid response. I wanted to see if quick ones here and there might work, even if they have very limited participation. If people are still voting when your poll goes up, I don't have a problem with that. We've had several interactive polls responded to recently. At the same time, I don't want to step on your toes or Lorenzo's or anyone's feet. |
Posted By: Mila-13
Date Posted: September 15 2021 at 15:04
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Uff, I hope this is not too late? I was busy and I overlooked Greg's announcement of the new poll in the team thread. To choose just one of my favourite tracks/songs in such a short period of time and additionally a short one, is almost impossible for me atm. I'm listening to so many different music genres but I finally decided to post this one which is very close to my heart. It is an instrumental version of a Macedonian folk song performed with two acoustic guitars. Vlatko Stefanovski: is considered one of the most important jazz rock guitarists in the Balkans and he is at the same time the founder of the legendary former Yugoslav/Macedonian jazz/ethno/prog rock band Leb i Sol (engl. Bread & Salt, 1970s). Miroslav Tadić: is a renowned and internationally appreciated guitarist and composer from Serbia. Since I did contain myself from sharing long music pieces so far, I allow myself to exceptionally nominate a piece of almost ten minutes since this is an iconic Macedonian song and also improvisiation is an essential part of this collaboration. It would definitely take too much time to go through their entire discography. I hope you can forgive me for once and accept my song, Greg? Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadić: Jovano, Jovanke |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 15 2021 at 15:13
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^ I'll forgive you just this once. ;) Just kidding, it's no problem at all, Mila. I hope you don't mind, I edited your post to embed it (you can edit again). Listening now to it, and hugely appreciating it. And now I'm really pleased that the nomination stage was extended.
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Posted By: Mila-13
Date Posted: September 15 2021 at 15:18
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And I thought a miracle had happened! Thank you very much for accepting my song, Greg! |
Posted By: Mirakaze
Date Posted: September 15 2021 at 15:59
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Your story was very harrowing to read, Greg; what a horrible situation to be in. I wish nothing but the best for you and your family. I would like to nominate a song as well if I still may. I can think of many songs that make me feel happy and powerful, many more songs that make me feel sad, melancholic and regretful. This song has made me feel both depending on my mood at the time, sometimes both simultaneously, it has a strange effect on me. In spite of the dark lyrical imagery it has a sort of happy, bittersweet tone to it. I interpret it as a song of resignation, realizing that we have very little control over our circumstances and the things that face us in life, and simply going with the flow, seeing where life takes us and trying to make the best of it. Around the time I first heard it I had a minor obsession with desolate landscape paintings with roads stretching out to the horizon with no landmarks, or simply stopping (Vincent van Gogh's Wheatfield With Crows and Anselm Kiefer's Bohemia Lies By The Sea are two that stand out to me to this day); Where will the road take us? If it stops do we push on through the wilderness? If we go far enough will we find some sort of goal, an end to our struggles, even any sort of beacon to help us guide our way? I've suffered from depression in addition to other psychological ailments for over a decade and the past two years have been more unkind to me than most, but I am receiving proper help now and I believe myself to be on a road to recovery. At present, this song, which in the past only made me feel more hopeless and alone, now serves to bring me a sense of comfort and of coming to terms with my place in the world. ------------- https://mirasnelder.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow - Freelance composer, accepting commissions | https://mirasnelder.bandcamp.com/album/altered-acuity" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp page |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 15 2021 at 21:48
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Thank you so much, Mira. As a family things are still challenging, but I'm much more hopeful now than I would have been even a few months ago (especially concerning one of my children). That is all beautifully expressed Mira, and your words truly touched me. I'm sorry about the pain you've gone through, am thankful that there is hope, support, and an improvement in your being, and I wish you all the best and comfort in life. I also listened to the song, and it also touched me. It's wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 15 2021 at 22:13
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By the way, I think I should put the poll up by late tomorrow to give at least three full days before the next poll goes up. There's still time for people to participate and share their cherished music (and what it means to you and how it relates to you if you wish to share) if desired. Thanks to all who have participated thus far in this impromptu poll performance.
