Favorite Song on 90125

[SCHSYesfan]

Hello everyone. Just tell your favorite song on this album and tell us why if you have a reason. Multiple picks are allowed. Thanks.

[cinderella]

My favorite song on 90125 is Changes. I love the music, and Trevor's vocals.

I loved it so much I had CHANGES put on my license plate. :D

[SCHSYesfan]

I guess I choose It Can Happen as my favorite, but I like almost all of them.

[Internaut]

Hold On
It Can Happen
Changes

I like all 3 prety much equally. It depends on the mood. I really like the 9012Live versions of Changes and Hold On

[cinderella]

Actually I love everything except for Cinema and Leave It.
They're good songs, I just don't like them quite as much as the others.

[steve4001]

I've always liked "It Can Happen". It sounds like a Chris Squire solo track and I'm always in favour of that

[ThePatman]

I was in chicago when I bought it... put on my headphones and walked up and down michigan ave. except for OOABH (like nails on a blackboard after 600,000 times), every song I hear takes me back to a neat visit to the windy city. I like it all. :headset:

[John Khatru]

No doubt OOALH has been played to death ...still a cool song.. but..

It Can Happen would have to be my favorite from 90215 and is among my all time favorite Yes songs...(never fails me to do some windmill air guitar) :leftG:

the sitaresque playing!! Chris's Bass!! the vocals!! :bowdown:

Changes, Hearts and Leave It are the the other 90210 songs on my iPod

[BigGenerator]

Changes,good rhythmn,it's a nice accomplished song
Hearts has got the best melody of the album

[MrZuLu]

Our Song and Cinema make the spine tingley thingies go up and down my spine scaring tiny little goosebumples scurrying them all over my body... as does most Yes Music anyway...
:band: :harp:
:leftG: :violin: :rghtAG:
:anncr:

[son-jester]

I have to say I agree with most of what I've seen so far. I find myself singing "It Can Happen" without thinking about it. I also really like the acapella version of "Leave it" but of course, that one didn't actually make the album. I remember when 90125 first came out and I had heard that version played on the radio. It drove me crazy that I it wasn't on the album when I got it. It to me years and the internet until I heard it again.

[Hugh Shiebler]

No doubt OOALH has been played to death ...still a cool song.. but..

It Can Happen would have to be my favorite from 90215 and is among my all time favorite Yes songs...(never fails me to do some windmill air guitar) :leftG:

the sitaresque playing!! Chris's Bass!! the vocals!! :bowdown:

Changes, Hearts and Leave It are the the other 90210 songs on my iPod

Ja. "It can Happen" is the one from that album that has worn the best for me. It sounds like the one 90125 song that really could have been done by the classic band.

"Changes" is cool too, and I actually like that rhythmically intricate opening section. But then all of a sudden it sounds like the Police! "Message in a Bottle". to be exact. That was obvious to me the very first time I heard it - - it was like, "Come on, guys....."

[luckeydoug1]

This is my favorite Yes album, no questions about it. And, actually it is now my favorite rock album of all time. Every song here from start to finish does something for me. There is not a loser in the bunch. This is the only album I have completely enjoyed from start to finish in my well over 40 years of listening to rock. There is not one "skip over" for me in the lot.

Nearly every song here could be considered a favorite, but in this collection, these are my favorites:

Owner of a Lonely Heart (No, I can't get enough of it and often listen to it an hour at at a time. I consider this to be the best rock song of all time)
Changes- also a favorite.
Leave it- especially the a capella version which sends chills down my spine every time I listen to it
Hold on- once again, awesome harmonies I just can't get enough of

I own the Rhino expanded remix CD and actually every track on this CD is a winner (well, except that dance version of OOALH, which really doesn't belong here anyway)

[Andersonic]

Wow, I expected to be the only one voting for 'Our Song' but I see it got 4!

I chose between 'Changes', 'Hearts' and 'It Can Happen' but I just loooove the up tempo swing of 'Our Song', it's one of those songs where they pick it up and show a good rockin' side of the band. Like in 'Dreamtime', the last part of 'Be The One', 'On The Silent Wings Of Freedom'. I often have it on my Yes compilation MD when I'm travelling.

