Roger Hodgson interview Link to post 'Logical Song' was really a light hearted way of saying something pretty deep. As a melody, a lyric, an arrangement and a recording, it really is perfect in its completeness.”, The Logical Song was the biggest hit of Supertramp’s career, reaching the Top Ten in the US and UK, and transforming parent album Breakfast In America into a chart-topping, multimillion-selling phenomenon. Hodgson and Davies had a specific disagreement over the first line in the song: "Take a look at my girlfriend, she's the only one I got." To accentuate the "d-d-digital" line in the lyrics, the band borrowed a Mattel handheld electronic football game from an engineer named Richard Digby-Smith, who was working next door. The NME writers ranked "Black Dog" as the fourth-best song … And the way I see it, if a song is worthy of parody,then it’s a good song.”. Ok, that's all I care about. Roger Hodgson vertelt het verhaal achter het nummer 'The Logical Song' van Supertramp. For Roger Hodgson, Supertramp’s co-leader, it was the greatest of compliments. Thirty-four years on – and 30 since he exited Supertramp – Roger Hodgson still sings The Logical Song every night when he performs as a solo artist. And haven't you learned yet: I'm always right! Roger left the band in 1983 and released two solo albums before becoming a full time parent in 1987. It was a subject he had tackled before in School, a song from Supertramp’s 1974 breakthrough Crime Of The Century, a landmark progressive rock album. Visit our corporate site. “Right away, I knew what I wanted to say. Link to post “I had to come up with all the words ending in ‘al’,” he says. Rebranded as Ramp! He still feels this way even at the end of the song as he becomes a start and a success. Released in the summer of 1979, The Logical Song was acclaimed by Rolling Stone as "a small masterpiece", and its success turned Supertramp into superstars. “So we put it in the run-out after I sang the word ‘digital’.”. You will receive a verification email shortly. I was doing that when the word 'logical', came into my head and I thought, 'That's an interesting word'. “But it is damn high.”, Most importantly of all for Hodgson, it’s a song that has lost none of its meaning. Billy Ocean's "Caribbean Queen" was also recorded as "European Queen" and "African Queen" for release on those continents. I didn't say it's a bad song, it's just an earworm ("Bloody Well Right", "Breakfast In America", and "The Logical Song" are better though). "The Logical Song" is a song by the English rock group Supertramp that was released as the lead single from their album Breakfast in America in March 1979. Paul Elliott The burning question in that song was: ‘Please tell me who I am.’ I’m 62 now, and I still don’t have all the answers. The Breakfast In America album was very different from Supertramp's previous albums, which were more conceptual and elaborate.Breakfast was designed to have pop appeal, which is why they included this song that Hodgson had written eight years earlier. Said Hodgson: "From singing absolute nonsense, a line will pop up that suddenly makes sense, then another one, and so on. On 18 September 2007, the DVD Take the Long Way Home—Live in Montreal was released worldwide, achieving Platinum status in just seven weeks, reaching No. But then one day when I was playing the chords, I heard the melody. Songfacts was built on the idea that you could find out what's going on in a song like "Breakfast In America" and hear it in a new way. The band were in Los Angeles, about to begin recording the Breakfast In America album, when Hodgson sat alone at a Wurlitzer electric piano and began playing around with a chord progression he’d toyed with, off and on, for a couple of months. And in 1984, another joke band, The Hee Bee Gee Bees, recorded a parody titled The Scatological Song. In 2001, a cover version by the band Scooter returned the song to the top 10 in several European countries. Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! In 1980, Hodgson won the Ivor Novello Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, who named "The Logical Song" the best song both musically and lyrically of that year. The Logical Song: School Doesn’t Teach Us What Life Is About The Logical Song by the British rock group Supertramp became a mega world-wide sensation when it was released in 1979. And in that moment, the whole concept for the song came into focus. Songfacts: Do you think that "The Logical Song" is oftentimes misunderstood? Supertramp keyboard player Roger Hodgson, who wrote this song and sang the lead vocals, said in a 2012 Songfacts interview: "I think it was very relevant when I wrote it, … Facts about “The Logical Song” Supertramp is a rock group from London whose main years of togetherness was throughout the 1970s and 80s. And why a lot of the things I had been told didn't make any sense. But this wasn’t the first time Roger Hodgson’s masterpiece had been desecrated. At a concert appearance, Roger Hodgson said of this song: "I was sent to boarding school for ten years and I definitely emerged from that experience with a lot of questions, like What the hell happened to me? Album: Breakfast In America ( 