'Tempus Fugit' by YES ~ What Makes This Song Progressive? [ep.03]

#Drama #TempusFugitYes #analysis #progrock

In this video Canadian Guitarist/composer analyzes the song Tempus Fugit, from Yes' 1980 album Drama. What makes it progressive? What are the essential bare-bone elements to the song?
Written by Geoff Downes, Trevor Horn, Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White

A LITTLE ABOUT ME: I'm Dean Wolfe, a mostly self-taught guitarist/composer/multi-instrumentalist/singer/producer/performer. I started out as a full time musician on the road at age 17 for two years, but went part-time ever since while holding day careers including as a chef and in spiritual health care while raising a family.
I've recorded hundreds of my own songs- many being used in media and award winning documentaries etc. I've been in several bands including a prog/jazz fusion act nFuze, performing in International Jazz festivals and jazz clubs. I abandoned the prog genre more or less back in the 1990s but have returned to it now with vigour a full 30 years later- so much prog I've ignored and quite frankly didn't have any idea about. My own prog band was rejected by record labels as "too progressive' in the late 80s, so i detoured into grunge, pop and alternative instead (then folk and acoustic fingerstyle guitar and ambient electric as well).

For the entire series of 'React to Modern Progressive Rock' Playlist #1 click here:

Thanks so much!!! Donations and tips are most welcome:
PayPal.Me/Deanwolfe
Headphones I use mostly are AKG K 712 pro reference (my choice, unsponsored) and i do love them a lot.

Playlist of all my Rush Guitar Lessons:

Playlist of ALL my guitar lessons (Prog Rock, classic rock, Police, Sting etc.)

Follow Me/ websites for me and my bands etc:

[HollowGolem]

_Drama_ is one of my top 5 Yes albums. An underrated gem, unfairly maligned because of the lack of Anderson and Squire. And this song, as well as "Machine Messiah" really stand out in the Yes catalogue.

And your presentation here is great. Fun and engaging.

[Biofilmz]

Good idea for a series. I have always loved this song - one of the hardest rocking Yes songs. Looking forward to more in this series.

[GregSJesus]

One of my favorite Yes songs, somehow it fit the 80's sound as well as having the rock punch of the 70's. The drums, bass and guitars are going all out, full tilt without just being noisy, the talent just screams!

[themanfromutopia]

Looking forward to this series, great concept!

[bernhardkaiser]

Awesome! This is one if not my favorite Yes song, and being a prog nerd, I always wondered why :) Now I know, thank you, that was brilliant!

[billbbobby]

What a great tune from a great act. From the Great Music Renaissance of the 1980's. Great music and great time growing up in America. Thank you great lord above for filling the air with harmony.

[Sammeep]

Drama is in my top 6 of YES. Tempus fugit is a banger

[nickrozzoni]

Great video! The book ends to this album are epic!

[johncobb]

Wonderful analysis on an absolutely fantastic song from Yes in 1980. I was fortunate enough to see them at one of the nights the played at the L.A. Sports Arena.

[markhorn]

Was the first person to buy this album in E.Lansing MI. Saw the tour in Detroit. They did not disappoint. Never thought that this wasn't prog or Yes. If this and 90125 didn't happen....Yes would have been out of the conversation before the turn of the century...pun intended.

[BarrySanchez]

Excellent video, I’ve been a YES Fan since they’re inception, I have one tattoo & it’s the YES Bubble logo in the Tales colors. I’ve seen YES. & Solo performances of members now over 20 times & there is just something about YES Music that just touches my heart. When you talked about Pat Metheny & YES in the same sentence that gave you instant credibility. Keep up the great work!!!

[BettyBottlePop]

Great song choice to start this series! Just found your channel today and loving your vibe

[KhordLizardMage]

Spock's Beard - The Light would be a cool one to do.

[luclaflamme]

Juste starting practicing and figuring out this song over the last few days... Its a little challenging but very accessible.

Thanks for that fun breakdown

[williamsmith]

2nd best bass line in rock.
The real me taking #1 of course

[ianwilkinson]

Drama is the only album I possess and worship by Yes, prior to that release I thought almost nothing of the band and that remains the case. Just my personal taste.
Dean, if you concern yourself with long intros [ I love them ] and ultra long tracks too, you would enjoy a Hawkwind concert going back a few years though, the intros last as long as they feel like :-) and a lot of the time it is guess the song from the intro until just before the singing starts, good fun. Have you come across the underated British Prog band called IQ ? No? as a taster give "Road of Bones" or "Erosion" a listen. Cheers really enjoying your videos.

[alexshadowfax]

Great video idea! It expands your content whilst still sticking to a progressive theme, awesome to see, more music education and information is great to see! Thanks, have a great day everyone!

Muse- apocalypse please
Muse- map of the problematique
Blonde redhead- spring and by summer fall

[zosi]

Interesting song choice. Probably not their most proggy, but you can still tell that the 80s hadn't completely tamed them.
I think that progressive music isn't defined by being tight. When I think of something being proggy, I tend to think of it being more eclectic and technical. Your analogy of a car engine and having a lot of different parts I think gets at the heart of what makes something progressive best I think.
I think being tight is a result of the amount of teamwork and practice that is required to play the complicated technical parts. Especially since tightness is a value that tends to extend to a lot of more musicianship focused rock.

[HowFingCool]

Great idea for a series. Can you find a way to get the track "in line"? Maybe a basic interface unit would help you merge your voice and guitar with the CD or mp3?

[kitakitsune]

To me this Yes album sounds more like post-Farewell to the Kings Rush