Genesis Watcher of the Skies intro explained
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- Опубліковано 2 вер 2022
- Another episode in the "Johan Explains" sereies. I discuss one of the most classic and iconic keyboard intros of all time in prog rock.
I show you how to play it, and what keyboard sounds you can use, and talk about the composition.
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Sorry for the bad explanation of the parallel (realive) key! But like I say in the video, the parallel key IS the major key of C#. That's because the chord that I play can be viewed like the minor key of Bb7. We just happen to have a G# in the bass.
Check out my own prog music here: ua-cam.com/play/PL_U3NccJSuComtLr-cf6lw6-tKvtBk7KC.html
We have a piece of music this astute, yet the world fails to give Tony Banks enough of its attention. His compositions are for the ages.
This was my intro to Genesis in ‘73. Genesis Live was the record. Loved their music since. Steve Hackett doing a great job keeping the older part of their music alive. Cudos to him.
Yes, Hacket doing what he is doing is a beautiful thing!
Your colorful description of the Genesis mood is very accurate and explains why emotional latin listeners (italian, spanish, portuguese, and latin American ) became huge fans of this magestic music. Here in Argentina our melancholic way of being made it a fertile land for such an "out of this world" Genesis music. Keep on the analysis of songs !!!
I know very little about music theory, but love listening to it being explained. And love the song obviously. Thank you.
Thank you! It's a wonderful composition!
Its the song that made me fall in love with Genesis.
Thank you for this sequence. This beautiful intro is the first thing I have ever heard of Genesis and it has been a real shock. I remember, I was maybe 13 or 14 years old (1974), me thinking that the guy was playing wrong because my ears were not used of that type of music (big fan of the Beatles, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin,...). But after 3 or 4 listening of this intro, Watcher of the skies, and of the entire album I fell in love with Genesis (Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett era) and I am still a big fan now at 60!
I agree (and I'm also almost 60), there were some really magical tracks produced back then
I've been lucky enough to meet Mr Banks on four occasions - 3 times at their The Farm studio, he explained to me twice what was really behind these weird chords when I worked for Korg UK, Mellotrons work on playing recordings of real things like choirs, flutes , strings on tape, and once played to their limit of I think 8 seconds in length , they rewind back to their start point ready play the note again. The problem was that over time these tapes go stretched and went out of tune and thus if you played one note with another it was potentially very noticeably out. Bottom line , he told me his choice of chords was dictated by their ability to rewind OK and not sound horrible intonation wise with others ...... rather than some masterful chord writing.
But from it, set the mood from which Watcher was born and we are the beneficiaries.
Cool, I didn't know that! And cool that you acually met the man!
@@johansteenslandmusic3699 yeah, He is pretty dry and seemed peeved his guitar work doesnt get the credit it deserved LOL.
I know that explanation too (Tony has mentioned it in interviews). And not only that, but the sound used is a mix between strings and brass sounds. These sounds on their own could have intonation issues which might be OK when used on their own but exaggerated when you layer the two together (try for example mixing them with mellotron sample sets, not all sample libraries will give you a smooth result if you manually try to combine the 2).
But the odd/funny thing is that the chords it produced are pretty complex chords which naturally invoke dissonances and are even more risky with this approach. Theoretically, if you want to make sure things sound good, then you go for simple chords where harmonics are not likely to clash if one of them is slightly out of tune. Fifths/fourths makes sense (and actually, Tony does play just powerchords from time to time on the mellotron). Starting out with a Bmaj7 is a chord which could potentially not work. I think the end result is great, though i'd be a bit cautious myself to call it a success based on the original criteria in the sense that some of these chords really sound more dissonant on the tron than they already are (compared to a piano for example). With the remark that I'm mostly primed on the live versions, which from 73 on use different mellotrons than the one it was originally written and recorded on.
One thing I heard him mention once in an interview is that originally he was doing these chords sequence as warm up before a show, and he eventually expanded it to a song.
In art accident is often a path to success. Read about the “oblique strategy” cards that had a major influence in the making of Eno’s Another Green World.
"If I were to going back on stage, I think I would start the show with that intro", that is exactly what Steve Hackett was often doing with his band in his Genesis revisited tours. He said that the walls were shaking with it ;p
I can confirm. Yes. Walls were shaking.
