|
Post by Lucyblue on Jun 26, 2022 20:22:55 GMT
As a part of my PhD in music I've been focusing on ELO and Jeff Lynne. I'm arguing (to an extent) that he contributed significantly to late 20th Century Music in music composition and structure. Bad timing perhaps as Paul McCartney is all over the news due to Glastonbury and the key example. I wished to do something different although I still champion McCartney to a large extent, I cite Jeff Lynne as an alternative to Wings when continuing a certain sound and who's muse "died out later". Sorry but I believe all pop composers have a life-span and try to explain why. I've listened to every Idle Race/Electric Light Orchestra/ELO/ELO2/Jeff Lynne/Jeff Lynne's ELO album over the last few months and I've read your forum in-depth. It's been a rollercoaster of great music and opinion. I've read all the polls and all the opinions given. They're great, thanks. I've been on various music sites and spoken to music fans in general. In my view as an amateur musicologist and researcher I've reached the following opinion: "Twilight" from "Time" is the greatest composition Jeff Lynne has written. "All Over The World" is the most popular composition Jeff Lynne has written. The first is simply my analysis as a music student as it is off the scale in complexity for a pop song and then some. Most popular was thought to be "Mr Blue Sky" but since lock-down that appears to have changed. I'd appreciate your opinion on either of these two as fans in case I am missing something. I love the likes of "Fire On High" but it's 3 chords really. Much like most of Pink Floyd. Thanks, Luce.
|
|
|
Post by ShardEnder on Jun 26, 2022 22:25:37 GMT
For the longest time, MBS was a second tier single that seemed to grow in stature around the 2012 album and documentary of the same name, but it also seems as if Jeff finally overcame his issues with Xanadu as a whole, meaning that he's been able to reclaim All Over The World, which made its live debut with the Hyde Park concert in 2014.
As for the argument that Jeff should be regarded one of the finest writers of the era, I'd take it further by also highlighting his skills as an arranger, multi-instrumentalist and producer. He's demonstrated incredible range in every aspect of his craft, and the Long Wave project shows that he remains able to learn from others.
Without exception, those he's worked with over the years speak of his additional gift as someone with their finger on the pulse without resorting to contemporary devices, able to rejuvenate the careers of established artists for commercial success or creative growth in equal measure. I'd love to see Jeff's music studied at this level!
|
|
|
Post by Lucyblue on Jun 26, 2022 23:18:06 GMT
For the longest time, MBS was a second tier single that seemed to grow in stature around the 2012 album and documentary of the same name, but it also seems as if Jeff finally overcame his issues with Xanadu as a whole, meaning that he's been able to reclaim All Over The World, which made its live debut with the Hyde Park concert in 2014. As for the argument that Jeff should be regarded one of the finest writers of the era, I'd take it further by also highlighting his skills as an arranger, multi-instrumentalist and producer. He's demonstrated incredible range in every aspect of his craft, and the Long Wave project shows that he remains able to learn from others. Without exception, those he's worked with over the years speak of his additional gift as someone with their finger on the pulse without resorting to contemporary devices, able to rejuvenate the careers of established artists for commercial success or creative growth in equal measure. I'd love to see Jeff's music studied at this level! Thank you. I really appreciate that insight (which I will use) and I can't help but agree. I now truly love the compositions of Jeff Lynne.
|
|
|
Post by Chippa on Jun 26, 2022 23:53:44 GMT
All Over The World has definitely reached iconic status once held by songs like Evil Woman, Livin' Thing, Don't Bring Me Down and Telephone Line.
|
|
|
Post by tightrope on Jun 27, 2022 20:23:31 GMT
For me, the biggest difference between Jeff and practically every other artist is the consistent quality of songs. Even those considered among the best ever frequently struggle IMO ( think Rolling Stones) to have more than a couple of tunes per album that I care to listen to on a regular basis. Jeff has written a few turds but not many. It's easy to put on an album and enjoy without skipping around.
|
|
|
Post by lasttrain929 on Jun 27, 2022 23:08:59 GMT
Jeff Lynne for me created great albums as tightrope said, you could put on their albums and not skip many tracks, however how ELO never had a solo number one is beyond me. It’s great that you found the music of ELO Lucyblue, I envy you hearing it for the first time. Good luck with the PHD.
|
|
|
Post by janne on Jun 28, 2022 7:41:46 GMT
I have no opinion on the greatest composition. Technically, it might be Twilight.
Most popular is definitely Mr. Blue Sky. I can't imagine All Over The World being even close. I base this on the number of plays in advertisements, films, cover versions etc. as well as crowd reactions in concerts. If you look at Spotify plays, Mr. Blue Sky is so far ahead of any other track - 685 million plays, with Don't Bring Me Down on second, with 201 million plays.
Regarding Jeff's contributions to music in general, well he is kind of McCartney Light, if we are honest. Still, he is highly respected among his peers. I say he is up there among the best, still he can't compete with the absolute A names, such as McCartney or Paul Simon or Joni Mitchell.
|
|
|
Post by ash2 on Jun 28, 2022 11:54:51 GMT
It sounds good...
Twilight is a brilliant piece of song writing the underlying C bass over CMaj, Bd, FMaj through the verse and then the complex chorus that most people would just use C, F and G Oh no... we get CMaj, C+, FMaj, Fm, Dm, Bd/D, Gsus4/D, GMaj, CMaj
but to go back to my first point.
It sounds good to the majority and JL and PMc know what sounds good.
