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Finest examples of storytelling in a song

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chreen from In Your Mind Since: Nov, 2010
#1: Aug 14th 2011 at 7:27:42 AM

Note: while stuff from a story based Concept Album like The Wall or The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust can be here, it would be more nice if you include stuff from not a Concept Album.

It's metafiction about metafiction about metafiction. More serious message: Don't you wish you watch everything that happens in the wo
BoundByTheMoon Kvltvre Vvltvre from The Spanish Sahara Since: Jun, 2010
Kvltvre Vvltvre
#2: Aug 14th 2011 at 8:16:22 AM

I've found Sonata Arctica can be good with this when they're not churning out Anti-Love Songs.

White Pearl/Black Oceans

The Ruins Of My Life

edited 14th Aug '11 8:16:43 AM by BoundByTheMoon

There are snakes in the grass, so we'd better go hunting!
KitsuneInferno Jackass Detector from East Tennessee Since: Apr, 2009
Jackass Detector
#3: Aug 14th 2011 at 9:31:59 AM

R.A.'s verse does a good job of painting a vignette of a degenerate being humbled by Vietnam while this song tells three different stories that reflects pretty well on each rapper's personality.

edited 14th Aug '11 9:37:33 AM by KitsuneInferno

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt." - Some guy with a snazzy hat.
MasterInferno It's Like Arguing on the Internet from Tomb of Malevolence Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
It's Like Arguing on the Internet
#4: Aug 14th 2011 at 9:46:30 AM

Rush's Red Barchetta. Probably the closest thing to tone-painting I've ever heard in a rock song.

Somehow you know that the time is right.
Erock Proud Canadian from Toronto Since: Jul, 2009
Proud Canadian
#5: Aug 14th 2011 at 10:31:11 AM

A Quick One.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
dxman Since: Oct, 2009
#6: Aug 14th 2011 at 11:22:02 AM

Paul McCartney is really good at this. I can name too many examples from him alone.

edited 14th Aug '11 11:22:21 AM by dxman

...
Saeglopur Resident Hipster from Various places in the UK Since: Jan, 2001
Resident Hipster
#7: Aug 14th 2011 at 3:37:29 PM

Joanna Newsom - Monkey & Bear. It's a fable/fairy-tale packed with imagery and it's incredibly beautiful. It's about the nature of, and conflict between, freedom and slavery, and the difference between illusory and genuine freedom. Powerful stuff.

Listen to Music with Tropers at The Troper Turntable!
Erock Proud Canadian from Toronto Since: Jul, 2009
Proud Canadian
#8: Aug 14th 2011 at 8:08:30 PM

Apparently Piano Man was someone favourite.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
MikeK Since: Jan, 2001
#9: Aug 14th 2011 at 9:36:27 PM

Somewhat of an odd mix of styles, but:

Belle And Sebastian - Act Of Apostle I, Act Of Apostle II (they go together)

Ghostface Killah - Shakey Dog

Talking Heads - Seen And Not Seen

edited 14th Aug '11 9:36:49 PM by MikeK

Nyarly Das kann doch nicht sein! from Saksa Since: Feb, 2012
Das kann doch nicht sein!
#10: Aug 15th 2011 at 1:28:57 AM

Schandmaul is generally pretty good at that (I don't have a certain favorite song, though). Only in German though.

edited 15th Aug '11 1:29:30 AM by Nyarly

People aren't as awful as the internet makes them out to be.
JHM Apparition in the Woods from Niemandswasser Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Hounds of love are hunting
Apparition in the Woods
#11: Aug 15th 2011 at 1:32:05 AM

"Seen And Not Seen" is superb.

In terms of recounting a single event or sketching a character in poignant detail, there are a number of Angels Of Light songs that do their job with incredible panache. The song that named the project ("Angels of Light" from New Mother), for example, is a second-person account of someone dying, illustrated abstractly yet with the utmost elegance of description. It's fantastic.

I'll hide your name inside a word and paint your eyes with false perception.
MrMallard Since: Oct, 2010
#12: Aug 16th 2011 at 6:45:22 PM

Dragonforce's Dawn of a New World is magnificent. Though I am rather impartial to Piano Man, also.

Wicked223 from Death Star in the forest Since: Apr, 2009
#13: Aug 16th 2011 at 7:30:09 PM

Cliche answer.

You can't even write racist abuse in excrement on somebody's car without the politically correct brigade jumping down your throat!
DogLikeSparky Magic Pig Detective Since: Mar, 2011
Magic Pig Detective
#14: Aug 16th 2011 at 8:13:07 PM

Anal Cunt were masters of this trope. This is as triumphant an example as any:

Here's another noteworthy tune you might not know: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=092DUlx2hX0

edited 16th Aug '11 8:13:32 PM by DogLikeSparky

"People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent." - Bob Dylan
dxman Since: Oct, 2009
#15: Aug 16th 2011 at 10:55:13 PM

@Wicked223: No, this is the cliche answer.

edited 16th Aug '11 10:55:40 PM by dxman

...
Bur from Flyover Country (Living Relic) Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#16: Aug 17th 2011 at 6:10:22 AM

Folk singers are, of course, good at this. Like Eric Bogle. And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda is the story of an Australian soldier as he signs up, is sent to Gallipoli, loses his legs, and grows old. On the lighter side, Little Gomez is a rather amusing tale about a little horny chihuahua and how he died when he "tried to consummate a liaison with a St Bernard called Blodwyn".

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