Eternal Wondering of an Interactive Poll |
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nick_h_nz
Collaborator Prog Metal / Heavy Prog Team Joined: March 01 2013 Location: Suffolk, UK Status: Offline Points: 6737 |
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Posted: June 22 2021 at 14:03 |
Samsara. A word in Sanskrit that means ‘wandering’. The aimless wandering through successive states of mundane existence. The endless cycle of birth, growth, decay and death. Eternal wandering of a homeless soul.
I first came across the term Samsara in 1999 when a song of that name appeared on a Tea Party album. Upon looking up what it meant, I realised I was familiar with the concept, but simply never knew the name. I suspect it’s always been a subject that has appeared in popular music, but it was only last year that I gave it much thought. Suddenly there seemed to be a whole heap of albums centred around the concept of samsara - either overtly and explicitly, or simply coincidentally (or perhaps not) describing it via one allegory or another. Some of the albums found resolution/liberation (moksha/mukti) and some were left still wandering. My first encounter with samsara in music in 2020 was “Kala” by Mobius. I was reminded again of samsara by “Metempsychosis” by hybris. “Dysergy” from Golden Caves had a song called “Samsara” that neatly dovetailed into the overall concept of the album. Next up was “Homeless Soul” by Eternal Wanderers. Samsara as told allegorically through a sci-fi tale. Deep Energy Orchestra and Postvorta both play with the theme, too, on “The Return” and “Sidereal” respectively. Then there is Outside In with “Karmatrain”, and it’s still only May! Simen Lyngroth’s “Looking for the Spark like It’s Just Around the Corner” is basically a tale of samsara. Dool’s “Summerland” encapsulates samsara and mukti in the names alone. Dool comes from a term for wandering (just like samsara) and describes the same sense of wandering (as samsara), while Summerland is effectively the equivalent of mukti - as Summerland is not a place, but rather the highest spiritual level that can be achieved. The band deliberately had an Indian sound throughout the album, most overtly on God Particle. Avandra’s “Skylighting” addresses existence and mortality, samsara and rebirth. I’m sure there were others too, that I’ve not managed to recall, and more still, that I was not even aware of. I don’t mind if your selection is from PA, so long as it is not too well known. Just whatever you think encapsulates the idea of samsara in a song, whether it is actually about samsara, or makes you think of the concept of eternal wandering and/or looking for the spark like it’s just around the corner. Edited by nick_h_nz - July 06 2021 at 00:22 |
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Logan
Forum & Site Admin Group Site Admin Joined: April 05 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Status: Offline Points: 36161 |
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Interesting topic, and I think this must be my favourite opening post yet. Great job on short notice. As an aside, we have a band in PA (Krautrock) called Samsara Blues Experiment (to any that don't know). And we have one called Samsara. I'm going to have to think about this -- my thought processes are very much of the aimless wandering through successive states of mundane existence type.
I'm glad you included ones in PA, as my associative thinking is going along the Krautrock (Sergius Golowin?), Kosmische, and Indo-Prog/Raga Rock route, and Alice Coltrane...? Tangerine Dream....? If instrumentals are okay, this evokes certain samsara-like qualities to me. Alice Coltrane - Journey In Satchidananda As does this. Popol Vuh - In den gärten pharaos I might need to sleep on this to think of more appropriate things. Edited by Logan - June 22 2021 at 17:31 |
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jamesbaldwin
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 25 2015 Location: Milano Status: Offline Points: 5989 |
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You all know Donovan.
The Samsara theme can't help but remind me of Donovan's Sutras album (1996) which is one of my favorite auteur folk albums by far. Rick Rubin after bringing Johnny Cash to success, was unable to do the same with this album which however has the same characteristics: clear sound, folk acoustic arrangement, very sober but with many details taken care of in the background. Simple music, based on vocals, acoustic guitar and melody, if it involves it's fantastic, if it leaves you cold, it's just simple melodic pop music. It involves me, I feel the authenticity of the artist, who was one of the few to remain tied to the oriental philosophies that he had embraced when he was very young. I hope that not everyone knows Sutras and that some of you like these songs, so that you will want to listen to the whole album. 1) Nirvana Or 2) Everlasting Sea Or 3) The Evernow? Edited by jamesbaldwin - June 22 2021 at 17:19 |
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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.
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Snicolette
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 02 2018 Location: OR Status: Offline Points: 6042 |
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Lovely idea for a poll!
All three of mine are not named "samsara," in any way, but all are certainly related to spiritual journeying/changing/eternalism. Two are, incidentally, live performances, as I like these particular versions best.
First up will be "Un Soupil Eternal," (The Eternal Breath) by Dhafer Youssef. This is just a superb ensemble brought to my attention here at PA in a discussion about Middle Eastern music and prog (he is not a PA artist, however). Next is "Tripping Over Gravity," by Sam Phillips. This one makes me envision someone who has stepped out into space, perhaps an unexpected death, and it's not all that comfortable of a journey. Thirdly is Lavinia Meijer, performing Philip Glass' "Metamorphosis," on classical harp (sorry, Kees ). I find this just mesmerizing, especially in this setting, which so beautifully shows her absolute concentration. Edited by Snicolette - June 22 2021 at 18:03 |
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"Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp
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Cristi
Special Collaborator Crossover / Prog Metal Teams Joined: July 27 2006 Location: wonderland Status: Offline Points: 44195 |
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interesting topic, I'm gonna start looking for some songs as soon as I can.
