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Bryan Ferry — Reason Or Rhyme
Album: Olympia
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1951









Released: 2010
Length: 6:49
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Why must you shed such tender tears
In the evening of your years
No other love could stem the tide
Of the loneliness I hide

Open your heart and let me live
All the promises I could give
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass

In a world of fading sadness
An emerald ring, a photograph

That look in your eyes the brush of your cheek
These are the moments in life that I seek
No reason or rhyme, no presence of mind
Just a dance to the music of time

Why must you shed such tender tears
In the evening of your years
No other love could stem the tide
Of the loneliness I hide

Inside out, upside down
Obscured by clouds, or underground
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass

Wherever you are, whenever you speak
These are the moments in my life that I seek
No reason or rhyme, by chance or design
Just a dance to the music of time

Open your heart and let me live
All the promises I could give
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass

No reason or rhyme, no presence of mind
Just a dance to the music of time
Comments (211)add comment
Poetry put to music.... Very seductive !
fabulous piano, guitar jamming and himself!
I love Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music. Makes me a bit melancholy. I wish I would have seen him on the last tour. 
These lyrics with the piano are magnificent!
 Catalytic wrote:
This sounds like two independent and contrary tunes being played on top of one another. 
 

                            "You're welcome."
                                             - Mr. Ferry
Exquisite gem.   
Bryan Ferry was present in many many wild nights....its just THE best music for...............
My rating goes down to 7
One of his best albums. Listen to Avonmore. Good wine has to mature...
Like more with each successive listen.   

Must be a generation thing but I kinda like the wandering jam session two thirds of the way through.
This sounds like two independent and contrary tunes being played on top of one another. 
The first few notes, I always think this is something Bowie/Alladin Sane.  Love the vibe on this.
 coloradojohn wrote:
I gotta admit, the songs I hear on RP from this album of his seem almost as CATCHY and Immortal as Roxy's Avalon way back when.

 
I just spun the entire Avalon vinyl a couple days ago.
 Wolford wrote:
This cut was made for headphones . . . the bass line kills!

 
It reminds me of all "slap bass" sample presets on a synth that you forget or never dare to use because you don't know how to play them correctly.
This album has been in "heavy rotation" here lately and actually caused me to run out to my local CeeDeeHut and buy a copy. The prices for the LP were not just beyond my budget, but were in fact beyond my ability to grasp. 
I'm not his fan, but I sooo love this song and his sublime vocals! <3
my favourite arcade fire song.
 sfyi2001 wrote:
Most Excellent

 
Ditto.....
Most Excellent
This cut was made for headphones . . . the bass line kills!
Very good song! I like it!
Yeah, the vocals are a weird disconnect to the rest of the music on this song.  Maybe that's intentional.  But it didn't work for me.  Which is a shame, because there's a lot of other cool stuff happening here.
I know Brian has not the same vocal power anymore. But they could have compensated this in studio. The vocals volume is very low
The Master of The Mack Down.............at it again
{#Crashcomp}{#Frustrated}   Torture just plain torture
I gotta admit, the songs I hear on RP from this album of his seem almost as CATCHY and Immortal as Roxy's Avalon way back when.
Crank this up every time it comes on.

How is the rest of the CD? 
I'm hearing some 10cc in there somewhere - maybe from How Dare You?
Most excellent.
 Rockit999 wrote:
Mary Jane....pipe....action!

 
Well, that's a swell idea!  

Funny, been smoking weed for almost half a century now.  I do like music while buzzed but I like it as much or more when I am razor sharp straight.

Mary Jane....pipe....action!
 1wolfy wrote:
Mood music...lovely

 
Agreed 100%.  
Mood music...lovely
 Danimal174 wrote:
I just don't get the appeal of Ferry and Roxy Music. Their stuff just sounds cheesy to me. 

 
Lactose intolerant?
ugh barfo stop it now!
Love that loping bass playing... 
I like everything by this guy more with each passing year.
 Danimal174 wrote:
I just don't get the appeal of Ferry and Roxy Music. Their stuff just sounds cheesy to me. 

