The majority of songs circulating the airwaves in the 21st century consist of one definitive genre, a three or so minute runtime, and a subject matter that is easily digestible and not too contemplative. There is nothing wrong with that. However, once upon a time, it paid off to be bold, ambitious, and rebellious. Consequently, some expansively epic tunes that broke all the rules were born.
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When we say “expansively epic,” we’re talking about a song with a length well over three minutes, a sound that is not victim to one genre, and a subtextually rich story that takes more than one listen to fully grasp the meaning of. That is quite a bit of criteria to meet, but these three songs did it. So, that is why we consider them to be “expansively epic.”
“Band On The Run” by Paul McCartney and Wings
A strong narrative structure, a culmination of different genres, and a plus five-minute runtime are the things that make this song eligible for our list. Many consider Paul McCartney and Wings‘ “Band On The Run” to be one of the greatest songs of all time, and that is partly because it breaks every single fundamental rule in the songwriting book. Frankly, this song has so many moving parts that it could easily be made into three different songs.
Released in 1973, this song was already a stand-alone classic thanks to its musical nuance and novelty. Though given this nuance and novelty, one might believe that it wasn’t suited to perform well on the Billboard Hot 100. That was not the case, as this epic single peaked at No. 1 on the chart following its release.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
This might seem like a cop-out selection, but we added it to our list because it is the epitome of expansively epic. Its length is just around six minutes, and the lyrics tackle metaphysical notions such as personal and sexual identity, self-acceptance, and coming to terms with the way someone is internally. Also, the song seamlessly features elements of rock, hard rock, pop, and even some operatic notes.
Needless to say, this song breaks every single rule, and consequently, it is a song not entirely conducive to a radio-friendly experience. Though that didn’t matter at the time, because it peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975, and as time has gone by, it has become one of Queen‘s most popular and noteworthy songs of all time.
“Astral Weeks” by Van Morrison
Van Morrison‘s “Astral Weeks” is a masterclass in musical abstraction and impressionism. It ambiguously sheds light on a plethora of highly personal themes and utilizes genres of music such as folk, jazz, and the blues, and it does so in a whopping seven-minute runtime. It is “epic” in every sense of the word.
Unlike the two other songs mentioned, “Astral Weeks”, nor the album of the same name, did not garner major commercial success. However, and more importantly, it showed that truly great and experimental music does not have to be easily defined or categorized.
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