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SteveG
Forum Senior Member
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Location: Kyiv In Spirit
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Points: 20538
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Topic: What makes a good Prog song? Posted: March 27 2015 at 10:58 |
A very subjective question, but I surmise that many members will express similar views. So, what elements, in your opinion, are needed in order to make a make a good Prog song? Feel free to talk about music, musicianship, lyrics, concepts, recording techniques or whatever you feel is necessary from the artist.
Edited by SteveG - March 30 2015 at 11:34
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Progosopher
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 12 2009
Location: Coolwood
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Points: 6402
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 11:28 |
In no particular order: Virtuosity. I like to hear great musician play well. This even goes back before I truly discovered Prog when Ritchie Blackmore was like a god to me. Complex structures. Changes in tempo, key, time-signature, tone, chords, and instrumentation always catch my attention. Intelligent lyrics. Words that convey meaning and insight, preferably with a good melody. Listenability. While I appreciate chaos and dissonance, too much of it becomes a distraction. If I cannot distinguish the music from random sounds, I don't care much for it. Cohesion. A piece of music, whether a vocal song or instrumental, must come as a whole. This is especially challenging with multi-part epics. All the elements must hold together and serve one another. This also applies to albums as a whole and not just individual tracks. There is an art to pacing.
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The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty"
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lazland
Prog Reviewer
Joined: October 28 2008
Location: Wales
Status: Offline
Points: 13365
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 11:43 |
Steve Hogarth, Steven Rothery, Mark Kelly, Ian Moseley, Pete Trewavas. Next......
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Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org
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Horizons
Collaborator
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 11:47 |
lazland wrote:
Steve Hogarth, Steven Rothery, Mark Kelly, Ian Moseley, Pete Trewavas.
Next...... ![](smileys/smiley1.gif) |
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Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.
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Barbu
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 09 2005
Location: infinity
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 11:50 |
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verslibre
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 01 2004
Location: CA
Status: Online
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 11:50 |
Stacks of analog synthesizers (and Rhodes), a beefy bass guitar tone, and percussion. Everything else is optional!
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The Sloth
Forum Senior Member
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Points: 115
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 12:12 |
Colorful yet tasteful drumming; interesting "events" one after another; the undeniable creation of a mental image or feeling; the sense that this particular musical situation can only be found here in this song/album, yet the music itself isn't a chore to listen to.
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SteveG
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 11 2014
Location: Kyiv In Spirit
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Points: 20538
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 16:08 |
lazland wrote:
Steve Hogarth, Steven Rothery, Mark Kelly, Ian Moseley, Pete Trewavas.
Next...... ![](smileys/smiley1.gif) |
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SteveG
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 11 2014
Location: Kyiv In Spirit
Status: Offline
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 16:08 |
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twalsh
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 26 2014
Location: Vancouver, BC
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Points: 328
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 18:18 |
Complexity, with a balance of melody and dissonance in the music and sufficient dynamics to appreciate both. Structure that extends at least a little beyond verse-chorus-verse Intelligent lyrics - interesting concepts are a bonus. I prefer my lyrics at least somewhat connected to real life experience or philosophy. Go easy on stories about elves and fairies. ![LOL LOL](smileys/smiley36.gif) Virtuosity, especially with guitar. Yet, with instruments beyond just guitar/bass/drums or effects that make up for the lack of diverse instruments.
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More heavy prog, please!
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Svetonio
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Location: Serbia
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 19:10 |
On the side of all mentioned above, and despite of prog instrumentals, I think that a way of singing is tremendously important issue.
Edited by Svetonio - March 27 2015 at 19:33
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ExittheLemming
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Joined: October 19 2007
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 19:20 |
Something that is a departure from habitual time honoured song structures e.g intro/verse 1/chorus/verse 2/middle eight/chorus/guitar solo etc In short, a good Prog song shouldn't really resemble a conventional song at all (otherwise it's just a long winded pop song ![Unhappy Unhappy](smileys/smiley6.gif) ) Oh, and also sparkly costumes...
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Polymorphia
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 06 2012
Location: here
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 19:46 |
ExittheLemming wrote:
sparkly costumes...
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nail on the head
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The Dark Elf
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: February 01 2011
Location: Michigan
Status: Online
Points: 12791
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 20:09 |
Music that doesn't suck.
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...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
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cstack3
Forum Senior Member
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 21:27 |
verslibre wrote:
Stacks of analog synthesizers (and Rhodes), a beefy bass guitar tone, and percussion. Everything else is optional! |
Nay. Mellotrons in Prog are never optional.
A good prog song should be drenched in 8 voice choir, strings, flute, etc. On Mellotron.
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stegor
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 23 2013
Location: Minnesota
Status: Offline
Points: 1992
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Posted: March 27 2015 at 22:10 |
The Sloth wrote:
Colorful yet tasteful drumming; interesting "events" one after another; the undeniable creation of a mental image or feeling; the sense that this particular musical situation can only be found here in this song/album, yet the music itself isn't a chore to listen to. |
I like this. Especially the "Interesting events" bit.
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HackettFan
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 20 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Status: Offline
Points: 7946
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Posted: March 28 2015 at 00:16 |
Unusual timbre. Odd time signatures and unpredictable metrical characteristics in general. Arrangements with lots of transitions. Merging of other styles with rock.
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verslibre
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 01 2004
Location: CA
Status: Online
Points: 15429
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Posted: March 28 2015 at 01:15 |
cstack3 wrote:
verslibre wrote:
Stacks of analog synthesizers (and Rhodes), a beefy bass guitar tone, and percussion. Everything else is optional! |
Nay. Mellotrons in Prog are never optional.
A good prog song should be drenched in 8 voice choir, strings, flute, etc. On Mellotron. |
Okay, throw in 'Tron sounds because I do love 'em, I just don't want the 'Tron to become a crutch. ![Wink Wink](smileys/smiley2.gif) ![LOL LOL](smileys/smiley36.gif)
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Kati
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 10 2010
Location: Earth
Status: Offline
Points: 6253
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Posted: March 28 2015 at 01:43 |
guitars, guitar tunes!
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richardh
Prog Reviewer
Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 26471
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Posted: March 28 2015 at 03:36 |
cstack3 wrote:
verslibre wrote:
Stacks of analog synthesizers (and Rhodes), a beefy bass guitar tone, and percussion. Everything else is optional! |
Nay. Mellotrons in Prog are never optional.
A good prog song should be drenched in 8 voice choir, strings, flute, etc. On Mellotron. |
So that's where Keith Emerson went wrong ( I know I am going to open a hornets nest with this comment ![LOL LOL](smileys/smiley36.gif) )
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