Yes - Machine Messiah || Jana’s First Listen and Song REVIEW

Welcome to ‘Prog Song Sunday’, where we listen to a Progressive Rock song together and then discuss our thoughts about that particular piece of music. In each episode, you get two different perspectives- the seasoned Prog fan who has 20 years of experience listening to the genre (Nathan), and the fresh new listener who is only now discovering the world of Progressive Rock (Jana).

In this episode, we are featuring "Machine Messiah" by Yes! Please listen along with us, and continue on to our discussion to see how Jana feels about her first dedicated listen to this prog rock gem and Nathan’s background and history with this particular piece of music!
#progrock #yesband #janareacts #firstlisten #machinemessiah #drama #progressiverock​​ #nathanonshuffle #janafirstlisten #reactionvideos #reaction

Disclaimer: We try our best to let the song play and be heard before we give our commentary, but we may briefly give comments during the song based on our impressions and reactions in the moment. We don’t intend to be annoying or “sacrilegious” to the integrity of the song, we are just being our pure, unfiltered selves as we listen. If you want a pure, uninterrupted listen, we encourage you to please seek out the song on your platform of choice (link to my Spotify playlist that features all the songs we cover in this series is below)!

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No copyright infringement intended. We do not own the music in this video. Our use of this music constitutes Fair Use.

[bukeksiansu]

Some say this song is the blueprint of progressive metal.

[papunAlicea]

Thanks so much for share this video. Congratulations for share progresive rock music by Yes.
Great song, album, performance and arrangement. 💯🎼

[jeffschielka]

Happy Sunday guys! DRAMA!! Chris Squire! The bass lines are PHENOMENAL!!! Enjoy Jana!🎶🎼🎵😎

[Lightmane]

Great album, and an amazing piece of music.

[lazydada]

Love this track! Glad you liked it too

[PJprog]

This album would make a good choice as a gateway into the band for a newbie. Got all the hallmarks of YES, and yet very accessible and unchallenging to new ears.... but such a cracking listen, from beginning to end. Great reaction Jana and Nathan. 😍

[TheReaperMan]

Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman both left the group after the disastrous Paris Sessions in 1979 and were replaced by Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes of The Buggles of "Video Killed The Radio Star" fame and for the most part did an admirable job, considering the big shoes they had to fill. But the remaining three band members Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White went above and beyond to make this a great addition to the Yes catalogue. _Drama_ was one of my first experiences with Yes music and I really loved it from day one. I wasn't carrying baggage from the 70s with me as a lot of older Yes fans were. Many fans (especially British fans) could just not accept Trevor Horn as the new lead singer and often booed him when he sang some of the old Jon Anderson standards. Good reaction, guys! Peace!

[bobbgoldstein]

I love Drama. Didnt even know it existed until a yr ago when I went through Yes Chonologically. Prob on my top 5 or even 3 Yes albums.

[ThatsMrPencilneckU]

Original members on this album: Chris Squire. Other than CS, classic line-up members: Steve Howe. Other than CS and SH, members that have been on 3 Yes albums, or more: Alan White.

[hustonbop]

A great lead off cut for a great, great album ❤

[alanwaine]

I was a Yes fan in the 70s and saw them a few times and when this album came out, I was so excited to hear a fresh start after Tormato. I wasn't disappointed and thought it was a great album. I couldn't believe the reaction from some fans. Saw them live in 1980 and loved it. Thought Trevor Horn was really brave for taking on the role against the boo boys

[JohnBrooking]

Interesting bit of music trivia: The keyboard part beginning at 7:02 of your video is a quote from a classical organ piece, the Toccata movement of Charles-Marie Widor’s Symphony for Organ #5. You should give it a listen. Jana likes positive music; the ending of that piece is incredibly emotional and triumphant, though it gets a little dark in the middle. That makes the ending even better.

[IllumeEltanin]

The musicianship on Drama is top notch, and the songs are decent. My personal issue that keeps it out of my top five Yes albums, other than the classic seven album run, is that from The Yes Album forward I always think of Yes’ lyrics defining their name, representing Positivity and Hope. For me, Drama is a departure from that.

[stringstandard]

I remember hearing Tempus Fugit from this album for the first time and being completely blown away. Even without Jon Anderson Yes still rocked.

[andrewhamer]

One of the earliest gigs I went to was on the Drama tour. I've always thought it was a great album.

[Tarkus_]

This album has definitely become more appreciated over time. Still not one of my favorite Yes albums, but I appreciate it for what it is. I'll take it over anything from Trevor-Yes.

[JohnBrooking]

Speaking of Chris Squire, his bass playing too is very distinctive and contributes to continuing the Yes sound.

[jabgibson]

I don't know the joke to why 1980 is a good year (I must have missed that episode), but I also think 1980 is a great year.
This was a great song. I, like Jana, have never heard this before. I have deeply neglected Yes. So Nathan you are effectively convincing me I need to take a week off of work, and just power through the Yes catalog.

[kenlansdowne]

At the time of its release Drama didn't go down well with a lot of fans, and there was a feeling Yes had gone pop by joining up with Buggles, but over time its reputation has improved. It is certainly better that many of the more recent albums released under the Yes name. I enjoyed it from the start, perhaps because I also enjoyed the music of Buggles

[gaiaeternal]

Hi Shufflers. Dave from The Smoke. Great reaction to one of the stronger tracks from Drama and, you're right, Jana, it's a real rollercoaster. Imagine the astonishment when it was announced that Trevor and Geoff from quirky popsters The Buggles (whose main claim to fame is their hit single Video Killed The Radio Star being the first song played on MTV) would be joining Yes. I was fine with the album, but I saw them on this tour and I don't think Trevor's vocals were up to it live. Terrific heavy guitar by Steve on this track.