Earlier today I found a topic to get this blog back in motion – Story Songs
You can check here, here, and here for other examples. Again I got the idea from other people on Twitter.
These are not in any order nor are they necessarily my favorite story songs. These songs are just the first five that popped into my noggin when I saw the first blog entry about this topic.
Bruce Springsteen – Reno
From the album Devils and Dust, this was the first album I bought from the Boss. I know, some of you are saying I’m crazy for not at least owning a greatest hits compilation. I always appreciated his music but never felt compelled to own it. It was the sound of the title track that pushed me over the edge to buy this album.
This song grabbed me by surprise when I quickly realized the main character in the song is talking about his experience with a hooker. On the first listen, I kept getting distracted from the story by the musical arrangement, lush strings over piano and acoustic and steel guitars. I had to listen to it a few times before I could understand everything that the Boss was singing.
Phil Collins – The Roof is Leaking
From the album Face Value, I found myself singing this song over and over after getting my first CD player at about 12 or 13. Please don’t ask why. Even then I could hear the song had emotion behind the story. It has a simple melody and the arrangement builds on every verse.
Spock’s Beard – Snow
Snow isn’t a song, it is an entire double album. I can already hear you saying, “This is supposed to be about songs. Why do you keep breaking the rules?” Because it’s my blog dammit!
Snow is the story of a boy born with “skin white as lightning and eyes like two shots from a gun.” Snow also has a special gift. When Snow touches someone, he can see their pain and help them release it. He gains popularity overnight and his people build a business around his healing ability. Sounds like a mix of Powder, Tommy, and Sybok from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
What makes this album different from Tommy, rock operas, or other concept albums is the use of musical themes throughout. Tommy may have the “see me, feel me” theme appear in places, but I think Snow is in a different league. Just like Tommy, I think Snow also has some weak songs here and there, but overall it holds together more tightly than Tommy.
Yes – Circus of Heaven
From the Tormato album, tells the story of an inter-galactic circus and all of the wondrous sights and sounds. Rick Wakeman does an excellent job using the keyboards to invoke an image of a circus to add to the story. This is a song a vividly remember as a child growing up because it had the voice of a young child at the end. After Jon Anderson sings about this amazing circus, his son says, “It was ok, but there were no clows, or lions, or tigers, or bears, or candy floss…”
Sting – Fill Her Up
From the album Brand New Day. This is another song where the music itself grabbed my attention first. The song starts as twangy country and ends as a gospel romp. Tells the story of a young man working at a gas station. James Taylor plays the part of a big shot with a nice car and a good looking girl on his way to Vegas to get married. The gas station attendant is jealous of Mr. Big Shot’s situation and decides to steal the station’s cash box so he can show his girl a good time. I think you can understand where the gospel section comes in.
