Because I know you have impeccable taste, I clicked on the YouTube link, even though
a) I'm not a fan of 'popular' music (with the exception of Enya's, about twenty years ago - psychologists can make of that what they will) and
b) I'm the last man in the world still on dial-up, and it takes me forever to download the damn things.
Here goes.
Naturally, I recognised the tune (from nearly twenty years ago - shakes head in disbelief!) - I'd have had to have been living on a different planet not to hear Billy Joel being played at that time. I must admit that I'd never concentrated on the lyrics before today and was quite surprised to notice that Stalin, Malenkov (how many people know that name?) and Prokofi-ev (not -ov as in the song - my only quibble on his pronunciation) constituted most of one of the lines.
Then his purpose began to dawn on me - and I thought it quite novel. He has a good grasp of history (I understand that he once had aspirations to being a teacher) but some of the things/people/events he refers to (and his diction could be a lot clearer in parts - some I couldn't grasp after three hearings) clearly mark him - as you point out - as seeing things from an American perspective. Is this a fault? Not really - it would (probably) be a useful teaching aid to someone teaching twentieth-century politics/history, but not by itself (especially as it doesn't follow strict chronological order - but, hell, it's a song first).
I thought it could have done with a bit more variation - songs like this have the form ABABABAB... and I would have preferred something more ABCBDBEB... or what's called rondo form. That's merely a personal preference.
I understand that it's found its way on to a Worst Songs list. I can't see why.
The earliest thing/event/people I remember from childhood is Ho Chi Minh, for your information.
I've just seen the montage. I like that a lot more than the video (which you probably noted I didn't comment on!).
It gives a much better impression of how much the world has changed in the short time that it covers, while emphasising that strife is more or less a continuous occurence in human history.
It might even inspire me to check out a few more of his songs!
With the greatest respect, what's that got to do with it?
I was talking about melodic and harmonic structure as well as the lyrics. Us people who are mad enough to take to composing music from time to time can be taken with the oddest-seeming things (see reference to Enya before).
Well, it certainly is (or perhaps rather was) compared to the likes of Richard Strauss's Elektra, Mahler's symphonies, Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen....
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No, you and I put it out! Not a whisper on the forest fire page since we took it apart!
I carry a lot of lyrics in my head, HM (I broke into song this morning with The Mikado), but, alas, I must admit that I don't know this one at all.
What a relief it is not to have to omit the letter 'e'!
You might like it… It has a lot of recent history references. From an American perspective, though.
Because I know you have impeccable taste, I clicked on the YouTube link, even though
a) I'm not a fan of 'popular' music (with the exception of Enya's, about twenty years ago - psychologists can make of that what they will) and
b) I'm the last man in the world still on dial-up, and it takes me forever to download the damn things.
Here goes.
Naturally, I recognised the tune (from nearly twenty years ago - shakes head in disbelief!) - I'd have had to have been living on a different planet not to hear Billy Joel being played at that time. I must admit that I'd never concentrated on the lyrics before today and was quite surprised to notice that Stalin, Malenkov (how many people know that name?) and Prokofi-ev (not -ov as in the song - my only quibble on his pronunciation) constituted most of one of the lines.
Then his purpose began to dawn on me - and I thought it quite novel. He has a good grasp of history (I understand that he once had aspirations to being a teacher) but some of the things/people/events he refers to (and his diction could be a lot clearer in parts - some I couldn't grasp after three hearings) clearly mark him - as you point out - as seeing things from an American perspective. Is this a fault? Not really - it would (probably) be a useful teaching aid to someone teaching twentieth-century politics/history, but not by itself (especially as it doesn't follow strict chronological order - but, hell, it's a song first).
I thought it could have done with a bit more variation - songs like this have the form ABABABAB... and I would have preferred something more ABCBDBEB... or what's called rondo form. That's merely a personal preference.
I understand that it's found its way on to a Worst Songs list. I can't see why.
The earliest thing/event/people I remember from childhood is Ho Chi Minh, for your information.
I might even try memorising it.
I'll stop there.
There are two links… did you watch the montage, or the music video? The montage shows everything as it is said.
Oh, do I have to go through the whole procedure again? Just the video, HM.
OK, seeing as it's you...
I've just seen the montage. I like that a lot more than the video (which you probably noted I didn't comment on!).
It gives a much better impression of how much the world has changed in the short time that it covers, while emphasising that strife is more or less a continuous occurence in human history.
It might even inspire me to check out a few more of his songs!
I liked Uptown girl but thats cos of Christie Brinkley – Finrod you wont like any of his stuff trust me! You are from a different era / class.
With the greatest respect, what's that got to do with it?
I was talking about melodic and harmonic structure as well as the lyrics. Us people who are mad enough to take to composing music from time to time can be taken with the oddest-seeming things (see reference to Enya before).
I do indeed know all the lyrics to this song. And I must admit it’s something I’m rather proud of.
Granted, we did a project on it when I was in 7th grade where we had to write a new verse to it, but it’s permanently engraved on my brain.
Enya … popular – well i never did??
!?