Best/Favorite Esoteric Song by well known Artists

SEEMEFIRST
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3/20/2024 11:05am
Mucktub wrote:
Every breath you take- The Police I reckon that fits the bill I have been in a function band that played many weddings and this has...

Every breath you take- The Police

I reckon that fits the bill

I have been in a function band that played many weddings and this has been requested as a first dance song several times. Its written from the perspective of a stalker.

OW38B wrote:
Is that not one of their biggest hits? "If you describe something as esoteric, you mean it is known, understood, or appreciated by only a small...

Is that not one of their biggest hits?

"If you describe something as esoteric, you mean it is known, understood, or appreciated by only a small number of people."

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/esoteric

Maybe it's the part about understanding the tune. I didn't know it was about a stalker, but I have heard it hundreds of times, probably. 

Kinda like Steely Dan's "My Old School".

Apparently Fagan got kicked out of a music school. Brilliant decision by the faculty. Huh

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OW38B
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3/20/2024 11:18am
Mucktub wrote:
Every breath you take- The Police I reckon that fits the bill I have been in a function band that played many weddings and this has...

Every breath you take- The Police

I reckon that fits the bill

I have been in a function band that played many weddings and this has been requested as a first dance song several times. Its written from the perspective of a stalker.

OW38B wrote:
Is that not one of their biggest hits? "If you describe something as esoteric, you mean it is known, understood, or appreciated by only a small...

Is that not one of their biggest hits?

"If you describe something as esoteric, you mean it is known, understood, or appreciated by only a small number of people."

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/esoteric

SEEMEFIRST wrote:
Maybe it's the part about understanding the tune. I didn't know it was about a stalker, but I have heard it hundreds of times, probably.  Kinda...

Maybe it's the part about understanding the tune. I didn't know it was about a stalker, but I have heard it hundreds of times, probably. 

Kinda like Steely Dan's "My Old School".

Apparently Fagan got kicked out of a music school. Brilliant decision by the faculty. Huh

OK then, if that works for you, cool.

Rocket88
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3/20/2024 12:50pm

Lola by the Kinks when it first came out.

Today, not so esoteric.

alphado
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3/20/2024 1:00pm

Conway Twitty - "Never Been This Far Before".

The Shop

Mucktub
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3/20/2024 1:13pm
Mucktub wrote:
Every breath you take- The Police I reckon that fits the bill I have been in a function band that played many weddings and this has...

Every breath you take- The Police

I reckon that fits the bill

I have been in a function band that played many weddings and this has been requested as a first dance song several times. Its written from the perspective of a stalker.

OW38B wrote:
Is that not one of their biggest hits? "If you describe something as esoteric, you mean it is known, understood, or appreciated by only a small...

Is that not one of their biggest hits?

"If you describe something as esoteric, you mean it is known, understood, or appreciated by only a small number of people."

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/esoteric

It may be known by many but not understood by many. Hence my minor anecdotal evidence.

OW38B
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3/20/2024 3:19pm
Mucktub wrote:
Every breath you take- The Police I reckon that fits the bill I have been in a function band that played many weddings and this has...

Every breath you take- The Police

I reckon that fits the bill

I have been in a function band that played many weddings and this has been requested as a first dance song several times. Its written from the perspective of a stalker.

OW38B wrote:
Is that not one of their biggest hits? "If you describe something as esoteric, you mean it is known, understood, or appreciated by only a small...

Is that not one of their biggest hits?

"If you describe something as esoteric, you mean it is known, understood, or appreciated by only a small number of people."

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/esoteric

Mucktub wrote:

It may be known by many but not understood by many. Hence my minor anecdotal evidence.

Fair enough. Cool

Esoteric can mean you have to explain to others.

LunarLullaby
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3/20/2024 5:32pm

A Day in the Life by The Beatles

OW38B
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3/28/2024 4:27pm

Eric Clapton - Slowhand - The Core

TeamGreen
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3/28/2024 5:17pm
APLMAN99 wrote:
Not quite 'esoteric', but perhaps not as understood as they should have been for their contributions or combinations. Buffalo Springfield "Mr. Soul" Blind Faith "Can't Find...

