Most awkward song transition (or middle 8)

inneedofgrace

Platinum Member
I was always liked McCartney's song Band on The Run. It was virtually three distinct songs in one, but they all seemed to build upon each other and sound like they fit together. But one song that always bugged me was Lionel Richie's hit 80's song Say You Say Me. The song has a nice mellow ballad feel until you hit the 2:50 mark, and then bursts into this high energy double time part, then just as quickly fades back to the original melody for the rest of the song. It seems like the songwriter just crammed something in there for the sake of a changeup or an attempt at a hook. Are there other songs like this that have parts that don't seem to fit?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we0mk_J0zyc
 
Lots of prog. Gentle Giant's Funny Ways is an example. It starts as a beautiful, moody classical/folk ballad with a slightly loony chorus but then breaks into a rather ugly and disconnected bridge before shifting back to the themes based on the main passage and then to a fantastic atmospheric vibes solo by the keyboardist (who was mostly playing cello in the piece).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzDCfnBhinw
 
I used to feel that way about The Lemon Song by Led Zeppelin, the fast sections always felt a bit strange. But I've warmed to them over the years.
 
Tons of them. I can't think of many right now.

We play an old Doors song, LA woman, and just leave out the Mojo rising segment.

That's a good example. Although I think it is less awkward to slow down a fast song as opposed to the opposite.
 
John Miles, Music and Richard Harris, MacArthur Park.
 
I always though the change in the middle of Dont Fear The Reaper was strange. Its like they couldn't quite figure out a smooth transition.
 
But one song that always bugged me was Lionel Richie's hit 80's song Say You Say Me. The song has a nice mellow ballad feel until you hit the 2:50 mark, and then bursts into this high energy double time part, then just as quickly fades back to the original melody for the rest of the song. It seems like the songwriter just crammed something in there for the sake of a changeup or an attempt at a hook. Are there other songs like this that have parts that don't seem to fit?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we0mk_J0zyc

i never got that one either. may have been a rushed recording job and they didn't get a chance to fix it (the arrangement). sometimes things get let out of the barn that we ourselves aren't even happy with.

another one that bothers my enjoyment is Paul McC's "Old Siam Sir". love the song, but wish he had chosen one tempo on the start of each verse. either of them could work, but going from one to the other in the middle of a verse is...unsettling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF_4cmMZnO4
 
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