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Origins of Popular Songs, the inspiration for them


millbank

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Noted discussion about Mothers of Invention, Frank Zappa in shout box. Recalled how while performing at a Switzerland Casino a fan shot a flare which resulted in a fire that burned down the Casino and the Mothers equipment along with it. The group Deep Purple watched the fired from their hotel room, seeing the smoke from it spread across Lake Geneva. Band song writer it is said awoke from a dream a few days later, thing of the fire and the smoke on the water, hence the title "Smoke on the Water"

Another well know song few would not be aware of but on subject is Carly Simon's You're So Vain, the subject matter said to be Warren Beatty, We often hear many wonderful songs but often are not aware of why the written , their inspiration. It may be interesting for those being aware of some interesting origins/inspirations of popular songs to share them... :)

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My favorite Jane's Addiction song is "Then She Did." Perry Farrell's girlfriend, Xiola Blue, died of a heroin overdose. He wrote this song about her. In the song, he asks her to say hello to his mother, who committed suicide when Perry was a child.

 

It's a powerful song ... and it's purely magical to see them perform it live.

 

This is them performing it exactly one week before I saw them for the first of seven times.

 

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25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago

 

Sitting cross leg on the floor

Thinking I can't do more

It's 25 or 6 to 4

 

Though often thought as a drug song, actually had a different inspiration. The composer was up all night writing music for the next album. He was sitting on the floor and it was 3:34 or maybe 3:35 in the morning (25 or 25 minutes to 4:00) trying to come up with something. Then it hit him. A song about trying to write a song at 25 or perhaps 26 minutes til 4 while sitting cross leg on the floor.

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At 7 minutes and 21 seconds, I wonder what the

inspiration was to write the song "McArthur's Park".

Song was written by jimmy Webb the inspiration breakup with Susan Horton

This may be interesting as many would more associate song with Richard harris

Edited by millbank
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25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago

 

Sitting cross leg on the floor

Thinking I can't do more

It's 25 or 6 to 4

 

Though often thought as a drug song, actually had a different inspiration. The composer was up all night writing music for the next album. He was sitting on the floor and it was 3:34 or maybe 3:35 in the morning (25 or 25 minutes to 4:00) trying to come up with something. Then it hit him. A song about trying to write a song at 25 or perhaps 26 minutes til 4 while sitting cross leg on the floor.

 

Cool. I always thought someone walked into a room and asked their friend how badly the Cubs were losing.

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25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago

 

Sitting cross leg on the floor

Thinking I can't do more

It's 25 or 6 to 4

 

Though often thought as a drug song, actually had a different inspiration. The composer was up all night writing music for the next album. He was sitting on the floor and it was 3:34 or maybe 3:35 in the morning (25 or 25 minutes to 4:00) trying to come up with something. Then it hit him. A song about trying to write a song at 25 or perhaps 26 minutes til 4 while sitting cross leg on the floor.

 

While we are all on the topic of blizzards.

 

Wow... This guy had the same thing, except it was a dream about a "magic horse" that got lost in a Nebraskan blizzard.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl4Y4FWWkn0

 

jboyst... Shield your ears! ;)

Edited by ExiledInIllinois
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Just a little more on Jimmy Webb and Susan Horton. ( i had wondered who is she) Turns the two had early relationship, one where, Webb much more interested than Horton. The relationship resulted not only in MacArthur Park, but song the "Worst Thing That Could Happen " by Brooklyn Bridge. Song came about after Webb hearing Horton had Married. Other songs as result of desired relationship were... By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Where's the Playground, Suzie," "Didn't We" Los Angeles Times article about the two kind of interesting .....http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jul/20/entertainment/la-et-ms-suzy-ronstadt-20130720

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25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago

 

Sitting cross leg on the floor

Thinking I can't do more

It's 25 or 6 to 4

 

Though often thought as a drug song, actually had a different inspiration. The composer was up all night writing music for the next album. He was sitting on the floor and it was 3:34 or maybe 3:35 in the morning (25 or 25 minutes to 4:00) trying to come up with something. Then it hit him. A song about trying to write a song at 25 or perhaps 26 minutes til 4 while sitting cross leg on the floor.

I don't buy it.

 

 

"Waiting for the break of day Searching for something to say Flashing lights against the sky" Sounds like an acid trip to me

 

and from the straight dope-

 

 

Consider this line..

“Should I try to do some more 25 or 6 to 4?”

Read it as “Should I try to drop some more acid?”

 

Here is my proof:

 

In the movie Captain Newman, MD (1963), Gregory Peck injects a patient with a drug, and there is close up of the bottle. The label says "Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, 25 or 6 to 4" I have seen this scene at least three times.

Edited by Pete
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I don't buy it.

 

 

"Waiting for the break of day Searching for something to say Flashing lights against the sky" Sounds like an acid trip to me

 

and from the straight dope-

 

 

Consider this line..

“Should I try to do some more 25 or 6 to 4?”

Read it as “Should I try to drop some more acid?”

 

Here is my proof:

 

In the movie Captain Newman, MD (1963), Gregory Peck injects a patient with a drug, and there is close up of the bottle. The label says "Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, 25 or 6 to 4" I have seen this scene at least three times.

 

LoL... I like Crayonz' and the Cubs losing 25 or 6 to 4! ;-)

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