Discussion
King Crimson is a pretty "out there" band. They experiment a lot with funny time signatures, wild twists and turns, and some crazy percussion elements (thank you Mike and Bill). But, they've also made some pretty normal songs that sound like your average little pop song of the time. What is perhaps the best example of that, and as a bonus, what era of King Crimson was perhaps the most commercial in their sound?
Sort by:
Best
Open comment sort options
Best
Top
New
Controversial
Old
Q&A
Model Man is pretty commercial imo. So are I Talk to the Wind and Walking on Air.
Model Man always reminded me of Brass In Pocket by the Pretenders with that KC quirk added to it which is why I love it.
I never noticed that similar before. Your so right.
Yup.
Nice pfp
my vote is for 'People' which sounds like half of a Red Hot Chili Peppers song. Honorable mentions go to Song of the Gulls which is just a standard romantic classical piece. Book of Saturday, Lament, and Heartbeat are all experimental songs which could sorta blend in on a rock radio station. and One Time is band-playing-in-a-barcore
It was apparently “normal enough” for my then-local AOR station to play once (ONCE) on a Saturday night (8pm, maybe) June ‘95. I’m sure my jaw hit the floor. 🤣
Happy Cake Day!
Thanks. 🤓
Book of Saturday could be any indie band (on first listen).
Heartbeat. definitely Heartbeat
Heartbeat and Walking on Air.
For me, "Matte Kudasai" is about as close to "normal-sounding" as they get - and it's still pretty left-field.
dinosaur sounds like a pretty normal 90's alt rock song
With the possible exception of the guitar synth-as-faux-orchestral interlude. 😏
...
Sleepless. It was the only song they ever made a video for, and was also released as a single.
Cadence and cascade? Or all the peace. Some "normal" songs that nobody has commented
Matte Kudasai gets my vote.
“I Talk to the Wind” would probably be my vote
It def sports the most conventional structure, harmony, melody and arrangement of any song on ITKOTCK. It’s almost become a jazz standard at this point.
There is a pretty poppy version of ITttW (maybe more than one actually) with Giles, Giles, and Fripp, so I’m inclined to agree with you on this one.
nope
The most commercial era in my opinion is around '82 and '84 (when Beat and TOAPP where released). About the most commercial song I would say Model Man or Heartbeat
Most of the songs in the 80s era sounded pretty commerical, like model man and heartbeat
Cadence and Cascade could have been a Bread song.
Man with an open heart would qualify.
I heard the Devil’s Triangle in a Walmart once…
One Time / Thrak
My first thought. A nice Radiohead vibe.
...WHAT!
Bro has beef with everyone
No, it's just, that's not what I think of when I think of commercial.
I don’t remember saying that, but I think it was because you went and complained at everybody who disagreed with you
Cat Food (Single version)
Epitaph is an extremely normal song
Yeah, but it's almost 9 minutes which isn't normal lol
Most of Red's A side is pretty normal hard rock/heavy metal
If I heard “Book of Saturday” off of Larks Tongues or “Peace - An End” and “Cadence and Cascade” off In the Wake of Poseidon out in the wild, I can’t guarantee I would recognize them as King Crimson songs.
One Time.
Heartbeat should’ve/could’ve been a big 80s pop hit imo
Matte Kudasai/Sleepless
Ha ha Happy Family
Walking on Air
Heartbeat
Going chronologically I’d say I Talk to the Wind, Ladies of the Road, Matte Kudasai, Heartbeat, Sleepless, One Time, Walking On Air, Dinosaur, People, and Eyes Wide Open
Level V
80's
I think the 80s era generally has a very commercial sound since even the really odd stuff is always based in a New Wave sound. Specifically Heartbeat from the Beat album or maybe Sleepless from Three of a Perfect Pair sound very much like a pretty normal, commercial pop song but with King Crimson doing it.