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Thinking politically / socially-engaged songs (3)
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Poll Question: Which of these songs do you like or are your favourites?
Poll Choice Votes Poll Statistics
9 [10.11%]
14 [15.73%]
2 [2.25%]
20 [22.47%]
1 [1.12%]
2 [2.25%]
5 [5.62%]
7 [7.87%]
6 [6.74%]
4 [4.49%]
15 [16.85%]
4 [4.49%]
You can not vote in this poll

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octopus-4 View Drop Down
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Aqualung
I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution
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I find it somewhat interesting that one of the most (maybe the most) treasured prog-epic of all time (Supper's Ready) has 8 votes while typing and Aqualung has 14. I voted for the latter myself, as it's always enjoyable and a perfect rockin' classic for what it is.
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Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

Originally posted by Saperlipopette! Saperlipopette! wrote:

Ok. If you say so:) I know every word and can sing along to the whole song, but I still don't really know what Ian or I am singing about.
Here's a suggestion for a rather detailed interpretation of "Aqualung" by Al Melchior:

I can tell that on basis of Al Melchior's referring to Ian Anderson's thoughts about "Aqualung" and Melchior's suggestion for an interpretation of it, I'm not so sure anymore about the correctnes of my suggestion for a Marxist interpretation of this song.
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Originally posted by Saperlipopette! Saperlipopette! wrote:

I find it somewhat interesting that one of the most (maybe the most) treasured prog-epic of all time (Supper's Ready) has 8 votes while typing and Aqualung has 14. I voted for the latter myself, as it's always enjoyable and a perfect rockin' classic for what it is.

Yes, I'm suprised myself, and I reckon that it's the social content of "Aqualung" that is thought of as of a better value than the one of "Supper's Ready", but if that's the case, it doesn't make me less suprised.


Edited by David_D - September 16 2024 at 07:35
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Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

Originally posted by Saperlipopette! Saperlipopette! wrote:

I find it somewhat interesting that one of the most (maybe the most) treasured prog-epic of all time (Supper's Ready) has 8 votes while typing and Aqualung has 14. I voted for the latter myself, as it's always enjoyable and a perfect rockin' classic for what it is.

Yes, I'm suprised myself, and I reckon that it's the social content of "Aqualung" that is thought of as of a better value than the one of "Supper's Ready", but if that's the case, it doesn't make me less suprised.

TBH, I've been wondering why Tull's three tracks in those three polls are from Aqualung, and not at least one being Thick As A Brick (which epitomizes Anderson's political thoughts, IMHO)


Not sure I would find Supper's Ready political, though - contrary to some (most?) of Selling England's tracks
let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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Yes, Genesis, Tull, ELP and Wakeman. Rick is at his best on Criminal Record and only slightly ruined it a la ELP by putting on a 'fun track'. 
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Challenge :
Hammill Peter : Handicap and Equality from his 8th LP PH7
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Originally posted by Sean Trane Sean Trane wrote:

TBH, I've been wondering why Tull's three tracks in those three polls are from Aqualung, and not at least one being Thick As A Brick (which epitomizes Anderson's political thoughts, IMHO)


Not sure I would find Supper's Ready political, though - contrary to some (most?) of Selling England's tracks

I'll include "The Battle of Epping Forest" in the next poll, and I'll get back with regard to Supper's Ready.

About Thick as a Brick, let it be no secret that this poll series reflects my familiarity with albums and musical tastes, sorry.


Edited by David_D - September 16 2024 at 11:35
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But Sean, I wouldn't mind to hear some more about your interpretation of Thick as a Brick. Smile








Edited by David_D - September 16 2024 at 12:51
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Childlike Faith in Childhood's End Tongue
The Wheel of Time Turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the shadow.