1979) Charted: 7 6. Some of Roger's are "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home," "The Logical Song" and "Breakfast in America" (the one that Gym Class Heroes reworked on " Cupid's Chokehold "). What is life about? Anything extraneous shouldn’t be there. Interestingly enough this song has the distinction of being one of the most quoted lyrics in schools.". As a songwriter and producer, Narada had hits with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Starship. He thought about how "Space Oddity" is a … Test your metal - Priest, Maiden, and Beavis and Butt-head show up in this one. (Classic Rock) 31 December 2015. The specific byte occurs near the end of the song just after Hodgson sings the word "digital." Roger Hodgson, co-founder of Supertramp, wrote and composed this classic, The Logical Song, which is just as relevant today as it was when it was released. Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters. “We’d hear that sound echoing around the studio all day,” Hodgson says. Some of Roger's are "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home," "The Logical Song" and "Breakfast in America" (the one that Gym Class Heroes reworked on "Cupid's Chokehold"). In 1979, British comedy pop group The Barron Knights delivered a weak spoof, The Topical Song. A educational and ''Logical Song'' about the simple upbringing of the young man that enjoyed life naturally, being in his nature as one with God that was taken out of his natural nature state of upbringing that altered his state of mind. Ever since Supertramp formed in 1969, it was Hodgson and Rick Davies who formed the band’s creative nucleus. "Logical Song" lyrics. Eric Clapton's only Hot 100 #1, either solo or with one of his many bands, was his cover of Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff.". After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light.". The Logical Song (1979) More Songfacts: Fallin'Alicia Keys. Roger: I've never heard it actually being misunderstood. song lyrics, song meanings, albums, music and more. “It had a very percussive, rhythmical feel I really liked.”, But when work began at LA’s Village Recorder studios, Hodgson dictated what each member of the band would play. Alicia Keys got a huge break when Oprah had her perform her debut single "Fallin'" on her show. Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs? In 1979, Paul McCartney was asked to name his favourite song of the year. Released in the summer of 1979, The Logical Song was acclaimed by Rolling Stone as “a small masterpiece”, and its success turned Supertramp into superstars. Lyrics for The Logical Song by Supertramp - Songfacts. And as Hodgson acknowledges, it was the lyrical content, as much as the expertly crafted music, that made The Logical Song connect with such a huge audience. The title "Earth Odyssey" referes to Homer's epic Greek poem the Odyssey by way of David Bowie's "Space Oddity." Een reportage van Top 2000 a gogo uit 2012. He chose The Logical Song by Supertramp. Acceptable, respectable, presentable… a vegetable?! "Breakfast in America" is the title track from Supertramp's 1979 album of the same name. (The Logical Song), it topped the charts in Australia, Ireland and Norway, and hit the Top Ten in six other countries. Released in the summer of 1979, The Logical Song was acclaimed by Rolling Stone as “a small masterpiece”, and its success turned Supertramp into superstars. Which is they told me how to conform, to be presentable, to be acceptable and everything but they didn't tell me who I am or why I m here. "Don't Shed A Tear" by Paul Carrack. The New York-born musician is a member of the band White China. And many of us spend our lives trying to get back to that innocence.”, In The Logical Song, Hodgson delivered a damning critique of the education system. Get the Sheet Music License This Song . By "The Logical Song" was written by Hodgson, but it shares some themes with a song Davies wrote on Supertramp's 1974 album, Hodgson often writes songs by singing over his keyboard riffs. Supertramp keyboard player Roger Hodgson, who wrote this song and sang the lead vocals, said in. The song was born out of my questions about what really mattered in life. 7 in the UK and No. Every line in the song can be understood to be about Rick and Roger. It comes in after the word "Digital." Louder is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Throughout childhood we’re taught how to behave, yet we’re very rarely told anything about the deeper purpose of life. I think the the first verse speaks of the first 3 stages of a man's life; 1. Supertramp Lyrics, Songs, Albums And More at SongMeanings! Tom Petty (And the Heartbreakers): Free Falling and Mary Jane's Last Dance not even at top 300? Its first-person narrative made specific reference to his years at boarding school as a ‘shy and sensitive’ boy, deeply affected by his parents’ divorce when he was 12:_ ‘They sent me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical, responsible, practical/And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable, clinical, intellectual, cynical…’_, Hodgson invested “a lot of work” in the lyrics. Thank you for signing up to Classic Rock. It