Spectacular composition, the emocion is in the air all the rime
I was 14, in '72/73 and blessed with an older brother to nurture me.
11:09 ..the sadest A major chord I ever heard....😮, that is so well described. This is when music magic happens, and you need a superlative genius to make it, thanks bro for keeping Genesis alive!, excellent video
I think being able to explain/play what Genesis wrote is absolutely fantastic. Bravo! I think being able to write what Genesis wrote is another planet indeed. PS, And if you are on stage again and you begin with Watcher, let me know I'll come and listen/watch/dance.
Thank you!
Thankyou for your explanation I've always loved this song. I saw them in 1972 at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester. Peter Gabriel came on and stood with the bat wings on his head just a silhouette against the backdrop and the place went wild. Then came the music best intro ever still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Thankyou once again.
Wish I could have been there too
I was also nine in 1972. First Genesis song I ever heard... Watcher of the Skies. Early September 1977.
And what a song it is!
My band, Suntower used to open with “Watcher of the Skies” back in the 70’s. Musicians would come to the bars we played and line up chairs on the dance floor and watch us. Club owners didn’t appreciate that much and after being fired a few times we went back to playing Doobie Brothers and Neil Young, etc. I have always LOVED that song! Thanks for breaking it down for us lowly guitar players. 😊
Great story that reflects the struggle for us musicians -- to balance our passion against what is commercially viable.
I used to own a Mellotron Mark 2. The sounds used are strings AND brass on the right hand keyboard (it's easy to mix the two on the Mellotron), with accordion bass on the left hand keyboard. The first chord is actually Bmaj/F#, so you need to add a D# to the chord.
Thanks a lot!
Very well detailed. Iconic intro indeed. Riveting!
I love this song. Thank you so much
Well done. One of my favorite intros into a song.
Brilliant piece of music - excellent tutorial, thanks
Love this. Posting it on our band page as we are rehearsing this song to be performed soon. Cheers!
Funny I stumbled on this, been like non stop listening to this song and every version of it only it’s from Steve Hackett’s keyboard guy, Roger King. Grew up with Genesis from the very first album, seen them a bunch of times......really enjoyed the explanation of the beginning.
Thank you so much! Glad you liked it
You are a great teacher . Thank you 🎶🎹⚕️🪶
Thank you, Douglas -- and welcome to the channel!
Thanks for this interesting video. Coming across articulate, balanced, insightful, sensitive commentary like this on You Tube always surprises me. It’s such a pleasure and such a relief from the bludgeon of “best band of all time” or “most underrated drummer ever”.
It borrows mood-wise from both Bach and French fin de siecle organ.
I loved your thoughts and analysis. Great job.
Thanks so much!
@@johansteenslandmusic3699 I grew up with Genesis music after Peter Gabriel left. I have only discovered Foxtrot recently actually. I know, that's pretty sad hehe.
The introduction to "Watcher of the Skies" is what got me into Genesis in the first place. I found the harmonies haunting and memorable and, like you, I'm still in awe of that section of music, decades later. Actually, for me, it's the highlight of the entire album - much as I love "Get 'em out by Friday" and "Supper's Ready". When I was listening to your version of it, much of it sounded as I remember it, but sometimes I thought there were differences.
I meant to include the following in my comments. I suspect we have a similar rapport with the (mainly) instrumental coda to "Entanglement" from "The Tick of a Tail" album. I assume what sounds like a choir in parts of it was electronically created, and I presume it's Tony Banks-inspired again. I love it! It's another great Genesis album.
Full agreement with your comment. My experience is parallel.
I meant, of course, "A Trick of the Tail". For some unknown reason, I reverse the articles in the title of that album.
Was 12 years old when I heard foxtrot...my older bother was way ahead of his time bringing home alot of great music
Foxtrot was an eye opener for lots of people for sure! Thanks for your comment, SuperQdaddy!
Beautifully done. Wish you would have played the whole piece at the end of your presentation.
New subscriber - what an great explanation of this amazing intro.
Thanks, Angus!
Friend, I think this is so complex and beautiful that I could classify it as one of the greatest compositions from the 18th century onwards. A genius from Banks ❤
Yes, it is really special!
