Prog Lyrics

I don't know if there is any topic about it, anyway...
What do you think about rock progressive lyrics and themes ?
(I'm talking about tales, legends and general themes used by musicians specially in senventies..)

These ideas with their long multi sections and different pieces are a newer version of the old strolling minstrals. They would use thier music to tell tales. Today and biggest in the 70s, Prog band are continuing this. They give us a chance to imagine  new things or just give us a nice story to to escape for the hell of reality for a while. And give us something to talk about.

And Fractal is so right, Tolken was huge, just go through the indexes here and see all the band names that came from Tolken.

The line between great and grotesque is thin. Great lyrics make a great
prog epic, just as bad lyrics can ruin an otherwise fine piece of music.
Unfortunately, prog lyrics can quickly become laughable. Jon Anderson is
master of both the great and the grotesque. Close to the Edge vs Circus
of Heaven, for example.

I think this is one reason why, as I have grown older, I have gravitated
towards Italian Prog. When I was but a lad, I needed to understand what
was being sung. I had a hard time accepting foreign language lyrics. As I
grew older and realized just how stupid most prog lyrics are, I began to
appreciate those scenarios where I could enjoy the pure beauty of the
creation without having to cringe over the banality of the lyrics. It puts a
higher premium on the quality of the voice, but prog should be held to a
higher standard, no?

xhouse wrote: The line between great and grotesque is thin. Great lyrics make a great prog epic, just as bad lyrics can ruin an otherwise fine piece of music. Unfortunately, prog lyrics can quickly become laughable. Jon Anderson is master of both the great and the grotesque. Close to the Edge vs Circus of Heaven, for example. I think this is one reason why, as I have grown older, I have gravitated towards Italian Prog. When I was but a lad, I needed to understand what was being sung. I had a hard time accepting foreign language lyrics. As I grew older and realized just how stupid most prog lyrics are, I began to appreciate those scenarios where I could enjoy the pure beauty of the creation without having to cringe over the banality of the lyrics. It puts a higher premium on the quality of the voice, but prog should be held to a higher standard, no?

It is not uncommon to find a <insert your country> musician recording songs from a foreign band or artist. The translated lyrics often sound silly, specially when faithful to the original. But if you listen to the original, even if you understand it, it doesn't sound silly at all.

I think this exposes our familiarity (or lack thereof) with languages others than our own. We certainly carry a better knowledge of our home language and, consequently, a more refined criticism.

xhouse wrote: The line between great and grotesque is thin. Great lyrics make a great prog epic, just as bad lyrics can ruin an otherwise fine piece of music. Unfortunately, prog lyrics can quickly become laughable. Jon Anderson is master of both the great and the grotesque. Close to the Edge vs Circus of Heaven, for example. I think this is one reason why, as I have grown older, I have gravitated towards Italian Prog. When I was but a lad, I needed to understand what was being sung. I had a hard time accepting foreign language lyrics. As I grew older and realized just how stupid most prog lyrics are, I began to appreciate those scenarios where I could enjoy the pure beauty of the creation without having to cringe over the banality of the lyrics. It puts a higher premium on the quality of the voice, but prog should be held to a higher standard, no?

I too cringe over Circus Of Heaven, but one could argue that it makes more sense thatn CTTE. I mean I know what unicorns and angels are, but I never did figure out what a "seasoned witch" was. Is it one that's had salt and pepper sprinkled on her?