If it helps, Jana, Music is applied mathematics. Gentle Giant is applied calculus. Not everybody gets what they're doing. If you were to see it live, it would blow your mind. Every member of the band is a multi-instrumentalist, and they change instruments several times throughout the song. I saw them live three times and they were magnificent. The song is structure as a capella, then voice with instruments, then instruments alone playing the same lines.
The higher vocal is Kerry Minnear, who played all the keyboards, cello, guitar, recorder, percussion, xylophone - talk about talent, but then it applies to Derek, Ray, Phil, Gary and John too. I know Phil Shulman had left by this time, but still… Find some live stuff and you can see all of them singing, or on guitar or percussion. Go back to 1970 and their first album. Enjoy ❤️
Gentle Giant is definitely unique among progbands. They had a unique ability of combining instrumental high complexity, humour, playfulness and quirkiness. Frank Zappa was a big fan, so is Steve Harris of Iron Maiden. Bands who have been heavily inspired by them include PFM, Samla Mammas Manna and Yezda Urfa.
The theme is a Fugue for 4 voices. It is incredible the creativity and their purpose to innovate and mixe classical and renaissance music with rock and funk
Great reaction Jana. For an absorbing watch - GG at Golders Green is , IMO impossible to beat. The technical brilliance and energy of the band is incredible, and after a few viewings actually quite catchy ! Should be an official live album release I think. Brilliant. Thanks again Nathan. 😍
normal pop music is like circling the block in your neighborhood, not likely to experience anything new and you always return to your starting place. Prog GG, KC etc, is a road trip an adventure to a unknown destination, stretch & enjoy.
I love this tune and the way it's structured. First the four part round is established vocally. Next the round is repeated this time as the vocalists play their instruments along with the vocal parts. After the tune transitions into a mild, softer section the round is then reestablished with rock instruments - a logical yet uniquely creative evolution from an acoustic, classical sound to a contemporary, electric one. Remarkable! Oh yeah, and the band plays more than 50 instruments!. Also, if you've listened to all 11 of GGs albums in order, the evolution is quite interesting. The band evolves from an esoteric sound in the beginning with lengthy story telling, unusual time signatures and composition to (in their last few albums) a much more commercial approach. If Jana prefers a more commercial format I would recommend listening to "Number One" from GGs Civilian Album! Cheers!
Interesting song. But...how can one listen to this and not even mention the incredibly beautiful ballad within the "wackyness" That juxtaposition even elevates the reflection to profoundly moving heights, IMHO.. I shed a tear at the passing every time. First there is the intellectual reflection and then the gut wrentching, purely emotional reflection.
If you can make listening to her "Funny ways", the studio version first and the lives versions from 1974,1975 and 1978 that would be great, as a musician Gentle giant is purely an inspiration. Thanks in advance, friendly from France!
So, most everything I've heard by Gentle Giant has been a bit too weird for me. But, this reminds me of madrigals, which I loved singing in choir. I very much enjoyed this.
It is quite Renasissance, for sure. Have you listened Madrigals, Book V, by Carlo Gesualdo? You should! Even if you have already - listen again!!! 🙂 Gesualdo would have to be considered "High Renaissance" (very late Renaissance, and quite unique he was).
They were also the one band my mom could never tolerate (even though she likes quite a bit of Yes and Genesis). It is just something about this band that is off-putting to certain people (but I love it!).
Jana let me down a bit here. Gentle Giant strove to be different. The risk in doing so is that it might succeed and thereby alientate scads of listeners who simply find their efforts to be to weird and unlistenable. Count me in that camp. Intellectually, I can understand the band and acknowledge the difficulty of what they are playing, but I've never heard any GG song that met my definition of a worthwhile artistic endeavor. As some sort of karma, my wife feels exactly the same way about Yes.
Very interesting opinion. I wonder if me growing up hearing this music due to my dad playing it constantly made me more accustomed to this sound and more inclined to appreciate it? Jana's reaction to the other GG song we've done (Advent of Panurge) I think is more in line to the feelings you've expressed here.
I actually loathe this band!!! I love Tull, Yes, Camel, Marrillion, Genesis, Caravan etc. But this band is like being tied to an electric chair. Sorry..I detest this band
One of the greatest prog songs ever!
I am a little obsessed with Gentle Giant at the moment.
Think of Me with Kindness is one of my favorite GG song
If it helps, Jana, Music is applied mathematics. Gentle Giant is applied calculus. Not everybody gets what they're doing. If you were to see it live, it would blow your mind. Every member of the band is a multi-instrumentalist, and they change instruments several times throughout the song. I saw them live three times and they were magnificent. The song is structure as a capella, then voice with instruments, then instruments alone playing the same lines.
The higher vocal is Kerry Minnear, who played all the keyboards, cello, guitar, recorder, percussion, xylophone - talk about talent, but then it applies to Derek, Ray, Phil, Gary and John too. I know Phil Shulman had left by this time, but still… Find some live stuff and you can see all of them singing, or on guitar or percussion. Go back to 1970 and their first album. Enjoy ❤️
Minnear is a musical genius!
Gentle Giant is definitely unique among progbands. They had a unique ability of combining instrumental high complexity, humour, playfulness and quirkiness. Frank Zappa was a big fan, so is Steve Harris of Iron Maiden.