I would suggest for the very first chord I think it’s a full B maj 7 including the 3rd which is D#, over F#. Also all the rest of those too. At least that’s always what I thought it was.
Thanks -- will try those and listen!
Thank you !
Even the music gods would be envious of coming up with those chords and intervals in sequence. Not bad for 22
Haunting, emotional, and dramatic......a perfect presentation for conveying sadness for the Earth's end. Having the alien sing "Has life again destroyed life" is such a perceptive line. Earth Day was only a year earlier and this generation was struggling with pollution, misuse of petroleum, and the prospect of nuclear war. These dudes were deep. And great musicians.
I agree -- there is a depth to much of Genesis early work, a depth that you rarely find in music anymore.
thanks for this tutorial! i've decided to learn it after watching your video. 🙂
Me too
@@GaryMatthews1 it took me a couple of weeks to transcribe this into a notation (cheat sheet) that makes sense for me and quick to use when practicing.
when i heard this half a century ago, i never thought i'd be able to play it one day. : )
Thanks again Johan, much appreciated! 😊
I love this intro. It's the kind of music I imagine Captain Nemo or The Phantom of the Opera playing as they're brooding late at night.
I agree -- it's pure magic!
@@johansteenslandmusic3699 And thanks for breaking it down. I'm trying to adapt it for my bass, with a mel9. Some way off yet, but it's already sounding awesome.
230th sub, great vid!
Welcome to the channel, Kri2p!
Love the opening of Watcher.
I've always compared the opening notes of WOTS to a mimicking of one inhaling and exhaling
I realize this upload is more of an exploration in musical theory but I have to remark on your early comment “it’s sad…”. I see this song as encompassing the ultimate folly of humankind: that with all our unique gifts we could never rise above. After thousands of years of civilization we remain in the bottom rung of evolution mired in divisiveness and power hunger, coveting others possessions and greedily strategizing our own gain all leading to war. “Has life again destroyed life? Do they play elsewhere? Do they know more than their childhood gaze?” And in 2024 it’s pretty apparent in the century we have left before earths rising temperature effaces any effectual progress and relegates the hapless people living then to a desperate struggle to maintain a modicum of survival, we will not, fundamentally, achieve more than the preceding four thousand years did. A tragic legacy indeed. The opening chords are fitting.
Those that know, know....great discourse on the genius that is TB!
Thank you, Steve! TB is truly a very special composer!
that was one wistful way to A
Love that A!
The sadest A Major ever heard, I absolutely agree.
It's one of those tracks.. It keeps coming on back home to me.. That fucking driving riff BEAT!!!! To die for... Probably literally... It's got a classical historical ting.. Has to be of a traditional shape.. Pattern.. Medieval and military ..cyclical a Bolero?! Nah an enigma.. That pulsating.. Reputation Thing.. Drops as a horizon. Then back at you. Like a code.... He focuses on the floating chords... Can't he hear the MAIN POINT of this. Piece.. The pulse... He makes no reference to. That's remarkable. My that is curious .. It's ethereal wafty wispy fog with Phil Collins when he was a magician casting a spell, entrancing, hypnotising.,in 1627 out the way Aurochs,
I always hear the opening chord as b major 7 , with a f# in the base ? Not a f#4...
Oops... I meant "Entangled" not "Entanglement".
Great video! One note though, Tony Banks didn't play an organ for the intro, he blended strings and brass on the mellotron (which had the capability of having 2 sounds at once); a good free plugin for this is the Redtron SE VST.
Just as an addition to this accurate comment, the Watcher intro was played on a Mellotron Mk II, which had 2 separate keyboards mounted side by side…essentially 2 Mellotrons, which is how TB played the strings and brass parts simultaneously. It became such an iconic sound that Streetly Electronics issued a “Watcher” tape bank. Brilliant video, by the way!
@@jonmccormick602 so are you saying that the RH MkII keyboard had strings, the LH keyboard had brass - is he doubling up the chords on each keyboard part of the time and/or alternating them? I think I’m able to set this up how Tony had it using Arturia Mellotron V more than once in a Camelot Pro host and I’d be right chuffed if I could absolutely nail this intro.