[sparky]

Wow, I expected to be the only one voting for 'Our Song' but I see it got 4!

I chose between 'Changes', 'Hearts' and 'It Can Happen' but I just loooove the up tempo swing of 'Our Song', it's one of those songs where they pick it up and show a good rockin' side of the band. Like in 'Dreamtime', the last part of 'Be The One', 'On The Silent Wings Of Freedom'. I often have it on my Yes compilation MD when I'm travelling.
I´m with you on that one - great song and great production!

[yarstruly]

They are all good....

Hearts is my fave though...

I'll Rank them thusly:
Hearts
Cinema/Leave It (They work best when together to me)
Hold On
It Can Happen
Changes
City of Love
Owner
Our Song

[Jackaranda]

Hearts.

[Steve St Thomas]

Honestly can't choose, I love that album, and it will always be one of my favourite albums, ever. I've never been sold on OUR SONG, but I love the playing in it. Musically its great, and there's some really great guitar stuff that Rabin does throughout it. For me it just never fit properly on the album, even back then when I didn't know any better. Even now that I think I do, it still sits there a little uncomfortably, but I definitely appreciate it more than I did.

Favourite song though?

I love that whole damn album. I think its one of the best track to track collections of songs ever put together. It's a pretty complete album, just one song after the other that are just as good as the last (until Our Song). Even with the Fairlight Programming, I think 90125 didn't date as much as Asia's 1st album, and particularly Asia's 2nd album. There's a lot of 90125 that sounds fresh, even though its the 80's. One of those being It Can Happen. I can sit there and say, oh the ending is stadium rock or whatever, I can classify each section into some genre synonymous with a particular trend or time, but what I can't do is say that song sucks. That song is terrific. It's Rabin and Squire combined, and I think they did the same great work when they did Lift Me Up years later. They were always the better writing team in ''Yeswest''. Or at least the best suited to eachother. I still prefer the original CINEMA version of the song though. I liked it as soon as I heard it on the Yesyears compilation. (Wish I hadn't sold that back in '92 :( ) If Run With The Fox wasn't so Christmassy, I would have loved to hear a CINEMA/YES version of that as well. Always loved that song.

Leave It I think is a mini-masterpiece. It was so different to everything that was out around that time. It had an absolutely unique sound with its multiple part harmonies. That song gave me chills, and the groove of it was so great. I bought the 12" version of Leave It at the time, and I absolutely wore out the 9 minute Hello Goodbye Mix edited by Squire. Just loved that whole song, but I think my favourite moment is when Rabin sings ''breaking down'' in that reprise of the Intro vocals. That whole section was just powerful.

Hearts has always been a favourite. The main favourite part is the whole Hammond section ''who would believe you wise men do . . . '' THAT whole section is 'mean'. I always loved that section of the song.

Can't pick one song. I just know the song that never rested easily, but I didn't dislike it, OUR SONG.

[Nellsalot]

Hold On
It Can Happen
Changes

I like all 3 prety much equally. It depends on the mood. I really like the 9012Live versions of Changes and Hold On

My feelings exactly.

[Tabulon]

Had to think about this one a bit. It Can Happen. After the Yes Album, 90125 is my personal favorite. The sound was commanding.

[gillock]

My favorite song is "It Can Happen"...but here's my problem...

I was playing this for my daughter, and she asked "what can happen?"...and I find myself stuck. I keep re-reading the lyrics...and I can't come up with an interpretation I like.

Any thoughts? Help!

Thanks.

[Olias of BurryPort]

Love most of this album but must go for "It Can Happen" followed by " Hold on ".

[YesForSure.]

I couldn't vote.

My favourite part of the album is when the cd ends, and I hear silence.

