Grapthar's Song of the Day: The Kinks 'Yes Sir, No Sir'

grapthar (74)in #music • 5 years ago

The Kinks - Yes Sir, No Sir

The Kinks are a band

that I didn't really discover in earnest until a few years ago. Of course I had heard their major singles that have become common in pop-culture generally, but I never really dove into the discography, and was blown away when I did. They were formed in 1964, with brothers Ray and Dave Davies being the main songwriting force in the band through a number of lineup changes over the years. They initially paved the way with their heavily distorted guitar parts, though over time their writing style evolved, incorporating new instrumentation, such as strings and brass, along with some really impressive chord writing. Wikipedia - The Kinks

Listen to Yes Sir, No Sir by The Kinks here.

This is the 2nd track

on the band's 1969 album Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire), which was a concept album, and apparently intended as the soundtrack to a Television play, which was cancelled before production began. Fortunately the album was finished, and it contains some of their most interesting songs. There is a clear military vibe, with the rolling snare and horns, and more obviously in the lyrics. The main progression here is interesting, they're in Gmajor, but often utilize the bIII (Bb) and the bVii, borrowed from the parallel minor key, which creates a more epic vibe, again adding to the theme of the song. Wikipedia - Arthur