I think the biggest problem artists have is they search for that winning formula 1.for the fame 2.for the money. Now when they find it they have to keep repeating the same song over and over again but how...thats the trick
Jeff Lynne could produce album after album of the same type of songs that the majority liked and as soon as he moves away from that the majority say nope... Same with any group/artist who is trying to find that type of song that the majority like, the hard (genius) bit is doing it over and over again.
|
|
|
Post by lawrev on Jun 28, 2022 11:58:25 GMT
As a part of my PhD in music I've been focusing on ELO and Jeff Lynne. I'm arguing (to an extent) that he contributed significantly to late 20th Century Music in music composition and structure. Bad timing perhaps as Paul McCartney is all over the news due to Glastonbury and the key example. I wished to do something different although I still champion McCartney to a large extent, I cite Jeff Lynne as an alternative to Wings when continuing a certain sound and who's muse "died out later". Sorry but I believe all pop composers have a life-span and try to explain why. I've listened to every Idle Race/Electric Light Orchestra/ELO/ELO2/Jeff Lynne/Jeff Lynne's ELO album over the last few months and I've read your forum in-depth. It's been a rollercoaster of great music and opinion. I've read all the polls and all the opinions given. They're great, thanks. I've been on various music sites and spoken to music fans in general. In my view as an amateur musicologist and researcher I've reached the following opinion: "Twilight" from "Time" is the greatest composition Jeff Lynne has written. "All Over The World" is the most popular composition Jeff Lynne has written. The first is simply my analysis as a music student as it is off the scale in complexity for a pop song and then some. Most popular was thought to be "Mr Blue Sky" but since lock-down that appears to have changed. I'd appreciate your opinion on either of these two as fans in case I am missing something. I love the likes of "Fire On High" but it's 3 chords really. Much like most of Pink Floyd. Thanks, Luce. This is an excellent post, Luce. I applaud anyone who wants to write about Jeff's music at the Ph.D. level. I have one additional question, since at the Ph.D. level students generally articulate the strengths and weaknesses of the chosen topic. So my question is: What weaknesses have you identified in Jeff's compositions?
|
|
|
Post by Timeblue on Jun 28, 2022 13:03:24 GMT
One thing that you could discuss for your PhD.D Luce,is Jeff more gorgeous than Bev?
|
|
|
Post by Spin on Jun 28, 2022 14:58:50 GMT
Regarding Jeff's contributions to music in general, well he is kind of McCartney Light, if we are honest. Still, he is highly respected among his peers. I say he is up there among the best, still he can't compete with the absolute A names, such as McCartney or Paul Simon or Joni Mitchell. Simon and Mitchell are more in the singer-songwriter template. McCartney is a fair comparison, although I see Jeff's writing as being more along the lines of Lindsey Buckingham. Meaning that most of the songs they've written are geared towards bigger, more multi-layered studio production. I guess you could say the songwriting process for writers like Jeff is as much a part of the production as the actual recording process. If that makes sense.
|
|
|
Post by soonerorlater on Jun 28, 2022 18:15:19 GMT
A very interesting post, thank you and I wish you the very best with your academic endeavours.
However, when I read the lines....
....I had to read it twice to actually take in what you were saying! Twilight? The Twilight that is track two on Time? That Twilight?! I wouldn't rate it in the top five songs on Time let alone anywhere near ELO's top 30! I remember rushing home with my copy of the Time album on its first day of release, putting it on the turntable and being really disappointed with the first three songs. I still think that Yours Truly, 2095 is only just about kept out by Marston Moor as ELO's worst ever composition. Fortunately, it all improves dramatically after that but I remember my gut reaction to a first listen and rightly or wrongly, that's what stays with me ahead of a deeper analysis.
I was very surprised when Twilight was chosen as a UK single release. The fact that it peaked at no higher than No. 30 in the singles chart may suggest that I didn't overreact.
In the end though, you like what you like....
|
|
|
Post by pelo on Jun 28, 2022 18:24:04 GMT
Regarding Jeff's contributions to music in general, well he is kind of McCartney Light, if we are honest. Still, he is I say he is up there among the best, still he can't compete with the absolute A names, such as McCartney or Paul Simon or Joni Mitchell. Couldn't disagree more. In my humble opinion Jeff can easily compete with the artists you mention, I believe he is even more talented. I love 99 per cent of the material released by Jeff Lynne. And Twilight is the best song ever by any artist.
|
|
|
Post by Timeblue on Jun 28, 2022 19:43:15 GMT
A very interesting post, thank you and I wish you the very best with your academic endeavours. However, when I read the lines.... ....I had to read it twice to actually take in what you were saying! Twilight? The Twilight that is track two on Time? That Twilight?! I wouldn't rate it in the top five songs on Time let alone anywhere near ELO's top 30! I remember rushing home with my copy of the Time album on its first day of release, putting it on the turntable and being really disappointed with the first three songs. I still think that Yours Truly, 2095 is only just about kept out by Marston Moor as ELO's worst ever composition. Fortunately, it all improves dramatically after that but I remember my gut reaction to a first listen and rightly or wrongly, that's what stays with me ahead of a deeper analysis. I was very surprised when Twilight was chosen as a UK single release. The fact that it peaked at no higher than No. 30 in the singles chart may suggest that I didn't overreact. In the end though, you like what you like.... Everyone is entitled to their opinion.....
|
|
|
Post by Chippa on Jun 28, 2022 19:45:12 GMT
I have no opinion on the greatest composition. Technically, it might be Twilight. Most popular is definitely Mr. Blue Sky. I can't imagine All Over The World being even close. I base this on the number of plays in advertisements, films, cover versions etc. as well as crowd reactions in concerts. If you look at Spotify plays, Mr. Blue Sky is so far ahead of any other track - 685 million plays, with Don't Bring Me Down on second, with 201 million plays. Last Train to London has well over 100 million views on YouTube. I'm not sure if that makes it more popular than any of the songs you mentioned, but I wonder why it's ELO's most viewed YouTube video?
|
|