There is no organ in the studio recording. Right keyboard is a blend of MkII Violins and MkII Combined Brass. Left keyboard is Bass Accordion.
Tanks for your input! I didn't know that. Cool
thank you.
i've decided to learn it and i have the Mike Pinder Mellotron samples.
so, i'm good to go. : )
Nice analysis Johan for the dramatic progression ..only one thing wrong .T.Banks' mk2 had been bought from Mc Donald /Crimson .2 keyboards .right are" lead things" , here are the section 2 with thé famous 3 strings but mixing with brass register...But but but on left keyboard (called rythm&fills) are the bass stuff here used are "accordion "bass section which gave this heavy drama with brass not an "organ" register!...there are two accordion sections on right hand (#6) , but it can t be used with thé string/brass twice .all in all your analysis and chords description is perfect !.Mc Donald & Banks were thé only ones to rise Mike Pinder s mastering on thé mk2.MHO.
Thank you so much for that, Alain!
@@johansteenslandmusic3699 I do own one of thé 7 , mk2 black and golden , mine is double lead from 1967 ,from magritte studio. Hope to read you more .thancks.
@@alaincelos476 Wow, mot many of those left!
Wonderfull!!
The organ part comes in at 10:46 in this video.
Thank you for your explanations. May I suggest to add a D sharp to the first chord ?
Thanks for your comment! Will check that D#.
Start with this intro and then go right into Afterglow.
What song do you want me to do next?
Maybe a 'musical variation' comparison between Flower Kings and the HFMC versions of "Stardust We Are"? 🙂
A Louse Is Not A Home, Modern or Gog by Peter Hammill.
A great comparison, if that's done on this channel, would be between Faust's Lauft... and Cardiacs' Wireless
by the way I think the chords are bang on.
Just read the lyrics if you want "dramatic and sad"....
F# chord with a Bb and a B note. I never realized that...
All In A Mouse’s Night
Thanks -- I love that track!
What app or website have you used for the synthesizer?
For the mellotron I use UVI Mello, and for the organ I use Genuine Soundware GSi VB3 II. Both are plugins I use in Reaper.
Thanks for this lesson, really touching 🥲
Why not post a video yourself?
Definetly you got some chords wrong.
Yes, I think you are right. Some chords I'm very sure of -- others I'm kind of uncertain about.
I'm only a few moments into this video my friend, but your right hand should be a four note chord and the mellotron 400 is capable of blending violins and brass without the need for two separate keyboards. Maybe in the studio he used a mark 5 but live he used the 400. one hand on the tron and one hand on the hammond. it's surprising to me that you didn't know it was the brass sound. work a little harder my friend.
The clarification is helpful but the “work a little harder” is unnecessary. Real guidance doesn’t need arrogance. My friend.
when you put on youtube "instructional videos", you should instruct, not be instructed. Nice try, 9 months later.
@@AlbertoVO5 this same guy puts out a video explaining "how to count the dramatic end section of Watcher". And he was wrong! Why does someone post videos claiming to "explain" something when they are wrong. And he made a video thanking me for pointing out his error. I simply said work harder and you have to chime in with your own arrogance. Nice try, 9 months later.
@@robertcowart1 I don’t know what this “nice try, nine months later” angle is? I assume you know people come across content at different times. As for the rest, maybe you’re factually correct but the tone is an issue for me. Im not gonna spar, that’s all I have to say about it. Over and out.
@@AlbertoVO5 i think we can agree on Genesis being one the greatest of all time. In '73 i was ridiculed for listening to and liking Genesis. And now over 50 years later everybody and his mother has a Genesis tribute of some kind. Are you aware of just how many tributes there are to this great band? Forgive me, but can you understand what it's like to be poo-pooed for something when it was fresh and current, only to find now all of a sudden everyone raves about it? That's where some possible attitude of mine comes from. The idea of a guy putting out videos claiming to explain something, only to find out he was wrong. Sorry to rub you the wrong way, but we are talking about GENESIS! I saw the Lamb, Wind, Three & Duke tours. I saw Gabriel with batwings. They are very special to me, sorry to annoy.
and a few more moments into your video, the first couple dissonant chords are wrong. you need to work a little harder my friend.