Not quite 'esoteric', but perhaps not as understood as they should have been for their contributions or combinations.

Buffalo Springfield "Mr. Soul"

Blind Faith "Can't Find My Way Home"

Elton John "Madman Across the Water w/Mark Ronson guitar"

The First Edition "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)"

Cream "Anyone for Tennis?"

Cream (again) "Tales of Brave Ulysses"

U2 "40"

 

Isn’t 40 based on one of the Psalms? Absolutely MY FAVORITE U2 song. Ever. 

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APLMAN99
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3/28/2024 7:07pm Edited Date/Time 3/28/2024 7:09pm
APLMAN99 wrote:
Not quite 'esoteric', but perhaps not as understood as they should have been for their contributions or combinations. Buffalo Springfield "Mr. Soul" Blind Faith "Can't Find...

Not quite 'esoteric', but perhaps not as understood as they should have been for their contributions or combinations.

Buffalo Springfield "Mr. Soul"

Blind Faith "Can't Find My Way Home"

Elton John "Madman Across the Water w/Mark Ronson guitar"

The First Edition "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)"

Cream "Anyone for Tennis?"

Cream (again) "Tales of Brave Ulysses"

U2 "40"

 

TeamGreen wrote:

Isn’t 40 based on one of the Psalms? Absolutely MY FAVORITE U2 song. Ever. 

Yeah, Evans and Hewson (Edge and Bono) were especially religious in their early musical examples. 40 is a very obvious example. Not sure if that’s exactly what they’d describe themselves as today, but I believe that their early spirituality has been a driving factor in their massive philanthropy over the last 4 decades or so. 

TeamGreen
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3/28/2024 7:21pm
APLMAN99 wrote:
Not quite 'esoteric', but perhaps not as understood as they should have been for their contributions or combinations. Buffalo Springfield "Mr. Soul" Blind Faith "Can't Find...

Not quite 'esoteric', but perhaps not as understood as they should have been for their contributions or combinations.

Buffalo Springfield "Mr. Soul"

Blind Faith "Can't Find My Way Home"

Elton John "Madman Across the Water w/Mark Ronson guitar"

The First Edition "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)"

Cream "Anyone for Tennis?"

Cream (again) "Tales of Brave Ulysses"

U2 "40"

 

TeamGreen wrote:

Isn’t 40 based on one of the Psalms? Absolutely MY FAVORITE U2 song. Ever. 

Nice…that’s how I recall it, so…that’s kinda cool! 

Back to the extremely controversial and ever so important matter at hand…

Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon 

To any and all…without googling…

If you know it, claim it and I’m buying you a beer and a tequila back (Don Julio ‘70). 

Falcon
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3/29/2024 9:41am

Here are two from Genesis that I cannot live without. Just fantastic musicians, and they write so many great songs that not all of them can make the radio. These are both such songs - too many other radio-friendly hits on ABACAB, so these got stuck in the deep cuts section:

 

 

 

 

1
Miquon MX 28x
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3/29/2024 4:36pm Edited Date/Time 3/29/2024 4:37pm

Here's one from my favorite Texas singer-songwriter/motocross/off road rider, Lyle Lovett. The Girl In The Corner was a hidden track buried under a minute and a half of silence at the end of his Grammy-winning album The Road To Ensenada. See if you can guess who he's singing about. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5plJKobV8A

 

OW38B
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3/29/2024 4:45pm Edited Date/Time 3/29/2024 4:46pm
Here's one from my favorite Texas singer-songwriter/motocross/off road rider, Lyle Lovett. The Girl In The Corner was a hidden track buried under a minute and a...

Here's one from my favorite Texas singer-songwriter/motocross/off road rider, Lyle Lovett. The Girl In The Corner was a hidden track buried under a minute and a half of silence at the end of his Grammy-winning album The Road To Ensenada. See if you can guess who he's singing about. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5plJKobV8A

 

Wow, that is a great song, exactly what we are looking for. I would have never know about it.