 
In that case probably best not to listen to this before bed time if you don't wish to have weird dreams
I thought this was a Bowie song... Enjoyable!
Loving this
Nice groove.
just Majestic... 
Spring-tide.
Would love to hear a song with Ferry and Byrne together.
 Danimal174 wrote:
I just don't get the appeal of Ferry and Roxy Music. Their stuff just sounds cheesy to me. 

 
I can understand. It's kind of an acquired taste. Much like 80's Leonard Cohen. Yet once you get the taste it all makes sense.
I just don't get the appeal of Ferry and Roxy Music. Their stuff just sounds cheesy to me. 
Outstanding and timeless.

ritingon wrote: 


  stargazer1 wrote:
Am I the only one who thinks this sounds like David Bowie?
Yes, it does!  I was surprised it wasn't.  {#Iamwithstupid}

 
add another one to that {#Wink} {#Iamwithstupid}  Liking it {#Music}
He's so smooth he sounds like he wants to hump himself.
Too many lead instruments on this one, to my ears.  They can't all be centre stage at the same time.
Great bass sound, as usual on BF albums. Who's the bass player on this?
I thought this was Icehouse *runs away*
Bryan was in Nuremberg for a concert with a mostly young band one day after his 70th birthday. The last third was mostly filled with the Roxy Music tunes and it ripped the audience out of the seats. And Bryan smiled and smiled and smiled...
Great Artist, great show, very good musicians. 
My sister-in-law was his Pilates instructor in London around the time this album came out.
 thewiseking wrote:
Bryan Ferry, still givin us the soundtrack for the MackDown. 
Make out music, at it's finest 

 
You've cracked the code.  This is lovemaking music.  At its finest.

Also see:  Maxwell's 'Urban Hang time Suite'

/sexytime
//muzak
 
Bryan Ferry, still givin us the soundtrack for the MackDown. 
Make out music, at it's finest 
It's like there's this party that's winding down, and Ferry just steps into it. Not singing much, but just walking around commenting.

An offshoot of Avalon - now the party's over. I'm so tired. Then I see you walking, out of nowhere... 
 adpucci wrote:
Appalling. Please make it stop. Note to ageing singers: there's only one Leonard Cohen.
 
Only Bryan Ferry can half-way carry a tune.
Appalling. Please make it stop. Note to ageing singers: there's only one Leonard Cohen.
 mandolin wrote:
...bryan ferry after john klemmer?..i need to dig my knit ties out of storage and practice pinch-rolling again...

 
Pinch rolling?  You need to check this out, my friend:

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pinch+and+roll

 
Most excellent!
Nice sonic space.
 Drtjdel1 wrote:
Bryan! Like the new sound! The 80's just called. They want their white Testarossa back.
 
 
They can't have it.  It still runs sweet, just like in the old days.  Call back in a few years.
nice {#Music}
Damn PSD button quit working again....
Glad to see Bryan is still kicking. His sound never dies!
Bryan amazes with a graceful entrance into his senior years...He still has it..
What a fulltime artist ferry is: in any lifetime the best one!
{#Daisy}
soooooo good for my ears
that I had to repeat the experience {#Crown}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bmFl0seKII
Sooooonice.   Takes me back to the mid 80s.   Thanks RP!
Out of all the perfomances I saw this year from Glastonbury, Mr. Ferry's was my favorite.
Sooooonice.   Takes me back to the mid 80s.   Thanks RP! 
sounds like noodling...i like noodling
LOVELY SONG!  I just saw him a couple months ago at the Fox Theater in Oakland.  My hero *swoon*{#Sunny}
I know I should like this more than I do.
8 >>>> 9 {#Dance}
Did anyone hear Pink Floyd's Echos in the groovy jam portion of the song?
Love it ! 

Wonderful musician team BTW ! Gadd, Miller... 

...and the album, Olympia is fantastic too ! 
It took headphones and a bit of volume.

