„Symphonic” rock or art rock?

Genesis and SupertrampSubgenre of progressive rock?

The two bands

• Genesis and Supertramp– Obvious classical influences– Complex song structures, elaborate

instrumentation

Genesis• Band members went to the same

public school. What social class, do you think?

• Theatrical experiences, stage design, extravagant costumes

• „in thrall to the pomposities of art rock”’?

• Tony Banks: „We've never been the critics' darlings.”

• Phil Collins: "We know that people like us, because our records sell.”

• A fan’s son: I never really liked the band that much when I was younger. I guess it was "too proggy" for me. I’ve always been a Hard Rock/Metal guy. But the last few years I started expanding my tastes more and I have a new appreciation for Genesis now.

• Focus: singer/flutist/actor frontman Peter Gabriel

Early Genesis• Very much worth listening to from

the early days: The Knife from Trespass, 1970

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XhDHJNuyXw&feature=autoplay&list=AL94UKMTqg-9Dx3hZYepCwVFfpNoTQK2Gx&lf=list_related&playnext=2

– Full album, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u78veh-5Vhs– The Knife- 33:35

• The Musical Box, from Nursery Cryme, 1971

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W35wtfcByIY– Full album: 1: Musical box 10:24; 3 The Giant Hogweed 8:09

• and The Return of the Giant Hogweed (lyrics)

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTuJQL8GBqY&feature=related

The knifeTell me my life is about to begin, tell me that I am a heroPromise me all of your violent dreams, light up your body with angerNow, in this ugly world, it is time to destroy all this evilNow, when I give the word get ready to fight for your freedom, nowStand up and fight, for you know we are rightWe must strike at the lies that have spread like disease through our mindsSoon we'll have power, every soldier will restAnd we'll spread out our kindness to all who our love now deserveSome of you are going to dieMartyrs of course to the freedom that I shall provideI'll give you the names of those you must kill all must die with their childrenCarry their heads to the palace of old hang them high, let the blood flowNow, in this ugly world break all the chains around us

Now, the crusade has begun give us a land fit for heroes, nowStand up and fight, for you know we are rightWe must strike at the lies that have spread like disease through our mindsSoon we'll have power, every soldier will restAnd we'll spread out our kindness to all who our love now deserveSome of you are going to dieMartyrs of course to the freedom that I shall provideWe are only wanting freedomWe are only wanting freedomWe are only wanting freedomWe are only wanting freedomWe are only wanting freedomWe are only wanting freedomWe have wonSome of you are going to dieMartyrs of course to the freedom that I shall provide 

The musical boxWhile Henry Hamilton-Smythe minor was playing croquet with Cynthia Jane De Blaise-William sweet-smiling Cynthia raised her mallet high and gracefully removed Henry's head. Two weeks later, in Henry's nursery, she discovered his treasured musical box. Eagerly she opened it and as "Old King Cole" began to play, a small spirit-figure appeared. Henry had returned - but not for long, for as he stood in the room his body began ageing rapidly, leaving a child's mind inside. A lifetime's desires surged through him. Unfortunately the attempt to persuade Cynthia Jane to fulfill his romantic desire led his nurse to the nursery to investigate the noise. Instinctively Nanny hurled the musical box at the bearded child, destroying both.

The musical box lyricsPlay me Old King ColeThat I may join with you,All your hearts now seem so far from meIt hardly seems to matter now.

And the nurse will tell you liesOf a kingdom beyond the skies.But I am lost within this half-world,It hardly seems to matter now.

Play me my song.Here it comes again.Play me my song.Here it comes again.

Just a little bit,Just a little bit more time,Time left to live out my life.

Play me my song.Here it comes again.Play me my song.Here it comes again.

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,And a merry old soul was he.So he called for his pipe,And he called for his bowl,And he called for his fiddlers three.

But the clock, tick-tock,On the mantlepiece -And I want, and I feel, and I know, and I touch,the wall

She's a lady, she's got time,Brush back your hair, and let me get to know your face.She's a lady, she is mine.Brush back your hair, and let me get to know your flesh.

I've been waiting here for so longAnd all this time has passed me byIt doesn't seem to matter nowYou stand there with your fixed expressionCasting doubt on all I have to say.Why don't you touch me, touch me,Why don't you touch me, touch me,Touch me now, now, now, now, now...

The Giant HogweedTurn and run! Nothing can stop them,Around every river and canal their power is growing.Stamp them out! We must destroy them,They infiltrate each city with their thick dark warning odour.

They are invincible, They seem immune to all our herbicidal battering.

Long ago in the Russian hills,A Victorian explorer found the regal Hogweed by a marsh,He captured it and brought it home.Botanical creature stirs, seeking revenge.Royal beast did not forget. He came home to London,And made a present of the Hogweed to the Royal Gardens at Kew.Waste no time!They are approaching.Hurry now, we must protect ourselves and find some shelterStrike by night!

They are defenceless.They all need the sun to photosensitize their venom.

Still they're invincible,Still they're immune to all our herbicidal battering.

