The Logical Song: Difference between revisions
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==Theme== |
==Theme== |
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The song tells the story of a man who is: |
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The song relays the story of a man who comes to lose childhood's innate [[innocence]] and [[idealism]] through pressured conformism. Akin to the discontent expressed by the [[Counterculture]] of the mid-1900s, the narrator of the song laments his forced transition from individuality to the norm ("but then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical, (oh) responsible, practical"). He also loathes society's attempt to compromise his individuality; through a very sarcastic verse, he warns the listener to "watch what you say", or else risk being called a radical, liberal, fanatic, or criminal. He then condemns society's supposedly benevolent intentions as a thinly-veiled excuse to promote uniformity. The song also touches on the difficulty of retaining self-image because of outside pressures. |
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*taken away from the unspoilt immediacy of childhood (''When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful, a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical''), |
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*undergoes education (''but then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical, responsible, practical''), |
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*sees a future prepared for him lacking any spontaneity of reaction (''And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable, clinical, intellectual, cynical''), |
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* feels constricted in his freedom of speech (''Now watch what you say or they'll be calling you a radical, liberal, fanatical, criminal''), |
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*is put under pressure to conform (''Won't you sign up your name, we'd like to feel you're acceptable, respectable, presentable, a vegetable'') |
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*and ends up confused, without a coherent self-image (''please tell me who I am''). |
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==Legacy, remixes, and cover versions== |
==Legacy, remixes, and cover versions== |
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Revision as of 11:47, 22 June 2008
| "The Logical Song" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Just Another Nervous Wreck" |
"The Logical Song" is a hit single on Supertramp's 1979 album Breakfast in America and written and sung by band member Roger Hodgson. It was a huge hit and reached number 6 on the U.S. charts and number 7 on the UK charts on its original release. It is one of the band's most recognized songs.
Sound
Among the contemporary sound effects in this song are the 'tackled' sound from a Mattel digital football game[1], as well as the Trouble "Pop-o-matic" bubble - both popular at the time this song was released.
The signature 'crunchy' electric piano sound on this and other Supertramp hits of the era such as Goodbye Stranger is a Wurlitzer electric piano.
Theme
The song tells the story of a man who is:
- taken away from the unspoilt immediacy of childhood (When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful, a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical),
- undergoes education (but then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical, responsible, practical),
- sees a future prepared for him lacking any spontaneity of reaction (And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable, clinical, intellectual, cynical),
- feels constricted in his freedom of speech (Now watch what you say or they'll be calling you a radical, liberal, fanatical, criminal),
- is put under pressure to conform (Won't you sign up your name, we'd like to feel you're acceptable, respectable, presentable, a vegetable)
- and ends up confused, without a coherent self-image (please tell me who I am).
Legacy, remixes, and cover versions
There was a parody of this song called "The Topical Song" by The Barron Knights.
It was featured on the 1999 Magnolia soundtrack album, along with "Goodbye Stranger".
It was sampled in 2001 by German techno band Scooter on the single "Ramp! (The Logical Song)". There was also a second remake by the German Hands Up band Rave Allstars in 2007.
On The History Channel's program History Rocks, which takes popular rock songs of the 1970s and plays them over an important historical event during the same time period, this song was played over a video montage of the 1979 Iranian Revolution and fall of the Shah.
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