Classical Composer Reacts to Question (The Moody Blues) | The Daily Doug (Episode 233)

#TheMoodyBlues #Question

In this episode of #TheDailyDoug, I'm reacting to Question by The Moody Blues. It was written and recorded 51 years ago. And, sadly, it is still just as timely and poignant as ever. Here's to staying curious and asking questions!

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[davidsterenchock]

How interesting. The Moody Blues causes Doug to wax philosophical. In my opinion that is a lot of what the music of my generation was all about. It was musical and creative but looked into the depths of the human spirit. I am 67 years old.

[NashvilleKat]

The line you mentioned, "And if you could see what it's done to me, To lose the the love I knew could safely lead me through" is a reference to the loss of his dad not too long before. He was very close to both of his parents.

[dannygriffith]

No strings at all!...Mellotron...played by its maestro, Mike Pinder.

[metablue]

Dude, the answer to "Question" is the last song on the album - "The Balance"
Some of us, even 50 years ago, appreciated this band for largely introducing serious philosophy, as in so many of their albums, into rock music. for numerous reasons, they stood alone. They were their own genre, and we knew it.

[danellwein]

1965 to 1975 is the greatest 10 year period in the history of music .... and yes ... i lived my teen years through this time ... thank you for doing this Doug ..

[MrDiddyDee]

Justin was under pressure to come in with a new song for a booked Decca recording session but only had two part finished songs. It was 2 am that very morning and Justin decided, (although they were in very different tempos, they were both in the same key) the solution was to combine the two contrasting songs together. The band took to the song very quickly in just a few takes, with no overdubs needed.

[jstdrv]

Question is a masterpiece. Crank up the volume and it really packs a punch too. Love from Norway

[marcanglin]

Justin Hayward's gorgeous voice singing that great melody in the center that perfectly-written Mellotron orchestration playing behind soaring, bittersweet. Some of the most beautiful music this generation and this genre has ever produced.

Thank you for helping us understand that the Moodies are even better than we thought they were.

[jefferfoxmustang]

One of my favorite Moodies songs. Hearing thousands of people sing this with them in concert is almost a religious experience. Very moving. Lyrics still apply today.

[Sam_Utah]

Justin Hayward told the story of this song as two different song/motifs he was developing and merged them into one song. Clearly two musical moments that just work as one extended piece. Moodies never get props. So glad you have revisited them. It was a time of turmoil. I remember being on Haight St in San Francisco in 1969 and walking over to Golden Gate park and they were playing In Search of the Lost Chord, OM/Heaven with incense and beneficial herb in the air and it made for a great trip. Moodies were seminal to progressive/art rock, concept albums and eventually Mike Pinder's explorations that led to many new age and psychedelic adventures.

[debrafiendel-boutilierandd]

The Moody Blues? Pure musical brilliance! Will love their songs for the rest of my life! Their live performance I saw on PBS (Public Broadcasting System) was nothing short of breathtaking. All you had to do was look at the audience to see how loved they are.

[StephenCaudillPhoto]

The Moodys were my gateway into Yes, Genesis, etc. back in the 70s. To Our Children's... is my very favorite album by them. DoFP blew my mind.

[brianwhelan]

Hayworth is a musical genius, he can write melodic pieces of music and can sing

[dawnelledana]

The Moodys were my Zen place in high school. Threshold of a Dream was my first album, I had my parents buy me the ones before for Christmas. I went to their concerts once a year, no matter what state I lived in, or what I was doing.

[tensor]

my mum was a classically trained musician and I was 16 when this album came out ... I was exploring prog, led zep etc. at the time most of which she couldn't abide but on the Moodies we were unanimous .. she knew good music when she heard it!!

[visualizeprog]

You could do a whole video on John Lodge's melodic bass lines. He's so underrated & never comes up in discussions of great rock or prog bassists. But in most Moody Blues songs (and his own solo songs) he's playing countermelodies to everything else going in in the song. I find him a very unique & creative player.

[gebrowniii]

One of the songs, there are several, the audience sings at full volume. A number of times during shows Justin and John would look at each another and smile at the volume of sound coming back at them. The Moodies have always supplied goosebump music the sound would lift your spirits. Witnessing the band with full orchestral backup is something I will always cherish.

[joyis]

I feel so lucky to have been 11 years old in 1970 because my youth was exposed to such brilliant rock bands such as The Moody Blues. And their music is so timely to the current issues.

[tobytanzer]

These guys invented the concept album. Days of Future Past was about a day in the life of Everyman. In Search of the Lost Chord was about inner awareness, through hallucinogens, meditation, Eastern philosophy, etc. To Our Children's Children Children was about the wonder of childhood and the endless possibilities that the future held, eg through the exploration of space. A Question of Balance is a philosophical discussion about our place in universe, on a personal and a cosmic scale. On the Threshhold of a Dream was about dreams. D'uh. Every Good Boy Deserves Favour was a more personal album about individual development, loves won and lost, and music (the mnemonic). Most of these songs blend from one to the next without a pause, so the albums are meant to be heard in one go. Seventh Sojourn has themes from the 6 previous albums all wrapped up together as a sort of lyrical summary of the preceding works, but ends with their rocking-est song - I'm Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band. Enjoy the trip!