makes the point that logic can restrict creativity and passion. ", Deethewriter from Saint Petersburg, Russia Federation, Mjn Seifer from Not Listed For Personal Reason, England, Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run), Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love". artistfacts. The song became Supertramp's biggest hit, rising to No. The song was released as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Breakfast in America (1979), in March 1979 by A&M Records. Said Roger: "I had actually finished the words and the arrangement six months before I proposed it to the band for the album - I didn't think anyone would like it. Question 9: "The Logical Song" is Supertramp's biggest hit in the United States and the United Kingdom. Question 8: What song written in 1911 was a #1 US hit in the '60s? Thirty-four years on - and 30 since he exited Supertramp - Roger Hodgson still sings The Logical Song … The electric piano riff was the foundation. “It takesa lot to tweak me,” he says. “A great song,” he says, “is one that people can relate to, that touches them, makes them feel something.”. Question 7: What '80s hit contains the line, "Long as the night will be, the sun will rise without you." *IMPORTANT* Basically, the entire album is a story. And in the end, I found it.”, In 2001, Supertramp’s hit was reworked by German ‘hard dance’ act Scooter as a high-energy techno anthem. The Squeeze song "Tempted" is one of their few with lead vocals by Paul Carrack, who sang the Ace song "How Long" and was in Mike + The Mechanics. “I used to go through all the parts, even down to drum fills. John Helliwell, having contributed a rasping saxophone solo, provided the heavy sigh in the intro and blew a whistle to signal the outro. songfacts ®. And if so, in what way has it been misunderstood over the years? And American Girl is too high. Bath “So it was the one and only time I consulted a dictionary when writing a lyric.” And for the music, his attention to detail bordered on the obsessive. Despite being met with only limited success in the UK, it was a major hit elsewhere, even a Top 20 hit in the United States and Canada, reaching number 15 and 6 … Well I probably know more just don't know the name of the song and artist so I can't tell if I know the name or artist on the list. Songfacts - the stories and meanings behind the songs, with songwriter interviews and lyrics. Not that Hodgson was offended. But as Hodgson says, The Logical Song was “very autobiographical”. “I had these chords written,” he says, “and I hadn’t thought much of them, to tell the truth. My InterpretationThis song is a story from the narrator's point of view, who started off thinking the Hollywood life would be all that and a bag of chips, but realizes that it isn't all that it's cracked up to be. “I was searching for answers. But what song does he feel had the greatest impact on his career? It's the album where they got another few of their hits, including "Dreamer," and "Bloody Well Right." This device, which predated Nintendo, provided an unusual sounding, layered bleep. But I knew there was something deeper out there – a place of peace. "Goodbye Stranger" is a song by the English rock band Supertramp, which first appeared on their sixth studio album, Breakfast in America (1979). “Having been brought up on The Beatles,” he says, “it was wonderful to hear Paul McCartney loved my song.”, But Hodgson always knew The Logical Song was something special. The German dance music band Scooter did a techno version of "The Logical Song," which was wildly popular across Europe and hit #2 in the UK. The Logical Song should also be higher. "The Logical Song" by Supertramp. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1981. And as I started singing the melody, the first word that came to me was ‘liberal’…”, Immediately, Hodgson reeled off words that rhymed: intellectual, radical… logical. Bowie had recently died, and Asaf Avidan was doing some deep thinking and intense personal reflection. Everything was orchestrated and that’s why it works so well.”, Incorporated into the finished track were various sound effects. The sound itself indicated a player had lost control of the football. It makes the point that logic can restrict creativity and passion. The official youtube video currently has almost 3.5 million hits. A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs, The lyrics are about how the innocence and wonder of childhood can quickly give way to worry and cynicism as children are taught to be responsible adults. BA1 1UA. Published on Aug 5, 2018 "The Logical Song" is a 1979 song performed by the English rock group Supertramp. "When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you.". There is not even a clue that the song is about something else, about a love affair for instance. “I’m pretty good at laughing at myself. How a Beatle-approved existential pop-rock masterpiece turned its creators into unlikely transatlantic superstars. “I was the main arranger in the band,” he says. “When you’re writing a song,” he says, “sometimes you feel like you’re eighty per cent successful, but with The Logical Song I felt like I’d nailed it one hundred per cent. “I