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Taking time — 14 Comments

  1. Speaking of “Shifty” songs,
    I counted 25 changes from a major to minor
    key in “Haze Shade of Winter”

    Neo – Thanks for re-awaking my interest
    in music theory !

  2. Monte Meals:

    You’re welcome!

    Key shifts done well are some of the most effective and satisfying elements in pop music, whether we notice them explicitly or not.

  3. I finally looked at Griffin’s Bangles video. It’s intercut with clips from the film “Less Than Zero.” Nice. The song was in the film, which I didn’t recall. For some reason I couldn’t explain, I like that film much more than it probably deserves.

    Two taglines from the film:
    In Beverly Hills, you can have anything your heart desires. You just can’t have it the way it used to be.

    It only looks like the good life.

    Ha! The song definitely fits in with that. And with Neo’s post.
    _____

    I generally don’t try to dig out every single word of a lyric when listening to pop songs, so naturally I never noticed the following bit.

    Funny how my memory skips
    While looking over manuscripts of unpublished rhyme
    Drinking my vodka and lime

  4. neo,

    I am grateful for the writings that you choose to share and hope that you get what you want out of taking the time to write and publish your essays.

  5. I don’t have to choose between S&G and the Bangles. They’re both excellent and fill different purposes.

    Simon’s version is part of his “New Yorker” lyric arc of the “Bookends” album. The Bangles’ is jumpin’ great 80s rock. I didn’t get how good 80s rock was at the time, but I do now.

  6. Simon’s lyrics remind me of that weird mid-twenties time, when I felt cynical and bitter, that time was running out and life was passing me by.

    But I was 26!

  7. The song seems more apt sung with female voices. The intense introspection and uncertainty seem odd coming from two males. Not that I haven’t done that level of introspection and felt uncertain; but singing about it loudly with another man?

    Bangles for me.

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