Bands who have been heavily inspired by them include PFM, Samla Mammas Manna and Yezda Urfa.
Neal Morse wrote several songs called Thoughts (solo and with Spock's Beard) and another song Gibberish with this kind of complex harmony singing.
They most amazing thing to me is that they did this live perfectly. No overdubs live, especially back then.
The theme is a Fugue for 4 voices. It is incredible the creativity and their purpose to innovate and mixe classical and renaissance music with rock and funk
Has anyone else ever written a fugue with a drum beat? Brilliant!
Gentle Giant, rich and strange, always mesmerizing and intriguing
GG is my favorite band from the early 70s along with Yes and Renaissance! I saw Giant 5 times in Philly!
It tickles (love GG) - great comments from Jana - An d Nathan surely knows his stuff
Ah yes, the beautiful chaos of Gentle Giant...but not so chaotic if you're alert, but they take time to fathom
Great reaction Jana. For an absorbing watch - GG at Golders Green is , IMO impossible to beat. The technical brilliance and energy of the band is incredible, and after a few viewings actually quite catchy ! Should be an official live album release I think. Brilliant. Thanks again Nathan. 😍
They definitely take things to a whole other level live!
Amazing song!!!
normal pop music is like circling the block in your neighborhood, not likely to experience anything new and you always return to your starting place.
Prog GG, KC etc, is a road trip an adventure to a unknown destination, stretch & enjoy.
Excellent! One of the best kind of descriptions I have heard.
I love this tune and the way it's structured. First the four part round is established vocally. Next the round is repeated this time as the vocalists play their instruments along with the vocal parts. After the tune transitions into a mild, softer section the round is then reestablished with rock instruments - a logical yet uniquely creative evolution from an acoustic, classical sound to a contemporary, electric one. Remarkable! Oh yeah, and the band plays more than 50 instruments!. Also, if you've listened to all 11 of GGs albums in order, the evolution is quite interesting. The band evolves from an esoteric sound in the beginning with lengthy story telling, unusual time signatures and composition to (in their last few albums) a much more commercial approach. If Jana prefers a more commercial format I would recommend listening to "Number One" from GGs Civilian Album! Cheers!
Awesome! Loved your reactions! Well done, Nathan! Cheers!
Interesting song. But...how can one listen to this and not even mention the incredibly beautiful ballad within the "wackyness" That juxtaposition even elevates the reflection to profoundly moving heights, IMHO.. I shed a tear at the passing every time. First there is the intellectual reflection and then the gut wrentching, purely emotional reflection.
That is an interesting description of the song, great insight!
That’s exactly my reaction to many of their songs. I loooooove that contrast!
A 6-minute prog song . . . so, a short one, then!! Great band - I have all their albums and the big box-set from a few years ago.
Medieval Rock 🪨🔥😎
If you can make listening to her "Funny ways", the studio version first and the lives versions from 1974,1975 and 1978 that would be great, as a musician Gentle giant is purely an inspiration.
Thanks in advance, friendly from France!
To me there is Yes, Gentle Giant and then all the rest.
About sums it up.
Wonderfully weird🔥😎
Haha you have to react to acquiring the taste she will be laughing at most of it 😂
GG sounded like no one else.
So, most everything I've heard by Gentle Giant has been a bit too weird for me. But, this reminds me of madrigals, which I loved singing in choir. I very much enjoyed this.
It is quite Renasissance, for sure. Have you listened Madrigals, Book V, by Carlo Gesualdo? You should! Even if you have already - listen again!!! 🙂
Gesualdo would have to be considered "High Renaissance" (very late Renaissance, and quite unique he was).
I know you would like their song His Last Voyage.
Non prog wife😂😂😂 just like mine❤
Gentle Giant is the only band my wife won't let me play when she's around. :(
They were also the one band my mom could never tolerate (even though she likes quite a bit of Yes and Genesis). It is just something about this band that is off-putting to certain people (but I love it!).
For my wife and I, that band is Rush. She thinks Geddy Lee sounds like an angry elf. 😂
Jana let me down a bit here. Gentle Giant strove to be different. The risk in doing so is that it might succeed and thereby alientate scads of listeners who simply find their efforts to be to weird and unlistenable. Count me in that camp. Intellectually, I can understand the band and acknowledge the difficulty of what they are playing, but I've never heard any GG song that met my definition of a worthwhile artistic endeavor. As some sort of karma, my wife feels exactly the same way about Yes.
Agreed. I feel the same way about Rush - technically great musicians, but awful singing and I actually can't listen to them for more that 20 seconds.
Very interesting opinion. I wonder if me growing up hearing this music due to my dad playing it constantly made me more accustomed to this sound and more inclined to appreciate it? Jana's reaction to the other GG song we've done (Advent of Panurge) I think is more in line to the feelings you've expressed here.
Great song, but not for dancing. Except perhaps the Gavotte. ;-)
I actually loathe this band!!! I love Tull, Yes, Camel, Marrillion, Genesis, Caravan etc. But this band is like being tied to an electric chair. Sorry..I detest this band
I am a huge Gentle Giant fan and I don’t see anything wrong here, seriously.
No band's gonna appeal to everyone. No worries man.