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Hrychu
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 03 2013 Location: poland? Status: Offline Points: 5390 |
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Incomurdo (Hymn to the Atman) by Kansas is kind of inspired by Samsara but I'm afraid it's a little too widely known. xD
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“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.”
— Ernest Vong |
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Cristi
Special Collaborator Crossover / Prog Metal Teams Joined: July 27 2006 Location: wonderland Status: Offline Points: 44195 |
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we had a couple of prog rounds, the only rule we had was that the songs were from albums with less than 50 ratings on PA.
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Cristi
Special Collaborator Crossover / Prog Metal Teams Joined: July 27 2006 Location: wonderland Status: Offline Points: 44195 |
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suitkees
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 19 2020 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 9050 |
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Ah, nice theme! It immediately made me think of a track with the title "Samsara", so I will put up that one first before I find something weirder... This first suggestion is by the quite interesting French electro-pop/rock group La féline, led by singer, songwriter and guitar player Agnès Gayraud. There are more tracks on their 2017 album (Triomphe) that could fit the theme, but at least for this one it is explicit. It's a short one: shows that eternal wanderings don't necessarily have to last forever... La féline - Samsara: Lyrics (my translation): Sense your life, start Sense your life, spent Sense your life, compensated Sense your life, restart Who knows where you will be? (repeated) In thousand years The next time It's just a moment It's just a vessel (lyrics repeated but not necessarily in the same order...) |
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The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
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Lewian
Prog Reviewer Joined: August 09 2015 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 14830 |
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Birth, School, Work, Death - The Godfathers. Not a big band in my collection, but one that immediately came to mind. (My intuition is that this gives a somehow different spin on things than Nick had in mind, so very worldly, that's what I like about it.) Edited by Lewian - June 23 2021 at 05:12 |
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mathman0806
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 06 2014 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 6474 |
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^I thought of the Godfather's song as well.
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Lewian
Prog Reviewer Joined: August 09 2015 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 14830 |
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These should probably be out of competition, fairly popular and on PA, but I may consider one of them as entry if people write that they didn't know them. Anyway, here are two of the most important songs in my life, and for me they are bang on topic. Talk Talk, After the Flood & Life's What You Make It. |
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suitkees
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 19 2020 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 9050 |
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In another realm of music, my second suggestion is from a collaboration between Dustin O'Halloran and Adam Bryanbaum Witzie under the name A Winged Victory for the Sullen, an instrumental piece (and I think I take away the prize for the longest title): A Winged Victory for the Sullen - We Played Some Open Chords and Rejoiced, for the Earth Had Circled the Sun Yet Another Year: |
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The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
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mathman0806
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 06 2014 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 6474 |
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@Cristi, 2nd video doesn't play for me. Artist and title of song?
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Snicolette
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 02 2018 Location: OR Status: Offline Points: 6042 |
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First listen through for me, up to here, and awaiting the mystery second choice of Cristi's, as I also can't "see," it.
Greg: Alice Coltrane “Journey In Satchidananda” This one I know, Greg, and a fine piece of
music it is. Alice Coltrane went far out
of the usual harp box to create what she did and intertwine sounds the way that
she did. This is superb and I’m sure
those who are unfamiliar will quite enjoy it.
Popol Vuh “In den gärten pharaos”
I was introduced to Popol Vuh from seeing Herzog’s “Aguirre, The Wrath
of God,” film, back in the 1970s. This
piece is new to me, though. It begins
with some airy/eerie synth sounds and spooky voice-like effects, also from
synth. Some percussing begins after a
few finger-cymbal/bell-like tings after about 5 minutes and the synths change
more to flutishness, as the percussion provides a more solid backbone with it’s
rhythm. A few chning-ing sounds appear
randomly. Nine minutes in and there are
some sci-fi/bowed saw sorts of effects that come wafting through. At 13, some soft electric piano notes slide
on in, and lovely it is, indeed. The synth sounds become quite whirly and
swirly, with a feeling of water, to me.