=> 10 
 shellbella wrote:
This is nice....

 
........... V nice
This is nice....
I think my RP fellows have under-rated this one. 

Definitely an 8, 
...bryan ferry after john klemmer?..i need to dig my knit ties out of storage and practice pinch-rolling again...
I really like this album but his voice is shot.
 bindi wrote:
I too, thought that this was David Bowie - like it.

 
Bowie? Are we listening to the same tune?
 bindi wrote:
I too, thought that this was David Bowie - like it.

 
oh, wait. . .all that moaning in the background is getting old really fast. . .kind of hate it now.
I too, thought that this was David Bowie - like it.
I love the piano in this.   It adds the right touch.
 stargazer1 wrote:
Am I the only one who thinks this sounds like David Bowie?

 
Yes, it does!  I was surprised it wasn't.  {#Iamwithstupid}
Stunning version of Song for the Siren on this album.

This is good as well love the instrumentation. 
This does get rather monotonous, doesn't it?
Ferry, aModoloagni of musicart
 stargazer1 wrote:
Am I the only one who thinks this sounds like David Bowie?

 

You mean that feeble, enervated, warbly voice of his?  Yeah, sometimes Bowie sounds like that, but not quite as bad.
 stargazer1 wrote:
Am I the only one who thinks this sounds like David Bowie?

 Nope...I hear it too. 
Bryan! Like the new sound! The 80's just called. They want their white Testarossa back.
 
 stargazer1 wrote:
Am I the only one who thinks this sounds like David Bowie?

 
Nope.
Good to hear Mr. Ferry again. Long time fan from the 70s. 
Am I the only one who thinks this sounds like David Bowie?
Clicked over to see what this is.... never would have guessed.....
Song really grabbing me on this listen for some reason - better than I remember.  A good album overall for sure.
Glorious !  {#Pray}
mmmm...good
 hayduke2 wrote:
an overly polished Tiffany goblet of merlot with a sweetened Godiva bar inside, slowly swirling and swirling itself away




 
Yeah...That's Bryan and that's why we love him.
an overly polished Tiffany goblet of merlot with a sweetened Godiva bar inside, slowly swirling and swirling itself away



 Bargamon wrote:
....
His music is a dark merlot dreamy texture.

....
 

Never thought of Merlot wine that way.  Nice phrase.

It transports in an introspective way.  That is not everybody's cup of tea but I gave this a 9 a long time ago. So....

 


Mr Ferry's voice has sure decayed.  This warbly piece of crap is a 2 in my books.

Only the cover content keeps it off the mat!
 Proclivities wrote:

Anthony Newley was generally a little more up-tempo than this, plus he had those special eyebrows...
 
Excuse me, but molasses in January is more up-tempo than this—I thought it would never end! (Of course, I was exercising at the time, which can make time seem to stand still unless the music has energy.)
 Bryan at his best, smooth low key and mellow.

To some that means "dull"

His music is a dark merlot dreamy texture.

Not everyone likes that. I do.
A genuine piece o'shite. It grew ever more annoying until it became reminiscent of "MacArthur Park", the documented Worst Radio Hit of All Times. It could be a contender.
 Elroweho wrote:
Reminds me of Anthony Newley. Boy am I dating myself!{#Yawn}
 
Anthony Newley was generally a little more up-tempo than this, plus he had those special eyebrows...
I love Bryan Ferry's voice but there is A LOT of dull dull filler in this song.
 Catalytic wrote:
It sounds like someone accidentally recorded three songs over each other. It's wanky and incomprehensible. 
 
What?
I'm not sure where some of these comments are coming from. I love this song.
Sisters of Mercy to Bryan Ferry! WOW!
I guess that is what "love" is about.....
It sounds like someone accidentally recorded three songs over each other. It's wanky and incomprehensible. 
Like this.....ALOT.  8.
Seattle + Rain + slow day at work + Slow uninspired music = Hell.
boooo!!!!{#Fire}{#Frustrated}
The 70s called, they want their decade back.