[heishere]

it can happen
but owner of a lonely heart always struck me as a daring departure... maybe even intentionally unyeslike... i refer especially to the common currency lyrics and the heavy, pounding, repetitiveness, which both seemed to me to be a clever parody of headbangin music, all confirmed (in my mind) by that strange and totally unexpected screecher instrument (sounds a bit like a lugnut tightener) that rips into the intro and just rivets. if you know what i'm talking about, tell me, just what produces that shrill sound? its very exciting.
but id still take it can happen first

[Jacaranda]

it can happen
but owner of a lonely heart always struck me as a daring departure... maybe even intentionally unyeslike... i refer especially to the common currency lyrics and the heavy, pounding, repetitiveness, which both seemed to me to be a clever parody of headbangin music, all confirmed (in my mind) by that strange and totally unexpected screecher instrument (sounds a bit like a lugnut tightener) that rips into the intro and just rivets. if you know what i'm talking about, tell me, just what produces that shrill sound? its very exciting.
but id still take it can happen first

That would be Trevor Rabin playing guitar, doing something unique instead this "sellout pop gunk" some Yes fans insist he was all about.

I couldn't vote.

My favourite part of the album is when the cd ends, and I hear silence.

Why don't you like it? Your post would actually be interesting if you gave some reasoning as to why you hate 90125 instead of using weak message board insults.

[luckeydoug1]

I couldn't vote.
My favourite part of the album is when the cd ends, and I hear silence.

Oh wow! This is my most favorite Yes album from start to finish, and actually continues to be my favorite pop/rock album of all time. I can listen to this collection of music over and over again. What can I say; the songwriting, the harmonies, the guitar playing, the keyboard playing, the drumming, the bass lines.... it just doesn't get any better than this for me.

[Topia]

Every song from start to finish is 5 stars... Changes though, 5 1/2 stars

[Kevin Caffrey]

"Hearts" is the standout for me. Really a unique arrangement/production of a song considering the year it was released. Lots of great things to love about it. Loved that they played it on The Ladder tour -- would actually love to have a copy of a live version from that tour. I have a live version from the Talk tour which is very good too -- but the versions I remember from the two times I saw them on The Ladder tour were astounding.

Kevin

[relayeire]

I always thought they should have attempted It Can Happen when Billy was in the band... he'd do the traditional electric guitar stuff and Steve would play the sitar-guitar...

[YesForSure.]

I was being completely rational up there, and I guess I could say it IS THAT bad..
I like 'Leave it'.

[kay]

Hearts is my favorite song on the album because it speaks to my heart.

[DesertCat]

I'm actually a bit surprised that "It Can Happen" is such a popular choice, but I mean that in a good way. I remember when I bought the album and was talking about it with a friend. When I told him the song that made me buy the album was "It Can Happen" he looked at me somewhat stunned. I chose something other than Owner?

After bajillions of listens (and yes, this has changed over time):
Hearts
Changes
Cinema/Leave It
It Can Happen
are my top 4, but...

The whole package of 90125 is one of my favorite albums of all time. To me it's one of those examples of when things just come together. Trevor Rabin had some really solid material already written before he hooked up with Chris Squire and Alan White, but the songs just got better with their input. The demos on 90124 show us how far along some of the ideas were and how much others in the band helped shape them into the final versions. Tony Kaye's keyboards suited the "Cinema" concept wonderfully. Jon Anderson came in late in the project, but his vocals turned the album into a masterpiece. I don't think we can ever minimize the input that Trevor Horn had on shaping the final sound either. The guy has gone on to earn the reputation as a master producer and I think his first homerun was here. The dynamics that led to 90125 were basically unrepeatable, but what a glorious thing.

I know there has long been this division within the Yes fan ranks about YesWest etc. and I'm sorry for those who can't let go and see what a great album this is. Before 90125 I had never heard of Yes. I was in high school when it came out. The experience got me to go back and sample the previous Yes albums and I got hooked on those as well. They were very different from 90125 without question (though Drama was a little bit of a bridge). I grew to love the 70s Yes music. This led me to get hooked on many different bands in Prog Rock including early Genesis and more recently Spock's Beard and Transatlantic. What an amazing road that has been.

