(no subject)
i never ever delve into music criticism, but for some reason i want to. for at least 1 post:
"a whiter shade of pale" by procol harum may be, objectively, the best song ever written. here's my argument;
1. musically, it's pretty simple, just a consistently (with like, a few little exceptions) descending major chord progression. the bass plays a bunch of passing tones, the drummer plays some (awesomely 60s) fills, the organ plays a little counterpoint, the guitar plays pretty sparse. the genius of it though lies in that despite doing the same thing over and over, it never feels like it because they never really are. it's 4 minutes of the same thing over and over, but it feels no longer than 2 1/2. it's always the same chords, same general feel, but there's always something that gets slightly changed, little accents, phrasings, etc.
2. the dynamics and flow of the song are perfectly soothing, cyclical (the periodic crescendo for the chorus), and melancholy.
3. the lyrics, in truth, are what spurred me to write all this. they are the perfect example of evocative nonsense, they are so intensely emotional, so specific, but no one has any idea of what they are actually about. i've heard that they're about loss of sexual innocence, picking up a girl, the canterbury tales, and a drug overdose, and really, any of those could work i guess.
We skipped the light fandango
turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick
but the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
as the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
the waiter brought a tray
And so it was that later
as the miller told his tale
that her face, at first just ghostly,
turned a whiter shade of pale
She said, 'There is no reason
and the truth is plain to see.'
But I wandered through my playing cards
and would not let her be
one of sixteen vestal virgins
who were leaving for the coast
and although my eyes were open
they might have just as well've been closed
4. the vocal performance is amazing. gary brooker has such an awesome voice, and he delivers it so jaded but strong. the way he drops his voice on "fandango" and "is no reason" is phenomenal, such a simple little twist of melody, and so dejected sounding. the vocals are just so haunting, but human.
5. it's in the big chill.
6. the video is wes anderson 30 years before wes anderson.
7. i guess i just like this song a lot. there wasn't really much point or truth in my assertion. i'm just pretty bored, but now also tired. goodnight.
"a whiter shade of pale" by procol harum may be, objectively, the best song ever written. here's my argument;
1. musically, it's pretty simple, just a consistently (with like, a few little exceptions) descending major chord progression. the bass plays a bunch of passing tones, the drummer plays some (awesomely 60s) fills, the organ plays a little counterpoint, the guitar plays pretty sparse. the genius of it though lies in that despite doing the same thing over and over, it never feels like it because they never really are. it's 4 minutes of the same thing over and over, but it feels no longer than 2 1/2. it's always the same chords, same general feel, but there's always something that gets slightly changed, little accents, phrasings, etc.
2. the dynamics and flow of the song are perfectly soothing, cyclical (the periodic crescendo for the chorus), and melancholy.
3. the lyrics, in truth, are what spurred me to write all this. they are the perfect example of evocative nonsense, they are so intensely emotional, so specific, but no one has any idea of what they are actually about. i've heard that they're about loss of sexual innocence, picking up a girl, the canterbury tales, and a drug overdose, and really, any of those could work i guess.
We skipped the light fandango
turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick
but the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
as the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
the waiter brought a tray
And so it was that later
as the miller told his tale
that her face, at first just ghostly,
turned a whiter shade of pale
She said, 'There is no reason
and the truth is plain to see.'
But I wandered through my playing cards
and would not let her be
one of sixteen vestal virgins
who were leaving for the coast
and although my eyes were open
they might have just as well've been closed
4. the vocal performance is amazing. gary brooker has such an awesome voice, and he delivers it so jaded but strong. the way he drops his voice on "fandango" and "is no reason" is phenomenal, such a simple little twist of melody, and so dejected sounding. the vocals are just so haunting, but human.
5. it's in the big chill.
6. the video is wes anderson 30 years before wes anderson.
Click to view7. i guess i just like this song a lot. there wasn't really much point or truth in my assertion. i'm just pretty bored, but now also tired. goodnight.