The only possible conclusion from this reveal —
11 Likes
I think so
3 Likes
Heh, I saw him at Petco on the same tour. There’s no denying the guy is talented.
He does these seminar things where he just talks to the audience about music and the process and the business, takes questions, etc. I always thought that was cool.
1 Like
It’s fair. This is all subjective. As I said, I like the song much more than I did back in the 80s. He’s always been a piano player who wanted to be a rock star and this song was an attempt to do a political song more influenced by folk music than rock (although he’d deny it was political…but just because it doesn’t advocate a political position, that doesn’t mean it’s not political). I think it might be better if he was even more folk-y and stripped down the presentation more for the song.
The people who do much deeper analysis than I would bother with would try to find some thread of social consciousness threading through his songs like Downeaster Alexa, Leningrad, Allentown, and Goodbye Saigon.
2 Likes
Allentown is one of my favorite songs by him
In 5th place with 8 points
Deep Purple - Concerto for Group and Orchestra
I may have rated it higher if it was a studio version just because it may have been cool to hear crisper audio. I like his voice and the music is good.
3 Likes
He always struck me as an “old school” democrat type. Big on unions, the working class, etc. Anti-war but not in the flower-child hippie style. Back in the 80s/90s that would put him firmly in the Blue camp. Now? Who knows.
In 4th place with 9 points
The Delgados - Aye Today
It kind of reminds me of the Eels which is a band I like a lot. I feel like the flute in it. The flute can sometimes be too breathy but it sounded really nice in this. I like the church bells as well. The instruments are very eclectic which I think makes the composition very unique.
7 Likes
Close, guess I’ll take it.
I realised when this started that I didn’t actually re-listen to this before submitting, so I was relying on my terrible memory for song titles that I submitted the right one. I did, thankfully.
7 Likes
I’m not in the same room as Nano now, so she can’t censor me. The Eels are the band that taught her the word ‘fuck’. Before that, she thought it was ‘feck’.
5 Likes
Yay podium!
4 Likes
In 3rd place with 10 points
Submitters comments: What do you get when you find traditional Japanese instruments, rock instruments and a shigin performer? You get Wagakki Band and their song “Senbonzakura”, which translates into “One Thousand Cherry Blossoms”. Despite the beat, it’s actually quite a tragic song about the difficult transition that occurred as Japan transferred from an empire to a more westernized country through the Meiji Restoration.
和楽器バンド / 千本桜
I wish I knew Japanese but I looked up a translation of lyrics - I don’t know how accurate it was. I like the story you said. It’s interesting that they chose to tell this “story” through western instruments as well as more traditional. I don’t really know what this is called but I like the vocal inflection she does when she sings. It almost sounds like a strain/vibrato thing in a way.
5 Likes
He did do fundraising with Bruce Springsteen in support of Obama and he clearly doesn’t approve of Trump, despite attending his wedding to Melania. I’m not sure if he really believes that being politically involved would turn more people off than it turns on, as he has said, or if he is mostly silent because it would be bad for business, but he also had people notice when he wore a yellow Star of David at a concert as a silent form of protest after Charlottesville.
He could be more of a Manchin-style Democrat, but this is a guy who remembers that much of his father’s family was killed at Auschwitz and he’s probably going to be hostile towards Republicans who embrace those with certain alt-right sympathies.
1 Like
In 2nd place with 11 points
Kasabian - Secret Alphabets
I like it a lot. I’m a fan of the arrangement, sounds great.
4 Likes
Okay, this one is mine.
The girl, Yuko Suzuhara, is professionally trained in shigin. Shigin is a traditional recitation of Chinese or Japanese poetry that was popular prior to the 20th century. Here’s Wagakki Band performing “Koinkun Wo Tazunu” (Eng trans: Visiting a Hermit), a poem written by Gao Qi during the Ming Dynasty.
Approximate translation from internets
ETA: For the video I submitted, hit CC to see the English translation
1 Like
3 Likes
And finally
drumroll
In 1st place with 12 points
The Family Crest - Beneath The Brine
I love the composition and I agree with what you said that: “It’s masterfully woven into the song.” It sort of reminds me of a band called Mother Mother at some parts. I am really impressed by it, I imagine it was very satisfying to see it all come together for the band. Sometimes I feel like singers accompanied with heavy instrumental (especially in nontraditional genres) can be washed out by the other musicians. I feel like the singer has really good control of his voice.
9 Likes
Thank you, nice reveal. I mean, wrong result, but a nice reveal nonetheless. Personally I enjoyed that you apologised even more than I tend to do. Quite right too.
6 Likes
Curious but is there a rule on how quickly you should reveal your rankings?
No rules. I post a song, then hit play for one last listen. Then wait a few minutes after it finishes before I post the next one. 8-10 minutes between songs is normal. It’s up to the host really.