Here is the list so far unless I missed someone (apologies if I did): Nick Drake - River Man (Logz) Sfinx - Din Nou Acasa (Cristi) King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man (Including "Mirrors") (I prophesy disaster) Godspeed You! Black Emperor - "Dead Flag Blues" (TCat) Bruce Springsteen w/ Tom Morello - The Ghost of Tom Joad (live) (jamesbaldwin) Silly - Raus aus der Spur (Lewian) Donald Byrd - Cristo Redentor (Snicolette)* Andrew Lloyd Webber/ Tim Rice - Everything's Alright (from "Jesus Christ Superstar") (suitkees) ** Jackson Browne - For a Dancer (dr wu23) Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Trilogy (JD) Emmylou Harris & Albert Lee - Country Boy (tigerfeet) Sound of Contact - Not Coming Down (mathman0806) Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadić - Jovano, Jovanke (Mila-13) The Beach Boys - 'Til I Die (Mirakaze) * I am a fan of Donald Byrd, didn't know it, just listened and adored this. I can understand why your mother would have loved it so much. ** From Tim Rice to Tim Curry, put them together and you have Tim-Tim or even Curry Rice (Yum-Yum). I hadn't had really reviewed these before (distracted with other things), but since Kees mentions music from one of my favourite musicals, I can't resist sharing this -- not my nomination, although I am tempted to change mine since I mentioned that in a poll before, to do something new. This has touched me since I first saw The Rocky Horror Picture Show film as a teenager. It's one of my favourite soundtracks and my most listened to album over the past couple of months (after hearing the film reviewed in a horror podcast). This is the other that came to mind when I decided to do this topic. "I'm Going Home" |
Posted By: tigerfeet
Date Posted: September 16 2021 at 02:04
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Wrong thread - removed! ------------- I'm sorry, if you were right, I'd agree with you. Robin Williams. |
Posted By: The Anders
Date Posted: September 16 2021 at 13:58
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So I am not taking part this time, but Logan suggested that I post a track out of competition. In order to come up with something most people here don't know, I decided to go for something Danish. I have always loved this song by Sebastian deeply: sweet haunting melody, emotional singing and general musical atmosphere. Not to mention some of the best drumming you could ever wish to hear. |
Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 16 2021 at 14:14
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@ Logan: I'm glad you enjoyed the track by Donald Byrd. It is sentimental for me, as is anything by the late, great Ray Charles, who overall, was my mom's favourite musician/performer. She also loved a lot of the psychedelic music, especially when it leaned toward blues and storytellers like Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel. ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: Mila-13
Date Posted: September 16 2021 at 16:24
Thank you, Anders! Enjoy your music class in Spain and tell us about it when you get back. |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 16 2021 at 17:17
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My mini reviews: - Riverman is a splendid pastoral ballad, classical thanks to the arrangements of the strings, with noises of nature, dreamy, that Greg has already proposed to us and if I haven't already voted it could be a strong contender. - Din Nou acasa by Sfinx is a melodic 1978 song, led by the soft vocals of the singer and by a long atmospheric keyboard solo. The vocals in Romanian and the changes of rhythm are fascinating. Song in the mood of romantic prog, very pretty. - For A Dancer if I am not mistaken has already been proposed in some previous poll and is taken from the Browne's masterpiece, Late for the Sky; it is a beautiful, relaxed melodic ballad led by the piano and the violin, as well as by his voice. The violin has a very Californian bittersweet melancholy folk sound. Pretty, very well done but as I may have already said it's not one of my favorites from that album. - There is little to say about King Crimson's debut song, I think it is unique, it is a piece that they have never equaled, for me it is one of the most beautiful and grandiose and ambitious songs in the whole history of rock (it is rock and avant-garde together, but in an explosive, not cerebral or virtuosic, way), but being the first song of their debut, well known and acclaimed, I don't know if I will vote for it. - Mike offers us a 16-minute suite of Godspeed, a monumental but very slow piece, led by a spoken voice and the orchestra. The harmonic development of the song is very slow, the music is almost ambient or a soundtrack. At about 7 minutes the beautiful sound of the violins dissolves and fairly dark electronic sounds arrive. Around 10 minutes the music almost stops and then starts again, always with an insistent and almost exasperated slowness, as if there was a great inertia to proceed. It is all very interesting and evocative even if it seems too drawn for a long time. Contender. - Christian offers us a German group that I have never heard of, which takes us back to a more human dimension (it is a real song, unlike the previous ones) and it is interesting to hear the vocals in German, perhaps the best part of the arrangements together. with the bass (instead I don't like the sound of the drums, maybe electronic). This is an erratic pop-rock song, with an instrumental interlude combined with female moans, and then the music starts up again. After all it is also a dance piece, maybe from the eighties, that I could have danced in a disco. Very nice, a nice surprise from Christian. Contender ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 04:21
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^ thanks for the write-ups. I had a very busy day yesterday, and it was an odd one. After a very grueling day, we were visited by one of my child's old friends (is now 18) who lives in a foster group home with caregivers and a manager who we had been out of touch with for a couple of years but whose friendship with my child was rekindled recently. The child has many house conditions, including a curfew. That child has been undergoing some abuse (verbal at the home and other serious issues) and wished to stay the night. We said she was more than welcome, but we would need to alert the foster home about your whereabouts so they would not worry and pass on our number so they could contact us. The manager (head of the group home) called us and was extremely unpleasant. The lack of love, of caring, of empathy and overbearing officious nature of the person very quickly came through with that person. While we had said that we would have to have out contact info given so they knew where she (the young adult) was, the manager told us what an unpleasant and untrustworthy individual this child is (we've known her for years since she was at another group home) and that not only could she not spend the night but insisted that we tell her that she is unwelcome at our home (we said absolutely we will not say that). She then said that this call was just a courtesy, and if we didn't return her soon after we questioned her, she'd call the cops and we'd have to deal with them. She spoke in a very threatening and not understanding way She was only at our place for a short time, and was returned not long after curfew (had not known about any curfew) after consulting with the girl and she thought it would be better to go back and not deal with the police and not to put us out. I understand their liability (which wasn't brought up), and there are rules, but there was an an obvious lack of compassion, a strictness and unwillingness to even talk (our home is quite a short walk from the group home). I will be following up on this. It breaks my heart to see this girl in this situation, and the lack of care in terms of real caring became very clear in the way she spoke to us. Such a sad situation and I know she has been through so much. Unfortunately, the system too often does not work well and you get people in it who are not the most caring and compassionate of people (well, too much caring, too much empathy, and the job could be too hard to do). To some it's "just a job" and they don't do it well or appropriately. We'll continue to be there for her whether the head of the foster home wants that or not because it is so important for anyone to know that someone genuinely cares, is there for them through thick and thin, and is not only willing but wants to help. As a parent, and just as a person, I find the situation so upsetting. ----------------- On another note, the poll is now open. Vote for three not your own. I opted to include Anders even if it is officially out of competition (thus the asterisk in the poll with the bottom choice) since he will not have the chance to participate in this beyond mentioning one. I think the next poll is going up on Sunday so not much time between the voting being open and the next poll (this round was not planned and was just intended as a little stopgap between polls). Many thanks to all who have participated both by sharing music that is special to them, for the conversation, and for any and all comments.
