Prog Returning to the Pop Charts

Rick Robson wrote: Argonaught wrote: Wasn't "The Golden Age of Rock Music" (late '60s - early '70s) a cultural manifestation/byproduct of the socio-econo-political turmoil of Biblical proportions that was going on at that time?   I would say 'no', the artists were just trying to push on the boundaries, like it's happening right nowadays with progressive music (though in underground way). Something alike but much stronger happened in Italy - Rinascenza; France - Impressionism; Europe - XIX Century's Pre-romantic and Romantic Era in Classical Music.

We know from history books that Europe was going through incredible tectonic shift right about the time when Impressionism was taking root. A coincidence or a direct and overwhelming causative factor? If you are into history, you may want to read up on the “Spring of the Nations”.

And the 21^st century resurgence of prog is happening, or so it would seem, concurrently with very momentous (albeit gradual) socio-economic changes.

Rick Robson wrote: Argonaught wrote: Wasn't "The Golden Age of Rock Music" (late '60s - early '70s) a cultural manifestation/byproduct of the socio-econo-political turmoil of Biblical proportions that was going on at that time?    I would say 'no', the artists were just trying to push on the boundaries, like it's happening right nowadays with progressive music (though in underground way). Something alike but much stronger happened in Italy - Rinascenza; France - Impressionism; Europe - XIX Century's Pre-romantic and Romantic Era in Classical Music.

Did any of the second wave of prog in the 90's or later have any chart success?
Spocks, Flower Kings, Anglegard, Ozric T... etc?

Guldbamsen wrote: I don't think prog ever will become part of the "mainstream" - as for progressive music, then I think we need a brand new "the 60s" for that to ever unfold. We have to change the audience and make them challenge the way they normally think about sounds - the music is already there.

Someone born in 1950 in an OECD member had by 1970 lived through the period of fastest economic growth in the history of Mankind (when accounted both in € and physical terms).

Progressive music was one of the creations of the Baby Boom generation. In Europe they were the first in centuries to not live through (or have the perspective) of foot-soldier war or serious economic recession. Education was made truly universal, and by the 1960s the majority of those enrolled in University were for the first time children of the working class. This generation thus developed other concerns and ambitions, naturally using music to create an identity of their own.

In the US there was the Vietnam war, the Nixon shock and Universities were kept to the elite. But up to 1973, those lucky enough to have missed the war lived through a period of incredible prosperity and progress.

Some ideas of mine:

The pop charts have been rushing through hype after hype for years.  Britpop, "The"-bands, Dubstep ... who knows what will follow next?  Will people eventually get bored with music restricted to either the "radio single" format (most kinds of rock and pop music) or endless repetition of a short riff (much of what is labeled "progressive" these days in the "alternative rock" press)?  What kind of music may become associated with the LOHAS/"Bright Green" current?  Will that lead to a renaissance of progressive rock, in a modernized form but adhering to the progressive spirit of the late 60s and early 70s?  Perhaps - but perhaps not.

Progressive rock, as I see it, filled a niche in the late 60s, when modern jazz became bloodlessly academic the same way classical music had become in the late 40s; it seems that there is a demand for contemporary sophisticated but lifelike and accessible music.  I think this demand still exists today, and I don't see how hip-hop and electronic dance music should bring forth something to fulfill this demand anytime soon.  Nor do I see how repetitive music of rock origin really fulfills it.  I, at least, get bored quickly listening to Mogwai or Tool.

Hence, I think that progressive rock will continue to grow in the next few decades, though it is uncertain whether it will ever rock stadiums again.

What's everyone worried about? Pink Floyd, Rush, Yes, Ian Anderson and Genesis have all charted in the past couple years with releases or rereleases. Nothing has changed.

Does anyone remember a song called "Love is like Oxygen" performed by a glam pop band called "The Sweet" back in the 70's?

That was a very big hit back then, and if you listen to it.. it's absolute prog rock if you get the album cut, and not the chopped radio version.

They were as poppy as Justin Beiber is today, but they did this prog song that was a smash hit. 

It's a great song and an epic prog song much like Elton John's "Funeral for a Friend". 

I think it's more likely Lady Gaga would put out a great prog tune and gain interest than a modern prog band rise to prominence through the current music business system.

zappaholic wrote: For prog to achieve the level of popularity it once had would require a sea change in the attitudes of the average music buyer who's been conditioned to view music as product rather than art.

Tarkus by ELP was the number 1 album in the UK charts in 1971. Was this 'product/art' ignored by the average music buyer (whatever that means) yet there remained a sufficient surfeit of willing consumers to usurp the prevailing orthodoxy of conditioning? I believe people have considerably more nous that you seem to believe (albeit much has changed societally in 40 years)


Edited by ExittheLemming - January 13 2015 at 13:58

Skullhead wrote: Does anyone remember a song called "Love is like Oxygen" performed by a glam pop band called "The Sweet" back in the 70's? That was a very big hit back then, and if you listen to it.. it's absolute prog rock if you get the album cut, and not the chopped radio version. They were as poppy as Justin Beiber is today, but they did this prog song that was a smash hit.  It's a great song and an epic prog song much like Elton John's "Funeral for a Friend".  I think it's more likely Lady Gaga would put out a great prog tune and gain interest than a modern prog band rise to prominence through the current music business system.

Edited by richardh - January 14 2015 at 14:10

Dayvenkirq wrote: Skullhead wrote: When prog first hit the ears of late 1960's music listeners, it went right into the mainstream pop charts. From Crimson to Floyd, Tull to Yes, Genesis to the Moody Blues.  Nearly 50 years later anyone can go to a vinyl record store and easily find the proof of the abundance of the popularity of these bands in the dollar bins often in volumes.  What would have to happen for modern prog to compete with the likes of today's pop stars like Gaga, Beiber, Miley, Swift? Would they have to come to prog and absorb it? or do we need a hip hop version of prog etc? I believe that for that to happen we would have to stop imitating our prog ancestors and pay attention to what PF, Gabriel, Bush, Genesis (in the 80's), and Radiohead have accomplished (some of these examples are dated, but you can learn something from them, right?). You will find a correlation that suggests that maybe in this case Crossover is the way to go. ... or ... go with metal. I'm not sure how popular guys like Death are today, but the metal scene here in Reno is huge and diverse, from technical to crap. I was auditioning for a metal band (whoever told me that was a good idea) that had the chops, so as an idea prog was in place. Crossover, metal, or both; take your pick. That would be my guess, all in all.

Great post, Dayvenkirq 

Edited by Svetonio - January 14 2015 at 02:31