 

 

 

2
OW38B
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3/29/2024 10:53pm

Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti - Ten Years Gone

 

tunedlength
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3/30/2024 9:36pm

Dschinghis Khan - Dschinghis Khan

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OW38B
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3/31/2024 8:41am

Dschinghis Khan - Dschinghis Khan

I think you need to help us with this one.

NMHoleCZ
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3/31/2024 11:22am

I was tempted to say EVERY song by Steppenwolf that isn't 'Born to be Wild' or 'Magic Carpet Ride' (a pet peeve of mine), but to pick one, 'None of Your Doing'

also in the category of the world would make more sense to me if more people knew of these songs,
The Monkees -- 'Goin Down' (though Breaking Bad may have helped with this one...)
Harry Nilsson -- 'You're Breakin' My Heart'
Cat Stevens -- 'Foreigner Suite'
Tom Petty -- 'Two Gunslingers'
Neil Young -- 'Will to Love'
and my favorite song of all, Blues Traveler -- 'Regarding Steven'.

This is a dang good idea for a thread -- thanks!

OW38B
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3/31/2024 12:09pm
NMHoleCZ wrote:
I was tempted to say EVERY song by Steppenwolf that isn't 'Born to be Wild' or 'Magic Carpet Ride' (a pet peeve of mine), but to...

I was tempted to say EVERY song by Steppenwolf that isn't 'Born to be Wild' or 'Magic Carpet Ride' (a pet peeve of mine), but to pick one, 'None of Your Doing'

also in the category of the world would make more sense to me if more people knew of these songs,
The Monkees -- 'Goin Down' (though Breaking Bad may have helped with this one...)
Harry Nilsson -- 'You're Breakin' My Heart'
Cat Stevens -- 'Foreigner Suite'
Tom Petty -- 'Two Gunslingers'
Neil Young -- 'Will to Love'
and my favorite song of all, Blues Traveler -- 'Regarding Steven'.

This is a dang good idea for a thread -- thanks!

Nice list.

You know I've smoked a lot of grass
O' Lord, I've popped a lot of pills
But I've never touched nothin'
That my spirit could kill
You know, I've seen a lot of people walkin' 'round
With tombstones in their eyes
But the pusher don't care
Ah, if you live or if you die

Steppenwolf - The Pusher

1
Nairb#70
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3/31/2024 4:44pm

Sweet dream, Jethro Tull

 

OW38B
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4/2/2024 1:27pm
Nairb#70 wrote:

Sweet dream, Jethro Tull

 

I have Baker Street Muse by Tull on my list. Some Tull songs are just gold standard. Cool

Magoofan
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4/2/2024 1:35pm

Not a "well known" band....but definitely an eye opener.
 


Lovage – Stroker Ace Lyrics
Monsieur Dan
Can I come with you
As you both look awfully kind
Sadly he and me are through
Let me tell you what I've got in mind
I'll sing to you my mewing charm
Looks like you both could use a pet
And purr my purr all night long
I think a pussy's your best bet
Stroke that shiny coat
Stroking is the antidote
Stroke that, it's a start
Only for the wild at heart
Stroke that shiny coat
Stroking is the antidote
Stroke that shiny coat
Stroking's what it's all about
My tail alone could tell you tales
It's got a life all of it's own
Watch it move just like a sail
Sail you to the twilight zone
I love to lap a spot cream
And I assure you that I'm neat
But you never know what you can expect
When the pussy is in heat
Stroke that shiny coat
Stroking is the antidote
Stroke that, it's a start
Only for the wild at heart
Stroke that shiny coat
Stroking is the antidote
Stroke that shiny coat
Stoking's what it's all about
I like to watch, if you don't mind
Every sphinx knows how to pass the time
Your little love nest suits me well
Let me show you how to cast a spell
Stroke that shiny coat
Stroking is the antidote
Stroke that it's a start
Only for the wild at heart
Stroke that shiny coat
Stroking is the antidote
Stroke that shiny coat
Stroking's what it's all about

 

2
Forty
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4/2/2024 1:47pm
APLMAN99 wrote:
Not quite 'esoteric', but perhaps not as understood as they should have been for their contributions or combinations. Buffalo Springfield "Mr. Soul" Blind Faith "Can't Find...