To answer what some people consider to be the "big question", no I don't consider 90125 to be prog rock. I don't consider it to be pop either. In many ways 90125 is a unique musical experience that deserves to stand on its own. Kind of like YES.

[YESOLA]

My favorite song is "It Can Happen"...but here's my problem...

I was playing this for my daughter, and she asked "what can happen?"...and I find myself stuck. I keep re-reading the lyrics...and I can't come up with an interpretation I like.

Any thoughts? Help!

Thanks.

I always took the song as a positive thing - like good things can happen to you, sort of like the SYN "your time will come".....but true when you read it it sounds like a mish mash of things like bad stuff can happen too, maybe that was Rabin's take and the Anderson came in with the hopeful part. Who knows.

Funny thing, once a game at Yankee Stadium throughout the year last year, they would play a video clip of errors that players made, collisions, etc. and the music for the clip was "It can happen"

[DesertCat]

I always interpreted "It can happen" as the possibility of spiritual awakening and redemption. I suppose the lyrics are general enough, though, that it could probably be taken in many different directions at the interpretation of the listener.

But to me, this is the main message:
You can mend the wires
You can feed the soul apart
You can touch your life
You can bring your soul alive
It can happen ;)

As for the more negative lyrics... I always thought it was saying that you could do all of those things (cheat, etc.) but that didn't prevent you from coming to the awakening.

But who knows. It's probably really about the possibilities of being hit by a meteorite. :meteo2:

[Joedude]

I'm actually a bit surprised that "It Can Happen" is such a popular choice, but I mean that in a good way.

I agree, I love the tune. However, there isn't much that I don't like about the album, to be quite honest.

[Roadkill]

I voted Changes and then read Steve St Thomas's post on the first page and immediately started to question my choice!

I bought the expanded remaster yesterday and forgot just how much I like this album. It hasn't dated as much as I thought it would and so much of it still sounds really fresh.

Changes is a pinnacle for me as I love the way Jon and Trevor alternate verses and the rhythm section is killer; it's almost a Heart Of The Sunrise for the 80s in the same way as Owner Of A Lonely Heart is a Roundabout.

[tsardaniel]

A much more accessible Yes (not necessarily a good thing), but overall some very quality songs...just a little too streamlined. I think of the "west" version of Yes as a different band entirely, often, and this has always helped me to enjoy these for what they are...

[Orbert]

I've liked Hold On since I first heard the first 10 seconds of it. Actually, that's all I got to hear, as the bozo working in the record store stopped it and started the side again, and I had to suffer through Owner again, hoping that this time he'll let it play on and I'll get to hear more than those pounding drums and insane guitar hook (I mean both of those in a good way, btw). But no. I guess he just wanted to (over)play Owner. But that opening was enough to whet my appetite, and I picked up 90125 that day.

I like Cinema also, because I'm a sucker for instrumentals. With any band, I always feel like one measure of what they can really do is when there are no lyrics or vocals to hide behind. Does the piece stand alone on its musical merits? It doesn't have to be a song to have a melody, with verses and refrain, but without words, it can get repetitive. I think Cinema delivers the goods rather nicely, doesn't overstay its welcome, and even serves as a great intro to Leave It.

...which I didn't vote for. My other vote went to City of Love. That heavy, plodding riff which probably bugs a lot of people is, to me, pretty cool. I'm not sure why I like it so much. But it's music; sometimes there's no explaining what grabs you and what does not, or why.

[webbcity]

Kind of a tough one, I like all these tunes. I chose Leave It, but It Can Happen and Hearts are right up there too. Not to mention Hold On, Cinema, and City of Love. Oh, and Our Song, Owner, Changes... :-)

[sibkhat]

This is my most recent Yes acquisition and I chose "Changes." I was a preteen when this album first came out but I heard "Owner" on the radio a lot. I also heard "Changes" and "Leave It" but at the time I didn't know it was Yes. So I kept going "I remember this one!" Anyhow, I really dig the keys in the beginning of "Changes." I also noted that the drums in "Leave It" remind me of the Art of Noise, who Trevor Horn also produced. The production on this album is extremely crisp and was definitely at the top of the heap back in 1983, probably up there with MJ's Thriller (production, not music-wise).