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Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 04:32
Good to see that ultimately you liked that. I've got to say that, as this was declared a "lightning round", I didn't think for long about what to do. This song is meaningful for me and I'm emotionally connected to it, but my connection is not anywhere as deep and linked to a personal story as what some others have suggested, and despite the possibility to nominate some prog or well know stuff I decided to put up something that probably hardly anyone knows already. I appreciate a lot the personal stories you have shared here and it moved me reading them, even though I have taken another direction here, and I don't find appropriate words to say much on what some of you have gone through.
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Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 05:10
I'm surprised that nobody else (except JD) posted anything from "the usual suspects". I have in the past declared this track as a most important track to my musical development, and even my all-time favourite track on largely nostalgic grounds (my other all-time favourite track, "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers", came to me later). I became familiar with this track well before I knew where it came from, and I was ecstatic when I finally discovered the album (actually, it was my first time being drunk, but that's another story). For me, the album was one of a number of albums that I was introduced to at around that time whose music had a "historical" feel, different to other prog I had been exposed to earlier. ------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man. |
Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 06:56
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My votes go to: 1. Sound of Contact - Not Coming Down 2. Bruce Springsteen w/ Tom Morello - The Ghost of Tom Joad 3. Sfinx - Din Nou Acasa Honourable mentions: Nick Drake - River Man Silly - Raus aus der Spur The Beach Boys - 'Til I Die ------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man. |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 08:58
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mini reviews: Trilogy: long and important piece by EL&P, I like Trilogy especially in the first 3 minutes, when there are only the piano and Lake's voice, those melodic moments are very beautiful and also the progression on the piano which then leads to the insertion of drums , synth and bass. From then on comes the typical musical tour de force of EL&P which, however, does not conquer me. Towards 5 minutes the piece becomes even more percussive and all three musicians are engaged in virtuosity, as if they were playing alone but superimposed (Lake's bass can be heard a lot). Lake's voice returns, trying to adapt to the infernal rhythm imposed by Emerson, but the melody has been lost and does not give the same emotion, everything is wrapped in the pumped sound and in the rhythm, and it is a pity that before the end the initial piece does not return. The last two minutes don't add much to the music content. I adore Lake and the melodic piano and vocal moments, but I often can't get excited about the very upbeat compositions of the trio. The song proposed by The Anders, which has a title that I would not be able to pronounce even under torture, is a folk melodic ballad with a beautiful acoustic guitar, clear sounding, a very catchy conventional verse chorus song, which at around 3 minutes produces a long pampering tail, I would say almost therapeutic because it calms you. Very pretty,
------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 11:07
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Admittedly I did not have much time, this time, so will forego my usual first-listen analyses of what occurs to me on the spot. Truly here, the stories are the same, very poignant ones and also enjoyed the less serious pieces, but I do love best melancholy in music. Voting for Newbies to my ears: 1. Sound of Contact "Not Coming Down" 2. God Speed You! Black Emperor "Dead Flag Blues" 3. Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadic "Jovano, Jovanke" Familiar Favourites 1. Nick Drake "Riverman" 2. Bruce Springsteen /Tom Morello "The Ghost of Tom Joad (live)" 3. Jesus Christ Superstar "Everything's All Right" (this one, also saw the Teddy Neely original cast, fantastic production) Honourable Mentions, all familiar, but all favourites, also go to King Crimson, ELP (most often seen live acts for me, along with Traffic) and Jackson Browne.