Not quite 'esoteric', but perhaps not as understood as they should have been for their contributions or combinations.

Buffalo Springfield "Mr. Soul"

Blind Faith "Can't Find My Way Home"

Elton John "Madman Across the Water w/Mark Ronson guitar"

The First Edition "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)"

Cream "Anyone for Tennis?"

Cream (again) "Tales of Brave Ulysses"

U2 "40"

 

TeamGreen wrote:

Isn’t 40 based on one of the Psalms? Absolutely MY FAVORITE U2 song. Ever. 

TeamGreen wrote:
Nice…that’s how I recall it, so…that’s kinda cool!  Back to the extremely controversial and ever so important matter at hand… Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon  To...

Nice…that’s how I recall it, so…that’s kinda cool! 

Back to the extremely controversial and ever so important matter at hand…

Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon 

To any and all…without googling…

If you know it, claim it and I’m buying you a beer and a tequila back (Don Julio ‘70). 

I don't get over to Non-Moto much but if this is still an offer I'll toss the Kinks out there.  I always thought it was "Sunny" afternoon though.

Magoofan
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4/2/2024 2:02pm
Here's one from my favorite Texas singer-songwriter/motocross/off road rider, Lyle Lovett. The Girl In The Corner was a hidden track buried under a minute and a...

Here's one from my favorite Texas singer-songwriter/motocross/off road rider, Lyle Lovett. The Girl In The Corner was a hidden track buried under a minute and a half of silence at the end of his Grammy-winning album The Road To Ensenada. See if you can guess who he's singing about. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5plJKobV8A

 

Who he was singing about:   Before I looked it up, I remembered something about him having a relationship with Julia Roberts way back when.    Sure enough, in the video comments someone said "A lovely song about meeting Julia Roberts".

Don't know what happened with them or even if they're still together, I don't pay much attention to "Holierthanthoughwood" celebrities.   Grinning

It is a beautiful song nonetheless.

1
TeamGreen
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4/2/2024 4:04pm
TeamGreen wrote:

Isn’t 40 based on one of the Psalms? Absolutely MY FAVORITE U2 song. Ever. 

TeamGreen wrote:
Nice…that’s how I recall it, so…that’s kinda cool!  Back to the extremely controversial and ever so important matter at hand… Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon  To...

Nice…that’s how I recall it, so…that’s kinda cool! 

Back to the extremely controversial and ever so important matter at hand…

Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon 

To any and all…without googling…

If you know it, claim it and I’m buying you a beer and a tequila back (Don Julio ‘70). 

Forty wrote:
I don't get over to Non-Moto much but if this is still an offer I'll toss the Kinks out there.  I always thought it was "Sunny"...

I don't get over to Non-Moto much but if this is still an offer I'll toss the Kinks out there.  I always thought it was "Sunny" afternoon though.

Believe it or not…Queen. From the album that gave us Bohemian Rhapsody 😂

Miquon MX 28x
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San Marino, CA, USA
4/2/2024 4:18pm
Here's one from my favorite Texas singer-songwriter/motocross/off road rider, Lyle Lovett. The Girl In The Corner was a hidden track buried under a minute and a...

Here's one from my favorite Texas singer-songwriter/motocross/off road rider, Lyle Lovett. The Girl In The Corner was a hidden track buried under a minute and a half of silence at the end of his Grammy-winning album The Road To Ensenada. See if you can guess who he's singing about. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5plJKobV8A

 

Magoofan wrote:
Who he was singing about:   Before I looked it up, I remembered something about him having a relationship with Julia Roberts way back when.    Sure...

Who he was singing about:   Before I looked it up, I remembered something about him having a relationship with Julia Roberts way back when.    Sure enough, in the video comments someone said "A lovely song about meeting Julia Roberts".

Don't know what happened with them or even if they're still together, I don't pay much attention to "Holierthanthoughwood" celebrities.   Grinning

It is a beautiful song nonetheless.