wouldn’t rest until it was absolutely right,” he says. I normally would get to here more 60's and 70's tommorrow as I am going to the US for a concert but unfortunatly the station all the Canadians listen to that is full of 60's and 70's music changed to country. The lyrics tell about a person who has never been to the United States and fantasizes about it. Until December 5, 1998, a song had to be issued as a single to make the Hot 100. Like the Lennon/McCartney partnership, most of Supertramp's songs are credited to their lead singers Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies, although in many cases one writer was entirely responsible for the song. It also won a prestigious Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically And Lyrically. "I'm Henry VIII I Am" by Hermans Hermits. A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical. With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." In 2004, a Supertramp tribute band called Logicaltramp formed in the UK. David Byrne says "Road To Nowhere" is about "how there's no order and no plan and no scheme to life and death and it doesn't mean anything, but it's all right. Both sang lead vocals and played keyboards, and between them they wrote all of the songs. 6 on the US Billboard chart. All rights reserved. It was very much my song.”, It was in early 1978 that The Logical Song started coming together. And a surprise comic twist was added by the bleeping ‘goal’ sound from a Mattel football game that Rick Davies loved to play between takes. Please refresh the page and try again. ", This was a very personal song for Roger Hodgson, he would work on the song during soundchecks, and completed it long before bringing it to the band. An Allen Ginsberg line from his poem Howl inspired "Machinehead" by Bush: "Machine says I saw the best minds of my generation.". 2. I think it's very easy to understand, actually. © However, the end justified the means. “I can still hit that big note at the end of the song,” he laughs. As a child where the world is a magical place. He'll try different words and phrases to get ideas for his lyrics, which is how the title of this song came about. Hold OnWilson Phillips. The other are in the right spots. We go from the innocence and wonder of childhood to the confusion of adolescence, and that often ends up in disillusionment in adulthood. However, as Hodgson says now: “ The Logical Song wasn’t co-written in any way. However, the end justified the means. Supertramp Lyrics "Logical Song" When I was young It seemed that life was so wonderful A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical And all the birds in the trees Well they'd be singing so happily Oh joyfully, oh playfully watching me But then they sent me away It's good, but not as good as those. Songfacts®: The lyrics are about how the innocence and wonder of childhood can quickly give way to worry and cynicism as children are taught to be responsible adults. Roger left the band in 1983 and released two solo albums before becoming a full time parent in 1987. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Hodgson and Davies had a similar arrangement to Lennon and McCartney in The Beatles: they wrote separately, but always shared the writing credits. And this track, which was released as part of their sixth album “Breakfast in America”, was their biggest hit. Parks wrote the song with her longtime producer, Gianluca Buccellati. “I can still hit that big note at the end of the … Aaliyah's "Try Again" was the first tune to top the chart based on airplay alone, without any sales figures being included. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, Watch 11-year-old Japanese drummer Yoyoka Soma absolutely nail Deep Purple’s Speed King, Watch an animated Jawa from Star Wars deliver an out-of-this-world take on Eddie Van Halen’s Eruption, The 10 greatest conspiracy theories in rock, Backyard parties and unbridled genius: the story of Van Halen's early years. Supertramp's "Casual conversations" is an even less thinly veiled complaint about the troubles of a songwriting, or better lp-writing, partnership. Breakfast in America is fine, but I think they messed up on this. General CommentThe song is the perfect start to the concept album that is Crime of the Century.There is a theme that runs though the album, and it starts off with someone (possibly Rudy) in his younger years, and just starting to question life. About The Logical Song "The Logical Song" is a 1979 song performed by the English rock group Supertramp. It was written primarily by the band's Roger Hodgson, who based the lyrics on his experiences being sent away to boarding school for ten years. 'S an interesting word ' purpose of life `` songfacts logical song ' '' on show... 10 in several European countries heard the melody track were various sound effects s creative nucleus performed! Chords, I knew what I wanted to say ever since Supertramp in. Quay House, the whole concept for the final mix of the songs this ''... To name his favourite song of the … lyrics for the song to be completed any! The melody way even at the end of the football well. ”, was their biggest.! 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