------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 12:10
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While I set this up as not discounting the known -- it helps to already know them when going for speed, which is part of why I nominated an earlier nomination and that it is very special to me -- I plan to vote with three that are new to me. Being fresh to my ears they did "touch" or "get" me more and one another listen they still get me. These were ones that I checked out and commented on in discussion and maybe have an associative advantage. I often have found in regular Prog polls that which is new to me has an enjoyment advantage I see some people who seem to be the opposite -- like I have known this song since 1789 when me and the other revolutionaries stormed the Bastille and we're still marching for Bastille Day (sorry, I happened to Rush that example out). Listed in glorious alphabetical artist order. The Beach Boys - 'Til I Die Donald Byrd - Cristo Redentor Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadic - Jovano, Jovanke * Note, I had not expected that I would like The Beach Boys this much. There is one problem though, while I had heard this before, the Prog selection Sfinx - Din Nou Acasa is really pulling me too, and it feels fresh again. Those are my four. This is where I wish we could vote for as many as we like . Oh, bites the revolutionary bullet, I will vote for those three above but I love that Sfinx no less because of it and have a new appreciation for it to boot.
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Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 12:14
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Thank you for the vote for Byrd. This was a hard round, especially thinking of how do things I've heard before stack up? In general, I do prefer to not vote for familiarity, as I'm afraid it might colour my decisions and my first thoughts mini-reviews began as I just kind of took notes on how I perceived something first time around, to help me remember the music for second listens. ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 12:23
| It's not so much a conscious strategy with me in polls to discount the known from nominations (although that does help to limit the options since commonly three votes does not feel like enough -- I was going to make this one vote or maybe two before the extension), it's commonly that that which I enjoy and is new and fresh to me excites me more. Those can lead to me exploring new musical avenues. Old songs to me that I once loved might even sound stale to me now, whereas sometimes hearing one I knew before but haven't heard for some time, like that Sfinx, reinvigorates and creates a new exciting interest. With my choice I have listened to it hundreds of times over the past few years but continues to resonate and I still wish to listen to it and find some kind of solace and acceptance in the experience. |
Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 12:40
In principle, I would not exclude a track I like simply because I'm familiar with it. In practice, however, I haven't voted for a familiar track in any of the interactive polls, and there have been a few familiar tracks. I can't say that familiarity hasn't dissuaded me from voting for those tracks, although my votes in those cases were for the more preferred tracks, anyway. ------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man. |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 12:41
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Mini reviews: - Beach boys churn out a slow, pampering ballad, like a long hug or a Capra's movie, with a great, cute vibe. - Jovano Jovanke is an instrumental piece played on classical guitars, with a vigorous beginning that seemed to me almost a flamenco, and then the piece slows down, becomes neoclassical, then returns to being Spanish (or am I wrong?) thanks to the virtuosity of the guitarists, and then slow down again. We are close to De Falla's cultured music. A very different listening from rock. ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: The Anders
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 12:41
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Very sad story Longan. I hope everyone will be alright. If I can, I will find time to listen and vote, now that my pick has been added to the poll. |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 12:52
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Mini reviews: - Cristo Rendentor is an instrumental piece that begins as a gospel and ends as a jazz piece, the atmosphere is actually sacred and I often love Christian religious music, here I am faced with an evocative piece that acts on the atmosphere, which I like it but it doesn't reach the climax missing a crescendo. - Sound of contact is a conventional rock ballad that is ambitious in orchestral arrangements and vocals, because it wants to achieve epicity. The singer pushes on the high notes, the volume and the rhythm increase and there is almost a sonic orgasm in the middle of the song, then there is an instrumental interlude, at any moment it seems that the singer's voice returns for the final explosion and instead the piece fades. In my opinion, a missed opportunity. ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: TCat
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 15:42
Lorenzo, Actually, I posted only a section of that suite since Greg asked us to keep it shorter, so the video I posted only contained the first section of the suite with the spoken word part, just over 6 minutes. But I'm glad you enjoyed the entire piece anyway. It's one of my favorite long form compositions. ------------- https://ibb.co/8x0xjR0" rel="nofollow"> |
Posted By: TCat
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 15:45
Thank you Nickie. I was afraid that one was too well known, so I'm glad to see that it wasn't as popular as I thought. If you get a chance, listen to the entire suite sometime.
