"Turn it on again": prog?
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Topic: "Turn it on again": prog?
Posted By: Time Signature
Subject: "Turn it on again": prog?
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 13:14
| Would you guys consider Genesis' "Turn it on again" to be prog, or at least proggish? |
Replies:
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 13:16
| Well, I used to like the song, but prog? Probably not... Haven't heard it in years, though. |
Posted By: Time Signature
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 13:37
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I'm almost constantly listening to it these days. I really like the way that they manage to "disguise" the 13/8 main part and the 3/4 parts as something simpler. It also deviates from the traditional song structure, and the only thing that is chorus-like appears at the very end. I think, I'd consider the tune to be somewhat progressive. |
Posted By: Lota
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 13:37
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Not Really, its just another 80's song. The Album Itself (Duke) I would consider it Prog. ------------- And In The End, The Love You Take, Is Equal To The Love You Make |
Posted By: puma
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 13:42
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The song isn't "prog", whatever that means, but it sure is in an odd time signature! Btw it's alternating 7/4 and 6/4, there's no 13/8 anywhere in the song |
Posted By: P.H.P.
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 13:46
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This clearly isn't the prog rock Genesis we all like, though it's not in my tastes, I think "turn it on again" isn't bad, I think it's good pop rock. "And there were three" has the last remains of the prog rock Genesis (and that is just a couple of songs that are more proggish). |
Posted By: Time Signature
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 13:48
Not if you ask Phil Collins. He claims it's in 13/8. I guess it depends on whether you see it in the perspective of the drum beat or the guitar figure.
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puma wrote:Posted By: Chicapah
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 14:02
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My parameters of what I consider prog are rather liberal but I would consider the song to be very progressive regardless, especially when viewed in light of the disco/punk/new-age timeframe it was released in. ------------- "Literature is well enough, as a time-passer, and for the improvement and general elevation and purification of mankind, but it has no practical value" - Mark Twain |
Posted By: P.H.P.
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 14:25
Prog is not about "how complex you can get" so it doesn't really matter if the song is in 13/8 or whatever, remember those 3 guys are superior musicians, really talented, but doing pop rock here.  |
Posted By: explodingjosh
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 14:31
13/8 + 13/8 = 7/4 + 6/4, So I guess it depends on how you like to count, where you find your groove. ------------- 
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Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 14:59
Does anyone remember the fact that Turn it On would have been the center of a "Duke Suite" originally proposed by the band but scrapped because they didn't want to make it seem like they were trying to do Suppers Ready again (i am talking format not content . )
The song order would have been Behind the Lines-Dutchess-Guide Vocal-Turn it On-Dukes Travels-Dukes End. In my mind it was very progressive. It was too bad they never captured it for a live album on that 1980 tour. Or if they have it they should release it.
------------- 
"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: puma
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 15:50
I see now. I guess I count half time usually, which would naturally lead to my giving it a different name. Regardless, it's a very creative chord progression, I love the song |
Posted By: cursestar
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 16:41
| It's not "prog", or at least wouldn't be regarded as "prog" by most people. It's still a great song though. |
Posted By: Teh_Slippermenz
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 16:41
Interesting, I never knew that. A Duke suite would have worked well, IMO! On-topic: Turn it On Again I really wouldn't consider prog, but it's a great pop song. Granted, it was different from most of what was being released at that time. Now, Behind the Lines, Duke's Travels, and Duke's End are three different stories. |
Posted By: jimidom
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 17:03
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To me it is prog even though it may have achieved a high position on the pop charts. The odd meter aside, it's still definitely more of the prog aesthetic than pop or classc rock. ------------- "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - HST |
Posted By: Neil
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 17:16
It's the song that got me into Genesis and then into all sorts of other prog and I still rate it. It probably isn't traditionally what is thought of as prog (certainly not by early Genesis fans anyway) but it's a superbly crafted track and one of my favourites. If I ever hear the intro I immediately turn up the volume. ------------- When people get lost in thought it's often because it's unfamiliar territory. |
Posted By: forte88
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 17:19
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I would still categorize it as prog, although a bit watered down. The interesting time signature I don't think was ever really put in a pop song before. It doesn't have the many changes, movements, and dynamics as their previous work. I'd say it's more of a prog to pop transition piece leaning toward pop genre. But .. still was interesting and differant enough to say it had some prog properties in it. |
Posted By: marslair
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 17:25
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Well... certainly not in the high status of works such as "The Knife" or
"The Musical Box", and "Cinema Show" or "Watcher of The Skies" -
to me this tune is Pop Rock... music for the masses.
I stopped listening to Genesis after Steve Hackett left. What's the point?
Prog? No...
A good pop tune with some tricky time sigs (for POP) yes...
Give me "Fountain of Salmacis" anyday - -
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Posted By: Dim
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 17:59
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Good song, geat creativity (for Phil collins Genesis) Prog? not so much... ------------- 
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Posted By: efoman
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 18:09
| I think it's progressive. The fact that it was on the radio doesn't automatically disqualify it. Genesis the pop band still were really good at what they did. They just got older and simplified things so they could cash in a bit. |
Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 23:19
Odd time doesn't necessarily mean prog. Outkast's "Hey Ya" can be loosely argued to be 11/8 (Five measures of 4/4 with a cut time measure immediately following). Hilary Duff had a song that had a bridge in 15 or something like that. Shall we include them in the archives? 
------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 23:44
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Progressive for sure!! ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: jimmy_row
Date Posted: September 14 2007 at 23:46
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Posted By: Flucktrot
Date Posted: September 15 2007 at 01:12
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Wow, it's weird that this post came up today. I was reading the Sports Guy on espn.com, and he was thrilled that Ford or GMC (I can't remember which) had picked up Turn it on Again for its large truck line. He personally thanked Genesis for selling the rights. I don't know who else reads TSG, but he has an army of readers, and maybe they'll give Genesis some more respect. ------------- Thank you, God of Rock, for this chance to kick ass |
Posted By: russellk
Date Posted: September 15 2007 at 01:40
| I think Garion81's on to it. In its proper context I'd be happy to argue for 'Turn It On Again's progressiveness. |
Posted By: Time Signature
Date Posted: September 15 2007 at 04:21
Go ahead. I don't care.
 |
Posted By: Malve87
Date Posted: September 15 2007 at 05:04
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What a boring song...anyway it's not that prog... ------------- ] 
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Posted By: clairvoyant
Date Posted: September 15 2007 at 12:37
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It seems more like pop with a proggy twist to it. |
Posted By: debrewguy
Date Posted: September 18 2007 at 19:26
Well, it would piss off those who insist that exotic tempos & time measures are a way of identifying prog .But then we would have to add thousands of old blues masters who, as they were used to playing solo on guitar, didn't always follow the 12 bar rule ( John Lee Hooker, anyone) ------------- "Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case. |
Posted By: Time Signature
Date Posted: September 19 2007 at 06:13
Well, in the end prog is probably not even a genre as such.
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