[YESABWH]

I have to go with Hearts. Changes is a close second.


Don Cassidy
President, Interviewer, DJ, Artist Promo contact
Delicious Agony Progressive Rock Radio
www.deliciousagony.com

[pedro skychaser]

Who Shot The White Eagle?

[Scooty]

It Can Happen

[pianozach]

Changes. Great mix of clever arranging, playing and alternating vocals.

I'd already voted when I rrealized I could vote for more than one.

I've always loved City of Love, even though I sometimes have to shake my head at Jon singing like a "tough guy." On my original CD I loved being able to still faintly hear the "absent" part of the guitar solo near the end - the remaster pretty much took care of THAT.

[Whitefish]

I voted for "It Can Happen". This was a very tough choice. It was right after I voted that I saw that "multiple choices are allowed". I could have voted for any song on this album because they are all simply great!


This album is absolutely perfect!

[flep]

"Hearts" for me on this one.

[Timmo]

Leave It.

This is NOT my favorite Yes album, but I respect it a great deal. It's my least favorite YesWest effort.

[Peparias]

I really love "Our Song", "Hearts", and "It Can Happen".

[BlankReg]

It was a tough choice between "Hearts" and "Our Song." I picked both. For me, "Hearts" most resembles Yes of old. But "Our Song" was the B-side to the "Owner of a Lonely Heart" single, and the second song I ever heard from 90125. I liked it much more than "Owner..." and gave me real hope for what the full album would sound like. When the record was finally released, I wasn't disappointed...

[neilius]

Cinema. I don't know why, but it reminds me of Toronto.

[yes_angel]

geeezz I Love everything off of this album! I'll vote for "Changes" though

[The Whale]

Leave It.

This is NOT my favorite Yes album, but I respect it a great deal. It's my least favorite YesWest effort.

dose that mean its only above OYE?

I said Hearts.

[RandyC]

Hearts, Changes, & I also love City Of Love.

[JaneEyre]

Owner, Changes, and Hearts are my favorite tracks. I don't care for Our Song at all; every other song is great, IMO.

[zoran]

Maybe cause I'm musicans, Our song is my favorite.
That words: "our song, it gives us a reason.............", really make me excited and then I started to sing.
I look like someone is pushing a secret button on me.

[JaneEyre]

Just hearing the words "Toledo was just another stop along the good King's highway" makes me cringe.

[Amy]

Hold On

Strictly based on the music, as usual.
I'm not a lyrics person, though the harmonies in this one fit the music so well. And it rocks!

[RABARKS]

One more vote for the outsider Our Song. Just listen to the bass line, probably Chris's best in the 80s.

I would also have you know that Leave It is great, especially in the acapella version!

[zoran]

I like Hearts,
It can happen is the one of most positive song what I ever heard,
Changes...Combination of old and westyes sound, nice.
But Our song is always first when I put needle on my vinyl.
(I still have some albums on vinyl)

[cvp18]

Hold On was number 1 for me with Our Song right behind. the rest of the album is great too. i cant comment musically speaking because i have no musical background. i simply love Yes.

carol

[zoran]

Hold On was number 1 for me with Our Song right behind. the rest of the album is great too. i cant comment musically speaking because i have no musical background. i simply love Yes.

carol
I have more respect for people who don't have musica background but love prog-rock music.
Take my kisses.

[cvp18]

I have more respect for people who don't have musica background but love prog-rock music.
Take my kisses.

awwwwwwww thanks, zoran. i really needed that. :)

carol

[Wakey's #1 Fan]

Hold On is my favourite, but I also like Leave It and City of Love (but 90125 isn't one of my favourite albums...)

[Stever]

Haven't seen all the songs lined up like this for a while. What a great album. This was surprisingly hard choice. I've been away long enough from this album be reinspired by seeing these song titles. Time to break it out for a while.

