I just saw a TV commercial for the X Box 360 that featured a song that incorporated King Crimson’s 21st Century Schizoid Man. It was only a small piece of the titular hook of the refrain as most of the song was a rap number that didn’t sound at all like it. 21st Century Schizoid Man is the lead off track of one of my all time favorite albums, King Crimson’s 1969 Prog Rock classic, In the Court of the Crimson King. It’s a song I love so much I painted the lyrics in a painting painted in a medieval style (see below). The Clive Owen movie, Children of Men, used the song in a scene as well.
21st Century Schizoid Man seemed to tell the story of a society so far off in the future as to be science fiction but guess what? It’s now the 21st Century. The kids hearing this song today might very well believe it a current hit written yesterday about today, especially the “Schizoid” part. I’m undecided about how I feel about songs that I loved in my youth being turned into advertising jingles. I like hearing these songs whenever I hear them no matter what the context but I suppose if I have to hear them a couple times every hour every time I watch TV, I may burn out. It will also depend on how they edit the tune. In the case of 21st Century Schizoid Man it actually is now part of a rap tune so that might get old real fast. In Children of Men In the Court of the Crimson King is the original recording and used as background music. I’m sure I won’t have to watch Children of Men so many times that it will be a problem. I also like Michael Caine in that film. He plays an old hippie that smokes a blend called, Strawberry Cough. After taking a hit you cough and then taste the aftertaste of strawberries. It is the only vision of the future in that movie worth looking forward to.
In The Court Of The Crimson King
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