The Logical Song
Encyclopedia
"The Logical Song" is a hit single on Supertramp
's 1979 album Breakfast in America
, sung by band member Roger Hodgson
. It is the band's biggest chart hit in both the United States and their native United Kingdom, and is among their most widely recognized radio hits.
electronic football game, as well as the Trouble
"Pop-o-matic" bubble – both popular at the time this song was released.
The lyrics are a "story of innocence and idealism lost" with Hodgson condemning an education system not focused on knowledge and sensitivity.
in the summer of 1979. Rolling Stone
called it a "small masterpiece" praising the "hot sax" and Hodgson's "wry humor". The magazine also made comparisons between Hodgson and Ray Davies
from The Kinks
.
band Scooter
. This version also uses sample
s from Supertramp's recording. Taken from their second singles compilation
album Push the Beat for this Jam (The Singles 98-02)
, it reached number 1 in several European countries, including Norway
and Ireland, as well as number 1 in Australia in 2002.
The single reached number 2 in the United Kingdom, their highest ever charting single beating the number 18 peak of "Back in the U.K.
" in 1996. It has been certified gold
by the BPI
, selling over 400,000 copies and was the 15th best selling single of 2002. The song became an anthem
in Scottish
teaboy culture
.
and At Vance
. The Hee Bee Gee Bees made a parody of this song for "The Scatological Song" and The Barron Knights made a parody entitled "The Topical Song". There was also a second remake by the German "Hands Up" band Rave Allstars in 2007. It has also appeared in TV shows such as The Simpsons
("I Married Marge
"), History Rocks
and the closing scene of The United States of Tara
s series finale, as well as in the soundtrack of the film Magnolia.
Supertramp
Supertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music...
's 1979 album Breakfast in America
Breakfast in America
Breakfast in America was seen as a departure for the band, with its pop sound deviating from the progressive rock stylings that defined their earlier work...
, sung by band member Roger Hodgson
Roger Hodgson
Charles Roger Pomfret Hodgson is a British musician and songwriter, best known as the former co-frontman, and founding member, of progressive rock band Supertramp....
. It is the band's biggest chart hit in both the United States and their native United Kingdom, and is among their most widely recognized radio hits.
Composition and Lyrics
"The Logical Song" was mostly penned by Roger Hodgson; Rick Davies wrote the vocal harmony on the second chorus. The song makes use of keyboards, castanets, and an instrumental section with a strong Beatles influence. The song includes a section of Hodgson "reeling off three- and four-syllable assonances" with a "schoolboy's tongue in cheek". Among the contemporary sound effects in this song are the 'tackled' sound from a MattelMattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
electronic football game, as well as the Trouble
Trouble (board game)
Trouble is a board game in which players compete to be the first to send four pieces all the way around a board. Pieces are moved according to the roll of a die. Trouble was developed by the Kohner Brothers and initially manufactured by Irwin Toy Ltd., later by Milton Bradley...
"Pop-o-matic" bubble – both popular at the time this song was released.
The lyrics are a "story of innocence and idealism lost" with Hodgson condemning an education system not focused on knowledge and sensitivity.
Reception
"The Logical Song" was a hit on its original release, reaching number 7 in the United Kingdom, number 6 in the United States and spent two weeks at number 1 on the Canadian RPM Singles Chart. It stayed for three months on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in the summer of 1979. Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
called it a "small masterpiece" praising the "hot sax" and Hodgson's "wry humor". The magazine also made comparisons between Hodgson and Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
from The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
.
Personnel
- Roger HodgsonRoger HodgsonCharles Roger Pomfret Hodgson is a British musician and songwriter, best known as the former co-frontman, and founding member, of progressive rock band Supertramp....
- lead and backing vocals, Wurlitzer electric piano, electric and 12-string acoustic guitars - Rick DaviesRick DaviesRick Davies is an English musician, best known as the founder and keyboardist of progressive rock band Supertramp...
- Elka and Oberheim synthesizers, Hammond organ, Hohner Clavinet with wah-wah, backing vocal - John HelliwellJohn HelliwellJohn Helliwell is an English musician and the saxophonist and occasional keyboardist and woodwind player for the rock band Supertramp...