Oh.....I ended up on Hearts

[Bob Barker.]

i said changes

it's a nice song

[cjreyes]

Very tough choices, but I finally went with It Can Happen. Love the vocals and base line.

[MirokuLuvstheGirls]

Once was Owner of a Lonely Heart, but now it's CHANGES!! So....Changes.

[Hugh Shiebler]

"It Can Happen". One of my favorites tunes from that whole era. Very uplifting. It sounds to me a little more like the old yes than the rest of that album.

[AwakeMan]

A very hard choice, as every track was so good, except "City of Love" which to me was a bit messy. I personally like "Our Song" - even though it's not a fast song it has a great forward drive culminating in the dense vocal harmonies at the end. It leaves me exhilerated that life is OK despite any troubles "...Our song, it sings of a reason..."

Sé

[DownbytheCorner]

For me its City of Love, i like the Bass Part of Chris, Owner is also very good and it was my beginning with Yes so it´s Place 2.
In fact i like the full Album it´s another Yes, not the prog rock ära, it´s more modern.

[Senor Mono]

For me its City of Love, i like the Bass Part of Chris, Owner is also very good and it was my beginning with Yes so it´s Place 2.
In fact i like the full Album it´s another Yes, not the prog rock ära, it´s more modern.

City of Love is a groove..I love it.

Hearts is a mini epic.

and Hold On just Rocks!

[Yes2Yes]

I dig the whole album, but went with Hearts.

[YesCarolinita]

'Changes', always.
Do you think Barack should use this song on his campaign?

[Lifeseeker66]

'Changes', always.
Do you think Barack should use this song on his campaign?


No, because Alan will only get 3.6% on the royalties....

[Lifeseeker66]

It Can Happen for me as well... This song was so Squire, and I was so idolizing Chris at this time of my life... I loved hearing him more on vocals, and this song reminded me a little of the Drama sound, especially the Yes Years version without Jon singing on it.

[orpheus]

The only one I really like is owner. I find the rest of the album overproduced.

[CybrKhatru]

Still one of my favorite albums after all these years.


"Hearts" gets the vote.

[Igor80]

In my opinion the first side of "90125" is better because the use of the electronic drum is limited to some riffs and the songs generally are more interesting as for the instrumentation.. Surely "Owner of a lonely heart" is an all-time favourite, but "Changes" -with his "prog" riff - is the masterpiece in this album!

[Soundchaser_413]

I won't use the word guilty pleasure but I understand there are lots of Yesfans who don't like it. I can understand why to some extent due to it's more deliberately commercial sound. However, it's still a great album and it's the one that got me into Yes in a big way. It's also the first one I bought(I don't count my dad's old vinyl copy of the YES album).

My favorites are(in order):

Hearts
It can happen
Changes
HOld on
Our song

The others are great too. I have to admit owner of a lonely heart is a song I never get sick of.

Is the album more pop rock than prog? Yes but I don't care. Good music is good music. Along with the Joshua Tree by U2 this is easily one of the best albums of the 80's.

[PJH]

I couldn't vote.

My favourite part of the album is when the cd ends, and I hear silence.

Pathetic.

[miar]

I have 4 favourites:

Owner of a Lonely Heart
Changes
Leave it
City of Love

[luna65]

Back when I first purchased 90125, "Leave It" and "City Of Love" were my favorites, but I grew to appreciate "Hold On" and "Changes" just as much. Now "Hold On" is my favorite, it's definitely one of Trevor's best riffs ever. But those four are the highlights for me, and "Our Song" is my least favorite, I tend to skip it nowadays.

[The Whale]

Harts.

[The Baron]

Actually I love everything except for Cinema and Leave It.
They're good songs, I just don't like them quite as much as the others.


It's funny, because those are my two favorite songs on the album. Though, I really like every song on that album.

[YesForSure.]

Pathetic.

Lighten up.

[kenlamb]

Our Song is the one for me. No reason other than the rest of the tracks always sound over produced to me.

[Enlighten]

Hearts and Cinema. I would have love to have heard the extended piece which Cinema was the intro to, I believe it was called Time.