The other day I was thinking this, and ironically maybe I'm just musically dumb at times I find most common/poplar prog rock bands aren't really anything musical theory crazy, other than bands that may time signature change and some other elements in other songs, they all seemed to have some form of radio-rock element. I love YES don't get me wrong but I feel like if you insult or make a point hardcore prog fans on other forms get upset and if you look on any prog rock form or subreddit you'll see stuff like "It's too advance" or "That band is complicated enough for me..." it's almost like I think they oblivious to their own thoughts... This can be found in any genre of course Jazz has some gatekeeping at times but in all genre there's awesome people as well!
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Why did prog rock never have mass popularity?
- Thread starter MidnightRunner
- Start date
Just as I opened this thread, I was listening to live Saga concerts in France and Denmark from this year. Quite large crowds there into them. Canadian band Saga has continuously been recording and touring since 1977. They are still very popular in Europe.
A lot of people trash the modern spotify/internet age and how it has destroyed the value of music. But, for me, there has never been a better time to be a listener. As a huge fan of Progressive Music, there are tons of great modern releases and bands making amazing music...from all over the world. I could care less that they aren't on radio or playing arenas. They exist, and my listening life, is all the better for it.
I get that a lot of people love the old stuff and so do I. I just can't find much time to listen to it, anymore.
Here is just one of many, many examples of new prog.
I get that a lot of people love the old stuff and so do I. I just can't find much time to listen to it, anymore.
Here is just one of many, many examples of new prog.
I’m sure I’m one of those. I don’t use any music streaming services because they’re all evidently based on, “if you like that you’ll like this.” As a result their algorithms prevent my hearing new or unfamiliar things, which are what I’m interested in hearing. My ears and brain don’t want to hear more-of-the-same.
Honestly, that is a bit shortsighted. I understand what you're trying to say, but that has not been my experience with Spotify at least. I listen to a pretty varied range of prog music and I very often get recommended new songs from artists I've never heard of and its not like it is always the same sounding music. If you want to try out different genres, there are plenty of playlists which will expose you to a pretty varied number of artists that you might otherwise never had heard of.
Some people in the USA are already in 2023. It's like they're living in the future.Back in Chicago around 68-72 you could hear Yes, King Crimson, ELP etc. on AM radio. Kids - look it up
Happy New Year guys - Times Progressing, eh?
I've Seen All Good People.
I feel like I've heard this song about 500 times on the radio and I don't understand what it's about.
Yes is a great band. This song though. Sorry but no, I just don't get it.
I feel like I've heard this song about 500 times on the radio and I don't understand what it's about.
Yes is a great band. This song though. Sorry but no, I just don't get it.
The song uses chess as a metaphor for relationships. It's a stretch lyrically but it's there. There are also a couple of Beatles references peppered in.
Kansas had what was probably the most successful prog album in the USA ever, goes to show what a popular single getting played on top 40 radio multiple times a day could do back then.
Kansas Point of Know Return #4 Billboard, 4 times Platinum (4 million+ copies)
Dust In The Wind single #3 Billboard, 3 times Platinum (3 million+ copies)
ELO Out Of This World #4 Billboard, certified Platinum (1 million+....this was so popular in the USA it was heavily counterfeited)
ELP Brain Salad Surgery #11 Billboard, certified Gold (500,000+ copies)
Styx Grand Illusion #6 Billboard
Come Sail Away single #8 Billboard
King Crimson In The Court of the Crimson King #28 Billboard, certified Gold
If you consider Queen prog (I don't):
Night At the Opera #4 Billboard, certified 3 time Platinum (3 million+ copies)
Bohemian Rhapsody single #2 Billboard, 10 times Platinum (10 million+ copies)
Kansas Point of Know Return #4 Billboard, 4 times Platinum (4 million+ copies)
Dust In The Wind single #3 Billboard, 3 times Platinum (3 million+ copies)
ELO Out Of This World #4 Billboard, certified Platinum (1 million+....this was so popular in the USA it was heavily counterfeited)
ELP Brain Salad Surgery #11 Billboard, certified Gold (500,000+ copies)
Styx Grand Illusion #6 Billboard
Come Sail Away single #8 Billboard
King Crimson In The Court of the Crimson King #28 Billboard, certified Gold
If you consider Queen prog (I don't):
Night At the Opera #4 Billboard, certified 3 time Platinum (3 million+ copies)
Bohemian Rhapsody single #2 Billboard, 10 times Platinum (10 million+ copies)
And you understand what their other songs are about?!?!?
"As we cross from side to side we hear the total mass retain" (Close to the Edge)
"Lost in summer, morning, winter, travel very far" (Yours is no Disgrace)
"Dawn of Light Lying Between a Silence and Sold Sources" (The Revealing Science of God)
If you're really interested.....
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I don't use Spotify algorithms at all. Sure, they automatically create fresh playlists for me every week but I never play any of them. I pay $10 a month for the privilege, that's less than the price of a single CD per month. I used buy a half dozen LPs/CDs a month on average, now I can listen to almost anything including plenty of rare, out of print stuff, for a fraction of that. I do worry that Spotify may go under, though...they have never turned a profit.
Percy Jones was badass and so was the band Brand X. I loved his fretless playing.
Well, at only paying artists between .0003 - .0005 per stream, it's certainly not from lack of trying.
An interesting point, none-the-less. I just assumed that they ripped musicians off, and made lots of money at their end. Bandcamp is the way to go, IMO. They actually pay artists fairly and have their own streaming options.
I was a huge prog fan in the 70s (and still love it) and as I recall there was a lot happening in music during the late 70s. Peoples tastes were changing along with what was being played on the radio and prog in general got watered down and turned pop. That said, prog has never disappeared but became harder to find. One of my favorite artists of the last 25 or so years has been Steven Wilson.
Great post. On the one hand, yes it has become a bit harder to find, but on the other hand, there is a TON of great new progressive music out there, once you tap into it. I can honestly barely keep up with all the great new stuff being released. And so many genres are mixed in with the style (prog metal, dark folk, minimalist jazz, post-rock, etc.), that it's never been a better time to be a fan of this type of music. Especially if you're willing to cast your net wide enough.
Steven Wilson is just the tip of the iceberg. This album, for example, just came out today, in a year that has been jam-packed with great stuff.
I appreciate Bandcamp for what it is, but it's nothing like Spotify, Apple Music, Amaxon Music, Deezer, Tidal etc.
I do buy albums from Bandcamp. I like being able to audition them first.