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time...
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Points: 15111 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2024 at 12:52
Originally posted by Frets N Worries Frets N Worries wrote:

Childlike Faith in Childhood's End Tongue

Well, that's no suprise to me. Smile
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Jethro Tull, Yes, Frank Zappa. The rest are also quite good.
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Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

I'll include "The Battle of Epping Forest" in the next poll,
I would think Dancing with the Moonlit Knight is the more obvious choice though (and a much, much, much better song). A comment I've found in lots of places about the meaning of its lyrics, but I don't know the actual origin of the quote:

...Dancing with the Moonlit Knight’ by Genesis is about the effects the British economy had on every day lives of Englishmen at the time in 1973. Large companies were destroying Britain’s heritage and the first oil crisis happened right around that time. Peter Gabriel dressing up as Britannia seemed a very apt visual metaphor for the very clever lyrics of this song...

The band members seem in large to agree:

Steve Hackett: ...It starts off with Scottish Plainsong at the front, “Can you tell me where my country lies?” And then it’s into that Elgarian thing, “Citizens of hope and glory.” The Land of Hope and Glory, addressing all the Brits, the idea of corporations taking over...

Peter Gabriel: ...So it was, in the opening part particularly, trying to capture something that had more reference to Henry VIII than it did to America and song music. And then with the lyric it was in a sense about the commercialization of English culture...

Mike Rutherford:...Selling England by the Pound had a Labour Party slogan as its title and was partly about increasing commercialization and the sense that something was being lost,...
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Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

Originally posted by Sean Trane Sean Trane wrote:

TBH, I've been wondering why Tull's three tracks in those three polls are from Aqualung, and not at least one being Thick As A Brick (which epitomizes Anderson's political thoughts, IMHO)

Not sure I would find Supper's Ready political, though - contrary to some (most?) of Selling England's tracks

I'll include "The Battle of Epping Forest" in the next poll, and I'll get back with regard to Supper's Ready.

About Thick as a Brick, let it be no secret that this poll series reflects my familiarity with albums and musical tastes, sorry.

It might be, though, that I'll give Thick as a Brick a new listen. Smile

About Supper's Ready, I'd say at least:

Part iii and iv are a very poignant and touching anti-war statement:

Wearing feelings on our faces while our faces took a rest
We walked across the fields to see the children of the West
But we saw a host of dark skinned warriors standing still below the ground
Waiting for battle
The fight's begun, they've been released
Killing foe for peace, bang, bang, bang
Bang, bang, bang
And they've given me a wonderful potion
'Cause I cannot contain my emotion
And even though I'm feeling good
Something tells me I'd better activate my prayer capsule
Today's a day to celebrate, the foe have met their fate
The order for rejoicing and dancing has come from our warlord
Wandering in the chaos the battle has left
We climb up the mountain of human flesh
To a plateau of green grass, and green trees full of life
A young figure sits still by a pool
He's been stamped "Human Bacon" by some butchery tool
He is you

While the last part vii, and the entire suite, even not being overtly political, is interpreted by Edward Macan's Rocking the Classics (1997 p. 81) as seeing "the new Jerusalem" as the model for a perfect, fulfilled society, won after an epic struggle between the forces of good and evil, and thus is an expression of protest and resistance towards the Western society. 
This interpretation looks quite fine to me, and the lyrics of part vii say:

Can't you feel our souls ignite?
Shedding ever-changing colours
In the darkness of the fading night
Like the river joins the ocean
As the germ in a seed grows
We have finally been freed to get back home
There's an angel standing in the sun
And he's crying with a loud voice
"This is the supper of the mighty one"
Lord of Lords, King of Kings
Has returned to lead his children home
To take them to the new Jerusalem


Edited by David_D - September 17 2024 at 07:36
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Originally posted by Saperlipopette! Saperlipopette! wrote:

Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

I'll include "The Battle of Epping Forest" in the next poll,
I would think Dancing with the Moonlit Knight is the more obvious choice though ....