------------- https://ibb.co/8x0xjR0" rel="nofollow"> |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 16:00
 ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 16:00
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Mini reviews: - Suitkees offers us a piece of Jesus Christ Superstar, a typical piece from a musical film, with female and male performers talking. It is a classical and luxuriant piece. - Country boy is a very rhythmic piece where country is seen from the chords, but maybe it's more rockabilly? Delicious, of its kind, but it doesn't excite me ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 16:01
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My podium: 1) KING CRIMSON: 21st Century Schizoid Man (well known, but why not?) 2) Nick Drake: Riverman (I didnt vote it in the first Interactive poll) 3) Silly - Raus aus der Spur ------ Honorable mentions: 4) Godspeed 5) Sebastian - Flyv Lykkefugl 6) Sfinx - Din Nou Acasa 7) Jackson Browne: For a Dancer 8) Donald Byrne: Cristo Redentor Grand Public's Prize: Andrew Lloyd Webber/ Tim Rice - Everything's Alright Grand Critic's Prize: Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadic - Jovano, Jovanke
------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: tigerfeet
Date Posted: September 17 2021 at 21:09
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Thanks Logan, I blame this lightning poll for being too good, or at the very least, like an overload of emotion paired with glimpses into some of our lives and life experiences. Thank you for the comfort and positiveness. Nick Drake - River Man - I am a big fan of Tim Buckley, Nick Drake and John Martyn so this song certainly hit the spot. Always thoughtful and pondering, a a good story writer and expression through vocals and music. I tend to think of those three artists as experts at Cheerful Melancholy Sfinx - Din Nou Acasa - Deep and interesting lyrics The long-alienated It's just that you've arrived, Asterne-i, mom, bed Let the boy sleep shower Sick and tired! He beat a lot of way Since he left you... Defeated by longing and mourning, On the porch of your house He was lying down tired... But don't ask: where Was it and what did he find? He wound-and will hide And you won't know the answer Than: "I'm tired..." https://lyricstranslate.com King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man (incl. "Mirrors") - I was the first out of our group of young friends to get into KC and Tull, Caravan etc. I think I only managed to convert one friend to this track - it was quite the representation of my life as a teenager. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Dead Flag Blues - This was a disturbing song to listen to after Schizoid Man - deep, depressing, dark, almost threatening in its movement. Somehow enjoyable or at least insufferable. Bruce Springsteen /Tom Morello - The Ghost of Tom Joad - Even though this was written many years ago it is more relevant now than ever and of course the pairing of Bruce and Tom was quite amazing. Solos were spectacular. Silly - Raus aus der Spur - The lyrics in this song were confusing and poetic. I do like the question over a song and its meaning which kept it interesting Donald Byrd - Cristo Redentor - Smooth, reflective, expressive, and made me so wish i could have heard it played live in some small speakeasy . You can hear where Herbie Hancock may have been inspired to play a few licks Andrew Lloyd Webber/ Tim Rice - Everything's Alright - Vocals were so sweet on this and of course so reprehensive of the time when JCSS came out and Andrew took over the world and upset Roger Waters. So, you can blame Andrew for Roger creating the Wall Jackson Browne - For a Dancer - Great musical story writer with a lovely melody and lyrics Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Trilogy - I loved the sections to this song and how they unexpectedly blend Emmylou Harris & Albert Lee - Country Boy - I chose this nomination since Albert Lee became an unlikely but very important influence upon my guitar playing. I had been going through a really bad patch with my guitar playing and had become stuck on blues and rock orientated music, so much so, that I could hardly write another song and my playing was not improving listening to artists like Santana any longer. I randomly became friendly with another guitarist who was into country music. I had never really given it any thought. Anyhow, as I did like jazz somewhat, it made sense to try and learn more finger picking style and become a student of scales like never before. As the months progressed my entire style of playing morphed. This new style had now become a step up compliment to my boring old style of playing. It also improved my ability to chew on jazz a whole lot more since my understanding of scales and timing, had gone up a notch. I was so happy that I had changed into a more fusion guitarist and it was nice to bring out other styles and merge them into each other. The other reason I love this song is that it symbolized my drudging life, being a city slicker but really wanting to be free far away in the country. Sound of Contact - Not Coming Down - Thanks for sharing all the stories associated with some of these songs. The fragility of life. I had never heard Phils brother and i actually prefer his silky vocals. Great song. Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadic - Jovano, Jovanke - Very sweetly done. I had no idea the Macedonia style was so closely related to Spanish flamenco but I suppose it makes sense since we can hear the eastern vibe come through. This mix of Persian, Indian, North African (moorish), who knows, but highly enjoyable. The two guitarists were definitively flirting or fluttering around with each other. The Beach Boys - 'Til I Die - Irony that beautiful places such as in nature, water, the sea, rocks and mountains, can be both wonderful allies but also a dark nemesis'. It's like some days walking in the rain in the middle of winter can inspire but others despair. Sebastian - Flyv Lykkefugl* - This song was a great finale to the list and an appropriate ending to a high speed journey into parts of forum friends and members lives and experiences all through their musical choices and written words. I will vote tomorrow. ------------- I'm sorry, if you were right, I'd agree with you. Robin Williams. |
Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 00:55
 ------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man. |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 03:40
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Before voting, I comment on Lorenzo's Bruce Springsteen entry. Well, I'm not going to be a fan of his music any time soon, but there is one respect in which this is great even for me. Despite loving some art, the best thing I can ever imagine watching with music is the musicians playing it, and living their music. Live videos are the best. The best live videos that is, and this one is glorious, they have so much fun and so much passion. I can totally see how a live experience like this can make a Springsteen fan for life. I will not vote for this as honestly the song doesn't do much for me, however the performance is phantastic and enjoyed big time watching it. |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 04:08
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Given that there was an invitation this time to submit stuff that people may already know, and that I have a hard time comparing proved classics with stuff that I hear for the first time, and that I also like to acknowledge that somebody makes me aware of something that I hadn't known before even if maybe not quite at the level of personal appreciation that for example I have for Godspeed You Black Emperor (despite having no clue where to put the punctuation): I have decided to give out a special prize, one vote, among those I already know. Now the Nick Drake one impressed me a lot when Logan brought it up originally and made me buy that album, and the song hasn't lost any of its attraction to me. However I have voted for it once and that's enough. Then I've got to admit that I don't like 21st Century Schizoid Man that much. Yes I know it's super important, and King Crimson are even among my personal "big 5". In fact I've enjoyed numerous live renditions of it marvelling at what they make of their classic this time... Such songs of course develop their own dynamic over time and it can be very fascinating following it... but still, when it comes to the original, there are surely more than 30 KC tracks that I'd rank before it (meaning that I do like it, but not as much as a lot of other stuff). I know it's a major quality of it how raw and heavy it is, but it doesn't really resonate with my personal way of life. Goodspeed You Black Emperor, great band when I'm in the mood and today I'm not. I always like to listen to Jackson Browne, I love his voice and his melodies, but am not really a big fan, I find much of his music a bit too predictable. So that leaves me, somewhat to my own surprise, with a vote for Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. Which actually also has a meaning to me as this was one of the great albums that my father had, which were among this first things I checked out when getting into music.