Oh, and the end is water lapping and small wave sounds. Lorenzo: I must ask if you’ve seen the recent David Lynch-directed Donovan video, “Shaman.” If not, you will see that he still has retained his devotion to esoteric beliefs. I did not know of this recording, so looking forward to hearing it. I love a lot of Donovan tunes, most especially “Widow With A Shawl,” from his Gift from a Flower to A Garden release, which I can see at the front of one of my shelves of LPs. “Nirvana” Song begins with clearly picked guitar and Donovan in his lovely, soft voice. Love the minor key of this, it’s about Nirvana, yet there is a sense of sadness to it, as well. Keyboards with single notes play along in the background. These keyboards and the drums help convey a sense of a step-by-step journey to the song. “Everlasting Sea” A plaintive love song, another one with a bit of melancholy to it. Simply produced with a lush cello, later joined with a violin to add to the feeling of eternity. Donovan’s voice makes a soft chorus along with the solo vocal during the final verse. “The Evernow” Dirgelike start and Donovan using his lower register, here. At the second verse, flute is added and the feel becomes more hopeful and peaceful, rather than dark. All three are very contemplative, my personal favourite is the second one, for the arrangement of the strings. Cristi: Nigel Stanford “Sea of Tranquility” Keyboards/synths begin the piece of music, drums kick in after a few measures. Astronaut voiceover enters. Flute-y synths begin, and the astronauts become mixed farther back. He intensity slowly builds as the keyboards become more and more layered. The astronauts are more to the fore and the music also becomes more forceful with vocal chorus/angelic choir effects added. The piece fades to an end. Alternativ Quartet “Linistea Astupa Goluri” This one has a raga-rock sort of beginning as far as the guitars, in a minor key and there are some swirlies and also very far back voices, almost indiscernable. The full band kicks in with a lovely electric lead, bass and drums. An apocalyptic feel. The guitar has a sort of galactic battle with either a loop or another guitar? All the while the raga sound persists, then lead-type guitar bows out for the bass to shine for a bit. The lead electric melee returns, then the piece ends with deep swirls spiraling outward. Kees: La féline “Samsara” Lovely high voiced female vocals peppered with harmonizing with herself. Electric guitar and repeating keyboard lines with a very subdued drum kit at the back. Chill-inducing choral effects with her voice(s) come forcefully to the fore. This has a lovely hypnotic feel. Excellent choice. A Winged Victory for the Sullen “We Played Some Open Chords and Rejoiced, for the Earth Had Circled the Sun Yet Another Year” Some keyboard sounds begin the piece, then solo piano. There is an echo-y effect on the piano, a wide-open sound. There are some sustained notes on synth, perhaps, along with this. The sounds gradually swell with strings. Very serene piece of music, another one with a sense of eternity. My only complaint is that I could have listened to it for quite a bit longer. Lewian: The Godfathers “Birth, School, Work, Death” Going from the sublime to the mundane, everyday grind here. New Wave/punkish band here. I actually do remember this, now that I hear it. Has a very hooky repeating guitar line and they are a very tight outfit. I enjoy the sarcasm and cynicism. Talk Talk “After the Flood” Simple piano notes start with some wispy effected guitar notes sliding across. Organ slyly enters from the side. Ooooh, love the vocalist, when he comes in. I know the band’s name, but not sure I’ve heard much, and surely, not this. It has a live cut feeling. There are some noise-parts that come in, they are effectively done, very raspy. I really like the atmosphere of this, wandering about and his voice is so perfect for this piece, like someone speaking to himself late at night, somehow. Lots of emotion in his voice. The piece eventually fades out. Wow. 😊 Followed by Talk Talk “Life’s What You Make It” Aha! This one I DO know. I just didn’t realize it. What a voice. Wonderful song and a great pick for here (although many others may be way more familiar with the rest of their repertoire). The second piece was my favourite of these 3, plus I didn't know it. Edited by Snicolette - June 24 2021 at 07:34 |
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"Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp
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mathman0806
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 06 2014 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 6474 |
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Kind of tough one for me. I'll post a song at a time. The theme made me think of this video first and then song. I've mentioned Dan Deacon before in these polls.
Dan Deacon - Sat By A Tree |
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Cristi
Special Collaborator Crossover / Prog Metal Teams Joined: July 27 2006 Location: wonderland Status: Offline Points: 44195 |
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Occultation - Forever Hereafter I'll look for another video link Edited by Cristi - June 24 2021 at 00:21 |
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suitkees
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 19 2020 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 9050 |
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@Nickie: Thanks for your comments and I'm happy that you liked both of my submissions (so far). You'd probably guess that I can recommend you the whole album of A Winged Victory for the Sullen. In the mean-time, you have rebaptised Lewian into Greg... Not sure if both of them would agree with that and it might lead to some confusion...
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The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
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Snicolette
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 02 2018 Location: OR Status: Offline Points: 6042 |
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Whoopsies, thank you! I don't mix them up in my mind, but recently referring to "Logan," now as "Greg," probably prompted my fingers to "Greg," at the "L." I beg both of your forgiveness. And yes, I've added that collaboration to my "Listen To," list. Thank you!
Edited by Snicolette - June 24 2021 at 16:15 |
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"Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp
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TCat
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: February 07 2010 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 11612 |
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*Sigh*
I still love coming here when I have time. So I hope you don't mind if I put a song up on this poll. I never knew what this concept was called, and I think I have the right idea after reading Nick's description. I think this song conveys the idea of the human species in an eternal wandering state and lets us know that this wandering and pondering has been going on forever....no one knows the answers to those burning questions. M. Ward is a master of lyrics in my opinion... "What do you do with the pieces of a broken heart? And how can a man like me remain in the light? And if life is really as short as they say, then why is the night so long? And then the sun went down and he sang for me this song...." M. Ward - Chinese Translation |
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