Very fine, let it be that instead. 
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Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

Originally posted by Sean Trane Sean Trane wrote:

TBH, I've been wondering why Tull's three tracks in those three polls are from Aqualung, and not at least one being Thick As A Brick (which epitomizes Anderson's political thoughts, IMHO)

Not sure I would find Supper's Ready political, though - contrary to some (most?) of Selling England's tracks

I'll include "The Battle of Epping Forest" in the next poll, and I'll get back with regard to Supper's Ready.

About Thick as a Brick, let it be no secret that this poll series reflects my familiarity with albums and musical tastes, sorry.

It might be, though, that I'll give Thick as a Brick a new listen. Smile


here is what you can read about TAAB

I don't necessarily agree with all of this guy's interpretations, but close enough for comfort. 
Also my sig (below) is quoting and highjacking some of IA's text in that epic poem.


===========================

Before I forget, here is a site dedicated to A Passion Play (to me, APP is much harder to grasp)

.


Edited by Sean Trane - September 17 2024 at 05:36
let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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Points: 15111 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 17 2024 at 05:51
Originally posted by Sean Trane Sean Trane wrote:

here is what you can read about TAAB

I don't necessarily agree with all of this guy's interpretations, but close enough for comfort. 
Also my sig (below) is quoting and highjacking some of IA's text in that epic poem.

thanks
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David_D View Drop Down
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Points: 15111 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 17 2024 at 08:51
Originally posted by Sean Trane Sean Trane wrote:

Also my sig (below) is quoting and highjacking some of IA's text in that epic poem.

....and that might require some personal consideration. Smile
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Points: 15111 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 18 2024 at 05:53
Originally posted by Sean Trane Sean Trane wrote:

here is what you can read about TAAB

I don't necessarily agree with all of this guy's interpretations, but close enough for comfort. 
Also my sig (below) is quoting and highjacking some of IA's text in that epic poem.

You've got me convinced, Sean, and I'll include TaaB in the next poll in this series. Even more important, to me, after new listenings to this album, I can tell that I like it today, maybe even much after some more listenings, and I'll add it to my collection. This makes me rather happy, as TaaB is one of the small number of the very most appreciated Prog albums which I haven't got in my collection, so the hole gets smaller. Tongue 
I can still understand, though, why Ian Anderson meant this album to be an over-the-top concept album, and it's surely a dense affair.


Edited by David_D - September 18 2024 at 05:58
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Points: 20240 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sean Trane Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 18 2024 at 06:18
Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

Originally posted by Sean Trane Sean Trane wrote:

here is what you can read about TAAB

I don't necessarily agree with all of this guy's interpretations, but close enough for comfort. 
Also my sig (below) is quoting and highjacking some of IA's text in that epic poem.

You've got me convinced, Sean, and I'll include TaaB in the next poll in this series. Even more important, to me, after new listenings to this album, I can tell that I like it today, maybe even much after some more listenings, and I'll add it to my collection. This makes me rather happy, as TaaB is one of the small number of the very most appreciated Prog albums which I haven't got in my collection, so the hole gets smaller. Tongue 
I can still understand, though, why Ian Anderson meant this album to be an over-the-top concept album, and it's surely a dense affair.

Try to get the original vinyl, because the full St Cleves Chronicles spoof is absolutely essential and hilarious and adds very much to the music...

The text is supposedly written by a pre-teen child that has won a poetry contest, but once the jury discovers the age of the author, they disqualify him for being insane. Gerald Bostock (the spoof author) is presumed to be the lover of a 17 y.o. teen (whose panties are visible under her dress on the front cover)
Almost every article  in the newspaper makes fun of the English society, pokes fun at the album's concept...
Even the small adds answer each other (depicting adultery) and the Sports section is Monty Python-esque.

TAAB is THE most well-thought of concept album ever.



Don't forget to look at A Passion Play's either (see the link I gave you to decipher that much-more complicated concept). Anderson was out to outdo TAAB, but stumbled spectacularly. 

.
let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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