We have a winner!

I've always read that this song is about him meeting Julia Roberts, which was the first thing I thought of when I heard it. They were married for about two years in the early '90s but I guess they decided to go their separate ways due to them both having busy careers that kept them apart.

People who have met Lyle say he is about as nice a guy as you'll ever meet and super humble. And a huge fan of motorcycles since he grew up racing motocross in Texas. And Julia Roberts once bought him a KTM for his birthday, so she gets a gold star for that.

1
Forty
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4/2/2024 4:31pm
TeamGreen wrote:
Nice…that’s how I recall it, so…that’s kinda cool!  Back to the extremely controversial and ever so important matter at hand… Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon  To...

Nice…that’s how I recall it, so…that’s kinda cool! 

Back to the extremely controversial and ever so important matter at hand…

Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon 

To any and all…without googling…

If you know it, claim it and I’m buying you a beer and a tequila back (Don Julio ‘70). 

Forty wrote:
I don't get over to Non-Moto much but if this is still an offer I'll toss the Kinks out there.  I always thought it was "Sunny"...

I don't get over to Non-Moto much but if this is still an offer I'll toss the Kinks out there.  I always thought it was "Sunny" afternoon though.

TeamGreen wrote:
Believe it or not…Queen. From the album that gave us Bohemian Rhapsody 😂

Believe it or not…Queen. From the album that gave us Bohemian Rhapsody 😂

Shit - never heard it.  Damn, I had that Don Julio on my mind.

 

The Kinks did do "Sunny Afternoon" -  about 10 years earlier, I'm an old cat.

TeamGreen
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4/2/2024 6:27pm
Forty wrote:
I don't get over to Non-Moto much but if this is still an offer I'll toss the Kinks out there.  I always thought it was "Sunny"...

I don't get over to Non-Moto much but if this is still an offer I'll toss the Kinks out there.  I always thought it was "Sunny" afternoon though.

TeamGreen wrote:
Believe it or not…Queen. From the album that gave us Bohemian Rhapsody 😂

Believe it or not…Queen. From the album that gave us Bohemian Rhapsody 😂

Forty wrote:
Shit - never heard it.  Damn, I had that Don Julio on my mind.   The Kinks did do "Sunny Afternoon" -  about 10 years earlier...

Shit - never heard it.  Damn, I had that Don Julio on my mind.

 

The Kinks did do "Sunny Afternoon" -  about 10 years earlier, I'm an old cat.

Well…all you’re guilty of is knowing some great tunes. Laughing

4/2/2024 6:59pm
TeamGreen wrote:
Believe it or not…Queen. From the album that gave us Bohemian Rhapsody 😂

Believe it or not…Queen. From the album that gave us Bohemian Rhapsody 😂

Forty wrote:
Shit - never heard it.  Damn, I had that Don Julio on my mind.   The Kinks did do "Sunny Afternoon" -  about 10 years earlier...

Shit - never heard it.  Damn, I had that Don Julio on my mind.

 

The Kinks did do "Sunny Afternoon" -  about 10 years earlier, I'm an old cat.

TeamGreen wrote:
Well…all you’re guilty of is knowing some great tunes. 

Well…all you’re guilty of is knowing some great tunes. Laughing

Cool

1
Bearuno
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AU
4/2/2024 7:45pm Edited Date/Time 4/7/2024 3:45am

Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day', from the Transformer album. Among so many other songs, over so many years.

It is prominent in my mind right now, as it's  featured in the new Wim Wenders movie, Perfect Days.

It's such a beautiful song, that seemed to come out of nowhere from Lou, and it correlated with some difficult times for me and mine, and it still moves me to this day.

The love of my life caught me tearing up at it during an ad for the movie and I'm having a difficult time with whether to tell her about things.

I'm off to see the movie, Perfect Days, soon. It looks wonderful. 

https://youtu.be/9wxI4KK9ZYo

And, a bit of a playlist from the movie , Perfect Days - some great music in there: 

https://youtu.be/7THinzDbGqc

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