In A Roundabout Way

While driving in Europe recently and negotiating countless roundabouts along the roadways, I thought repeatedly of the song ‘Roundabout’ by the rock group Yes. I promised myself that I would listen to the song upon returning home, and since I am back, I have have done just that.

Roundabout is an incredible piece of music that seems to get better with each successive listening. The song is primarily a bouncy uptempo jam. Jon Anderson’s clarion vocals and impressionistic lyrics soar over a counterpoint of complex guitar, organ, and synthesizer melodies, propelled energetically by Chris Squire’s driving staccato basslines. It’s lively and full of fun and fire, but it starts out with the breathtaking delicacy of Steve Howe’s harmonics-laced guitar intro. After a couple of energetic verses and an extended bridge, the delicate guitar returns and takes our breath away once more.

I remember when Roundabout was first release. I remember, because it was played extensively on the radio in the US. I remember hearing it on the public address system at the local lake that summer. (“In and around the lake...”)

It didn’t seem usual to hear this complex and relatively long piece of music being played on the radio. In those days, we expected music to be fresh and exciting and even a bit challenging.

Roundabout is a wonderful piece of music, a rock classic, and a long-time personal favorite that I never tire of hearing. The song, and the whole ‘Fragile’ album on which it was release, has inspired me as a musician, as a composer, and as a fan of great music.