- alto saxophone, siren whistle, backing vocal, intro breathing - Bob SiebenbergBob SiebenbergBob Siebenberg, also known as Bob C. Benberg, is an American musician, best known as a member of British progressive rock band Supertramp, playing drums and percussion...
- drums, castanets, timbales, cowbell - Dougie ThomsonDougie ThomsonDouglas Campbell "Dougie" Thomson is a Scottish musician, born in Glasgow and raised in the Rutherglen area of the city. He is best known as the former bass guitarist of progressive rock band Supertramp.-Career:...
- bass
Charts
| Chart (1979) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Singles Chart | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
6 |
| German Singles Chart | 12 |
Scooter version
"Ramp! (The Logical Song)", or just "The Logical Song" in certain territories, is a 2001 single by the German technoTechno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
band Scooter
Scooter (band)
Scooter are a German hard dance band founded in Hamburg, who have sold over 25 million records and earned over 80 gold and platinum awards. Scooter are considered the most successful single-record German act with 23 top ten hits. The band is currently composed of members H.P. Baxxter, Rick J....
. This version also uses sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
s from Supertramp's recording. Taken from their second singles compilation
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
album Push the Beat for this Jam (The Singles 98-02)
Push the Beat for this Jam (The Singles 98-02)
Push The Beat For This Jam , alternatively titled Push The Beat For This Jam , is the second singles compilation from the German techno band Scooter, released on 7 January 2002. It collects all the singles from 1998–2002, plus three new tracks "Habanera", "No Pain, No Gain", "Loud And Clear" and...
, it reached number 1 in several European countries, including Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Ireland, as well as number 1 in Australia in 2002.
The single reached number 2 in the United Kingdom, their highest ever charting single beating the number 18 peak of "Back in the U.K.
Back in the U.K.
"Back In The U.K." is the first single from Scooter's 1996 album Our Happy Hardcore. In the United Kingdom it became their biggest hit ever up to that point, entering at number 18 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1996. It would remain their highest charting single until the release of "The...
" in 1996. It has been certified gold
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
, selling over 400,000 copies and was the 15th best selling single of 2002. The song became an anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
in Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
teaboy culture
Ned (Scottish)
Ned is a derogatory term applied in Scotland to hooligans, louts or petty criminals, latterly with the stereotypical implication that they wear casual sports clothes. Such usage in Glasgow dates back to the 1960s or earlier.-Early use of term:...
.
Charts
| Chart (2001-2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
Legacy and other versions
"The Logical Song" has been covered by Brad MehldauBrad Mehldau
Brad Mehldau is an American jazz pianist. Besides leading his own group, the Brad Mehldau Trio, he has performed with many renowned artists, including Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, Larry Grenadier, Peter Bernstein, Jeff Ballard, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Kurt...
and At Vance
At Vance
At Vance is a German power metal/Neo-classical metal band. They were formed by vocalist Oliver Hartmann and guitarist Olaf Lenk in 1998.-Biography:...
. The Hee Bee Gee Bees made a parody of this song for "The Scatological Song" and The Barron Knights made a parody entitled "The Topical Song". There was also a second remake by the German "Hands Up" band Rave Allstars in 2007. It has also appeared in TV shows such as The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
("I Married Marge
I Married Marge
"I Married Marge" is the twelfth episode of The Simpsons third season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 26, 1991. In the episode, Marge worries that she may yet again be pregnant and drives to Dr. Hibbert's office...
"), History Rocks
History Rocks
History Rocks was a non-fictional, educational television program shown on The History Channel. Each episode explains eight historical events, arranged by decade, through multimedia presentations consisting of photographs, archival footage, popular music and pop-up trivia. Six episodes were...
and the closing scene of The United States of Tara
The United States of Tara
United States of Tara is an American television comedy-drama created by Diablo Cody, which began airing on Showtime in 2009. The series follows the life of Tara , a suburban housewife and mother coping with dissociative identity disorder....
s series finale, as well as in the soundtrack of the film Magnolia.