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Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 04:19
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The two other votes go to Sfinx and Donald Byrd, both touching, fitting my current mood, but also interesting. I don't think I had heard any Romanian prog before and this is very good, complex yet emotional. Also I'm an old Novalis fan and there is some clear connection. What connects it with Donald Byrd is the high musicality - Cristo Redentor is some kind of music that is really in some distance to my musical universe, but it immediately spoke to me. Honorable mention: Stefanovski & Tadic - obviously great stuff, maybe too easy to like... |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 04:25
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Oh and here, out of competition, something I may have chosen after knowing more where this poll was going to go... more of a representation of at least a part of my personality , and maybe the first song that really really hit me in my life, and it's still up there. |
Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 05:30
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I had been away from this thread for several days and have gone through the songs this morning and will be voting shortly. I made a playlist as I listened along so for anyone who hasn't voted yet. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-zzvl_w6Fx5kcSDhtuSeQQBGzC-AMyIf" rel="nofollow - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-zzvl_w6Fx5kcSDhtuSeQQBGzC-AMyIf
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Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 05:40
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Been reading through the posts and appreciate the stories shared and different perspectives. Greg, what a terrible experience to have gone through. I could not imagine being in your place and having it unfold in real time. It's one thing to read what has happened, but entirely different when you have 'space' in time to let all your emotions twist and grow.
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Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 05:52
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As to the poll. My votes: 1. The Beach Boys - 'Til I Die: Had not heard this before. I found it very powerful in Wilson's lyrics through the harmonies. 2. Bruce Springsteen /Tom Morello - The Ghost of Tom Joad (live): This gets my vote for the performance. I enjoy Morello's guitar work though felt a little out of place at the end. Actually, had been listening to Morello's the Nightwatchman album "One Man Revolution" album recently. 3. Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadic - Jovano, Jovanke |
Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 06:04
To note, Simon Collins is Phil's son from Phil's first marriage. Phil has another son, Nick, who is playing drums on the current Genesis tour. Here's a 1998 performance of Simon and Phil drumming together at a benefit concert with former tennis pros John McEnroe on guitar and Yannick Noah on vocals. |
Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 08:17
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Nice to see much more commentary here, perhaps because there were only one entry at a time, made it easier? That, for me, is what makes these polls. This week was way too hectic for me to spend the time creating a new poll and commenting as is my usual on this one, so thank you to Greg for the idea of a lightning poll to take up the gap. Everyone's stories were also compelling. Thank you for the Byrd vote, Christian. And I have to agree with you re live performance videos, I much prefer those to art videos really, which I think can distract from the music and leave less to the listener's imagination. I often just listen to the music here, without watching the videos, although some I have also found moving along with the video. "Nowhere Man," a lovely, thoughtful Beatles song (kind of ironic, thinking of Yellow Submarine being a full-length video, utilizing the song within it, with my prior comment). The Beatles do hold a special place in my heart, they so reflect the changing times I experienced in my life, in real time, along with them. And thank you as usual to George, for the playlist. ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 09:17
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my three votes Donald Byrd - Cristo Redentor Sound of Contact - Not Coming Down
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Posted By: TCat
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 09:19
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This is tough to vote on as there are several favorites offered up here that are clear winners, but that I am already so familiar with. I feel exactly like Lewian described (better than I ever could) about the familiar selections here, but I find I have a very difficult time voting on them since I am already very familiar with them. Among them are Nick Drake, King Crimson, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Beach Boys, and etc. So, only because of my own preferential way of voting for these polls, I'm going to stick with the ones that I was not already familiar with. 1. Donald Byrd - Cristo Redentor I must say I enjoyed this one very much, especially those solo sections. I could listen to this all day. 2. Sound of Contact - Not Coming Down This one took me by surprise in that I enjoyed it a lot more than I ever expected. I'll be looking up more from this band and it's members. 3. Bruce Springsteen /Tom Morello - The Ghost of Tom Joad (live) I was familiar with the studio version of this track, but not this performance which is absolutely amazing. I've been a fan of Tom Morello and his guitar stylings, which I got introduced to through the band "Audioslave" before I moved onto "Rage Against the Machine". There is a level of passion here that makes you want to cheer as if you are actually there. What a performance! ------------- https://ibb.co/8x0xjR0" rel="nofollow"> |
Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 10:58