Fashionable country gentlemen had some cultivated wild gardens,In which they innocently planted the Giant Hogweed throughout the land.Botanical creature stirs, seeking revenge.Royal beast did not forget.Soon they escaped, spreading their seed,Preparing for an onslaught, threatening the human race.

The Dance Of The Giant Hogweed

Mighty Hogweed is avenged.Human bodies soon will know our anger.Kill them with your Hogweed hairsHERACLEUM MANTEGAZZIANI

Later Genesis• Gabriel left, drummer Collins came to the front to sing! • Dance on a Volcano from Trick of a Tail, 1976

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJO8kcZdfQM• All in a Mouse’s night, from Wind and Wuthering, 1977

(lyrics)– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsOlHrxgpAg&feature=related

• and Unquiet slumbers…– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDC6wj9bCFw&feature=relat

ed• HD video: In concert in 1978 (or 77)?

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPmwPsQV5ec

All in a Mouse’s nightI can't see you but I know you're there.Got to get beside you cos it's really cold out here.Come up close to me you'll soon be warm.Hold me tightly like we're sheltering from a storm.

Think I might go out for a strollInto the night, and out of this hole.Maybe find me a meal.Walking along this new shag pilePresents a problem all the while.Nearly the door.

Suddenly he bumps into wood, the door is closed.A voice from the bed, he'll be exposed.Which way to run, must make for the hole,The light's been turned on, he's blind as a mole in coal.

Now I can see they're coming at me,They've blocked off my door, I haven't a chance in hell.

It only took one blow.Come on baby let the poor thing go.I'm not sleeping with that thing around here, no.Alright then, I'll fetch a box from below,Guard him carefully, they're very quick you know.

The door's been opened, my chance to escape.Must run out quick, better sorry than late.I'm out on the stairs.They won't catch me now, I've the run of the house now.I'll make it downstairs and into the breadbin.That would be nice.

Suddenly he bumps into fur, that's very unwise,A cat is much quicker than men and their eyes.The chase that ensues can have only one end,Unless outside help steps in for our friend in need.

But now the cat comes in for the kill,His paw is raised, soon blood will spill, yes it will.

All in a Mouse’s night (cont.)Hard luck mouse, this is the end of your road.The signpost says inside me, let me bear your heavy load.

But it's not to be, that final pounceKnocks a jar upon his head, and lays him out.

But it's all in a mouse's nightTo take on all those who would fight.

There I was with my back to the wall,Then comes this monster mouse, he's ten feet tall,With teeth and claws to match.

SupertrampIndelibly stamped, 1971,

below.

• A motley outfit, but musically strong– Rick Davies (working

class, blues and jazz infl)– Roger Hogdson (middle

class, influence from pop and psychedelia)

– John Helliwell on saxophone!

– Band assembled in auditions from an ad in Melody Maker

• Offputting name• Dutch millionaire to support

them in the initial years.

From progressive to pop• Crime of the Century from eponymous

album, 1974 (video, HD)– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDwebJ

SHA74• They settled in the US• Breakfast in America, from eponymous

album, 1979– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbiugrfo7G4

• and The Logical Song– A much later video:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQfjIw3mivc

• Brother, where you bound, 1985– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=une_xG9IFC0

Supertramp: The Crime of the Century

Now they're planning,the crime of the century.Well what, will it be?Read all about,their schemes and adventuring,Yes it's well worth the fee.So roll up and see.How they rape the universe.How they've gone from bad to worse.Who are these men,of lust, greed, and glory?Rip off the masks and let's see.But that's not right,oh no, what's the story?But there's you and there's me.

Breakfast in AmericaTake a look at my girlfriendShe's the only one I gotNot much of a girlfriendNever seem to get a lot

Take a jumbo across the waterLike to see AmericaSee the girls in CaliforniaI'm hoping it's going to come trueBut there's not a lot I can do

Could we have kippers for breakfastMummy dear, Mummy dearThey got to have 'em in TexasCos everyone's a millionaire

I'm a winner, I'm a sinnerDo you want my autographI'm a loser, what a jokerI'm playing my jokes upon youWhile there's nothing better to do

Don't you look at my girlfriendShe's the only one I gotNot much of a girlfriendNever seem to get a lot

Take a jumbo cross the waterLike to see AmericaSee the girls in CaliforniaI'm hoping it's going to come trueBut there's not a lot I can do

Homework• A close reading of the encyclopaedia entries (4 files)• Procedure

– Do you find the evaluation positive or critical overall?– What textual evidence is there to support the overall evaluation?– Find the features the critic praises. Find the evidence, i.e. relevant

words/expressions/sentences that carry the message– Find the features that are criticised. Also find the evidence that proves the point. – Your own evaluation

• Last but not least: Listening to the music we did not have time for in class, in general, but especially, answering the following questions: – Having listened to the Genesis songs what difference(s) do you see between the

music of early and later Genesis? – What difference do you see if you compare Supertramp’s Crime of the century

song and their two later songs from the slide? – How has the music of these two bands changed in terms of its accessibility for

the average listener?– What might be called „flash rock” to your minds? Applies to Supertramp?

• Compare your answers to what we observed about the change of direction in Pink Floyd’s music.