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Thank you again for the votes for Donald Byrd. Glad so many enjoyed it. ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 11:49
| Thanks Tigerfeet for the words and song impressions, as well as others. Thanks George for the playlist and comments on the ordeal, and thanks to all for taking part in this. Regarding the known, while I decided to do one that was special to me that I had formerly nominated as I thought going for the known and asking people not to discount the known from voting would make it easier when it comes to speed, a part of still wanted to do something I hadn't mentioned (The Rocky Horror Picture Show track). It was all a bit of an experiment. I really appreciate all of the nominations and comments. |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 12:09
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@Christian @Mike You have touched on the matter very well. Springsteen plays heartland rock / folk and blues. His songs are conventional (even if they constitute a synthesis, a very composite mixture of black and white music) and so lovers of prog or cultured, electronic, avant-garde, jazz, etc. music do not like them very much. But seeing him live is a very different experience than listening to his records. Leaving aside the technical skill of him and the members of the band, Springsteen plays 4 hours in concerts. The first time I saw him, in 1988, he took a 40 minute break between first and second part of the concert, so he played 3 hours 20 minutes. With the passage of time, he has removed the interval and therefore the concert has no breaks and last 3,45 hours. You see he never wants to stop playing. See how sorry he has to go away. Five or six years ago, at the age of 67-68, I saw him do the somersault on stage after more than 3 hours of concert. Tom Morello, 15 years younger than him, said that the Rage Against the Machine concerts were pure adrenaline rush, they were as searing as a 100m run. The concerts with Springsteen were a surprise for him because he discovered that he was not trained, he compared them to an endurance race that, at the beginning, put him in great difficulty physically and mentally. All of this has little to do with music. A person may prefer a one and a half hour concert played by... God to a Springsteen concert, longer but perhaps not perfectly played. It is legitimate. In fact, I'm not talking about the musical content or the performance of the instrumentalists. I'm talking about the emotional matter, the soul and the passion. Springsteen wants to give body and soul until exhaustion, otherwise he doesn't feel like a worker who has given his duty, as if he were a miner or a farmer. There is therefore a work ethic that drives Springsteen concerts. But it is not only this, because Springsteen, like many introverted actors or artists, is a person who struggles to confide in and talk to those who are close to him but at the same time when he goes on stage he opens his heart to the public in an incredible way. And therefore he does not want to interrupt the emotional communion that he establishes with the public, he wants to exasperate the songs in a crescendo that reaches the paroxysm, the sensation of a sonorous orgasm, when you lose control and reach moments similar to the ecstasy of meditation. And so it happens that he transforms an acoustic and slow track like The Ghost of Tom Joad into an epic rock ballad with a mesmeric ending. And try to think what it's like to finish a 4-hour concert with a song like The Ghots of Tom Joad and then, after 15 minutes, while you are taking the stairs to exit the stadium, with the lights on, see that Bruce surprisingly returns to the stage, alone, guitar and harmonica, to sing one last song. It is happened to me. ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: Mirakaze
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 16:01
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I'm not ordering my votes; these should all be seen as three-way tie: - I haven't really delved into Nick Drake's music before but "River Man" is truly beautiful. The chord progression is lovely and becomes truly awe-inspiring once the strings set in. I can totally get how this sparks strong emotions in people, and taken together with Greg's story and Drake's own tragic life, this ended up getting to me as well. - "Cristo Redentor". Again, just wonderful. The mournful choral introduction and the sax and piano solos feel like they're in worlds of their own and yet they somehow blend splendidly. The parts that are in G Minor remind me a bit of "The Great Gig In The Sky". - Well, if I am not to exclude songs that I know well, how can I not vote for "21st Century Schizoid Man" when it's one of the songs that turned me into the proghead I am today? It's still a masterpiece 52 years down the line. Honourable mention goes to "Din Nou Acasă" which didn't quite hit me on the same emotional level as the three songs above but it's still a perfectly fine little prog ditty that I didn't know yet, so thanks . I think out of all of these polls that I've participated in, this has been the most rewarding experience.------------- https://mirasnelder.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow - Freelance composer, accepting commissions | https://mirasnelder.bandcamp.com/album/altered-acuity" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp page |
Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 18 2021 at 17:36
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Thank you, Mirakaze, and also for your thoughts. ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: September 19 2021 at 04:42
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For me, the most interesting thing of these "interactive polls" is discovering - for me - new music, so normally I also vote for the ones I didn't know yet, as I will do now. All tracks were a very good listen (thanks for the playlist, George!), but these three were the most pleasurable new discoveries: - Donald Byrd - Cristo Redentor (wonderful, captivating jazz...) - ------------- The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 19 2021 at 07:59
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And thank you, Kees, for your Byrd vote and also the commentary. ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: September 19 2021 at 14:20
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I'm a trad kind of guy so.... Drake-River Man KC-21st Century.... ELP-Trilogy ,,,,but Drake of those 3..... that song and most of his work is deeply emotional and at times heartbreaking. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Mila-13
Date Posted: September 19 2021 at 15:05
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My
votes, after all: Nick Drake An acoustic
guitar, a voice and a poetic soul. The beauty of melancholy. He has it all. A
great discovery! Donald Byrd From his
early days I know him primarily as a sideman of Coltrane, Dexter Gordon or
Sonny Rollins. Then in the 1970's he was producing
some of best jazz funk fusion ever. Yet, the suggested track shows another musical facet
of Byrd’s work. With his album “A New
Perspective” (1964) he takes a modern approach to the tradition of jazz interpretation
of African American spiritual music, in
particular by using a gospel choir in a jazz context. Awesome! Sfinx I’m largely unaware of the East European rock music scene from the Cold War era. So I’m all the more impressed by this 1970s Romanian band. Sure, the influences of prominent prog bands such as Genesis or ELO are clearly recognizable here but they did bring their own personal style to it. Hats off to them! It has never been more difficult to vote for me. Beautiful songs, each in its own way and each choice going with its own background story. I decided to give my vote to those artists or songs that surprised me and touched me most. It's purely a matter of heart. Thank you all for the music! I’m sorry
for the delay. I’m taking care of my mum. That makes planning difficult. I hope
you will understand that. |
Posted By: Mila-13
Date Posted: September 19 2021 at 15:23
Voting Sanremo style?  |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 19 2021 at 15:41
I don't hear any ELO influence with Sfinx. Possibly Yes and Genesis. On Sfinx debut album from 1975 if i remember right, there are some Emerson influences with the keyboardist. Famous bands could have been an influence I guess. Nevertheless it's strange how people state all sorts of influences with Romanian prog, especially in the 70s, but to be honest I don't know if any of the bands mentioned were an influence, after all eastern European countries were isolated and information was scarce. Western music was not easy to find, possibly Radio Free Europe was a source of listening to new music back then. It was forbidden after all to listen to that (or Voice of America), one could risk serious punishment if found listening to those radio stations. |
Posted By: Mila-13
Date Posted: September 19 2021 at 16:02
I know, comparisons are always tricky but one thing is certain, musicians and artists in general always find a way to get around prohibitions. I'm familiar with the conditions in Socialist Yugoslavia and USSR, the first was an exception to some extent, though. |
Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 19 2021 at 16:09
Sorry to hear of your needing to care for your mum again. And the Byrd vote. I am happy so many enjoyed hearing it, you add some more perspective on his career as well, with your comments. ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |
Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: September 19 2021 at 16:23
Not ELO... ELOY. I could hear to strong influence in that track, but I couldn't identify it until I realised it was Eloy. ------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man. |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 19 2021 at 16:25
Eloy, there is a possibility.
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Posted By: Mila-13
Date Posted: September 19 2021 at 19:15
Exactly, too many abbreviations here. ELP, ELO, ELOY . . lol |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 20 2021 at 00:54
Eloy isn't an abbreviation though.
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Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 20 2021 at 08:17
In fact, at the Sanremo festival there is the critics' prize and the Sanremo audience prize! These prizes of mine generally ironize with the various film festivals where, in addition to the first prize, there is always a jury prize, and then there are endless accessory prizes. Sometimes I have also added special prizes. In this case I stopped at the two most classic awards: - that of criticism is often given to the most sophisticated, experimental or cultured art-work (sometimes, but not always, it is also the most incomprehensible and boring one, and depending on the case either goes down in history or goes into oblivion. Sometimes it should have won but being very distant from the people's tastes they rewarded it in this way) - The prize of the he public is the prize for the most pleasant opera, which does not always mean that the art-work is simple (but it is easily understood), sometimes it is beautiful but it is not rewarded for reasons of jealousy, or prejudice about the artist, or because it was considered too... popular or traditional. In this case, the public's prize I would have given it to the Springsteen song, but having proposed it myself ... ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 20 2021 at 08:21
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@Greg and George Thanks for your suffered storytelling. ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: September 20 2021 at 08:33
Great success for Cristo Redentor! Now I listen to it again! ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: Mila-13
Date Posted: September 21 2021 at 12:24
I love jazz and it's my mum who introduced me to that music genre. Sadly she is not likely to recover anytime soon and will need help for the time being. I will therfore have to skip the next poll. It doesn't make much sense to participate if I can't comment on the music. - I'm glad that you appreciated my song as well. I always try to add something a bit different into the mix. |
Posted By: Snicolette
Date Posted: September 21 2021 at 13:04
I do wish you and your mum the best, Mila. I'm sure we all hope to see you back soon. ------------- "Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp |