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Bruce Hornsby — Circus on the Moon
Album: Halcyon Days
Avg rating:
6.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 377









Released: 2004
Length: 6:26
Plays (last 30 days): 0
(no lyrics available)
Comments (96)add comment
That is one HELL of a piano solo in the middle!
 Cynaera wrote:
I love this song, and had NO idea it was Bruce Hornsby. He should change his name to something more musical. Bruce Ivorytickle. Am I the only one who stares at his last name and laughs like a lunatic because the more you stare at it, the more nonsensical it seems to become?
 
Maybe.  I get that way if I hyperfocus on any word though.  Doesn't have to be a proper name.

But if I just glance at his name, it makes me think of cider.

 Stingray wrote:

INTELLECTUAL BULLSHIT!!!


 
In this instance methinks it would take a purveyor to glom on to something he thinks he recognizes. But then, Stingy, that would be to call you an intellectual. Oops. My gaffe.

 Stingray wrote:

INTELLECTUAL BULLSHIT!!!


 
Geez. Stingray, I have a love-hate relationship with you, and right now, I just hate you.  Go back into your cave and do whatever it is you do. Just don't share the results with us, because I haven't had much of an appetite lately, but today I finally ate something that stayed in my stomach, and I really don't wanna jinx it.

I love this song, and had NO idea it was Bruce Hornsby. He should change his name to something more musical. Bruce Ivorytickle. Am I the only one who stares at his last name and laughs like a lunatic because the more you stare at it, the more nonsensical it seems to become?

I probably better go away now. Hello? Oh, right.  NaNoWriMo.

I was going to reply snarkily to Stingray, but then I thought, why am I even trying?

 
Stingray wrote:

INTELLECTUAL BULLSHIT!!!

 


I see the connection. Nice one, Bill - your knowledge is encyclopedic - not just the title, either. Ropes, trapeze, maybe even 'high wires' as a nod to the previous song. Bravo.

INTELLECTUAL BULLSHIT!!!


{#Bananasplit}
Every time I hear this it makes me think of the Futurama episode with "Whalers on the moon."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60BjkUtqxPE
Bruce is from my home town, Williamsburg.

Used to go see him perform at the local Holiday Inn in the '70s. 
 CamLwalk wrote:
You know, when this song started, I said "I bet there's a big, complicated piano solo in here somewhere."  And here it is.
 
Gotta love that piano solo!  Counterpoint tickles my brain.  BH evidently has > 1 brains to control his fingers.  Either that or he's spent years honing his craft, but that idea doesn't jive with my cultural notion of fate, innate ability and immediate gratification...  so he was just born with multiple brains.

This is a happy little toe tapper!  {#Dancingbanana_2}  Happy way to get ready for the 3 day weekend coming up!
You know, this really is a nice little ditty.  Not going to set the world on fire or anything, but that's not the goal of all music.  8 to offset the naysayers.

 keller1 wrote:
There's much better Hornsby material than this languishing on the LRC.
 
Agree...Harbor Lights is a masterpiece.  Never have cared for anything past that album.
You need to play more Bruce - the most overlooked music genius in recent years!
    . . . .don't believe?  go see him live!
Any info on the cover art? Stunning! Neo -surrealism?
You know, when this song started, I said "I bet there's a big, complicated piano solo in here somewhere."  And here it is.
Downgraded: 4 => 3
Huge fan, but there's better Bruce out there than this.  Widen out a bit.  Hot House?  @david_wiggs

 Sounds good!

 keller1 wrote:
There's much better Hornsby material than this languishing on the LRC.
 
Yeah, come to think of it - I don't recall hearing nearly enough Bruce Hornsby on RP.  he is one of the best live performers I have ever seen - would love to hear more of him.

There's much better Hornsby material than this languishing on the LRC.
Cool!
 Banaszak wrote:

There is only one Jeep and it's at your local Jeep dealer!
 
What about Popeye's?

 ploafmaster wrote:
I loved this song so much that I had to buy it from iTunes. Rock on.

Is the rest of the album any good?
 

There are some VERY good songs on this album. A couple of head scratchers on there, but overall a very worthwhile effort.
 DarkStar wrote:
Is it just me or is this at least a little bit better than a 6?
 

Considerably better. 9 from me. Who is on guit? Fantastic!

Please. more of Bruce! {#Sunny}


Hey, Bill. Is ther anyway you could play the title track from this album sometime?
My all-time favorite artist from my favorite album of his!
Saw him in concert in Red Bank , NJ many years ago. He was taking 'requests' from the audience. At least 2 dozen pieces of paper containing song requests were thrown on the stage. I chose that moment to go to the men's room. As I left the hall and ran up the stairs I heard the beginning, unmistakeable strains of 'Purple Haze'. Wow! They did an admirable job on the tune too.
let's hear some of the great live stuff he did with the Dead!
DarkStar wrote:
Is it just me or is this at least a little bit better than a 6?
Well, the voting distribution peaks at 7. Averages can be misleading...
Is it just me or is this at least a little bit better than a 6?
physicsgenius wrote:
He said "the moon". There is only one "the" moon.
Unless you're on Jupiter.
I am pretty sure Hornsby wasnt geared at my age group in the '80s, but he was such a talented pianist & writer that his tunes were a breath of fresh air on the radio. Hornsby is pretty great in my book, "that's just the way it is..."
parrothead wrote:
I think the beach house is the next crater over from the circus....
physicsgenius wrote:
He said "the moon". There is only one "the" moon.
There is only one Jeep and it's at your local Jeep dealer!
physicsgenius wrote:
Circus on the Moon....3 million miles away? Consult an encyclopedia.
Wow, a worthwhile comment from P.G.! Bravo!
I loved this song so much that I had to buy it from iTunes. Rock on. Is the rest of the album any good?
jgeyer wrote:
Guess he didn't say which moon.
He said "the moon". There is only one "the" moon.
I recently saw Bruce in concert, and while his songs tend to drag on a little too long, and many of them sound the same, there is no coubt that the man cn play piano. Also, it really seemed like he enjoyed what he was doing and interacted well with the crowd. On a side note, I met him backstage after the show and noticed that he did not shake anyone's hand. Gotta protect the moneymakers, I guess. As for this song ... a fun little ditty.
I can't second you because I like the album art; it is fun, and upbeat - and suits this song perfectly! wondertoofar wrote:
Ladies and gentlmen. I hereby nominate this as one of the stupidist, Is that a word? It is now, album covers of all time! Do I hear a second?
glassjawgrlxxx wrote:
For some reason I like this
Me too. It's so bouncy and happy, I can't help myself.
With 1/6th earth gravity I bet human flight with wings will be possible on the moon, as long as its in an earth atmosphere enclosed structure of some kind. Sports, dance and the circus qill never be the same.
For the longest tiime, the only thing I knew about Hornsby was his radio hit. My opinion of him changed when I found out that he toured with the Dead. It seemed like a realy odd combo to me at first, but he is a pretty talented keyboard player. Hope he doesn't inherit the curse that afflicted other guys who played keys for the Dead.
Caught off guard! A lot of RP stuff just passes right by me. It's great work music. When this came on, I found myself tapping my feet and starting to bop around. To realize this is BH -- impressed me!
I'm a fan, even though his distinctive sound sometimes sounds repetitious. The jazzier piano bits (especially early on) in this one are incredible.
I'm a big Burce Hornsby fan, but I really think he's got a lot of stuff that's much better than this. It's good, but definitely not his best work. stickers11 wrote:
Anyone have any suggestions which albums to look into for a new Hornsby fan? Always appreciated his musicianship....think it is time to add him to my collection. Thanks.....
Spirit Trail is an outstanding 2 disc set. Plus, he allows taping at all his concerts. There's tons of absolutely amazing live Bruce music out there. "Live" is were he REALLY shines!
physicsgenius wrote:
Circus on the Moon....3 million miles away? Consult an encyclopedia.
Guess he didn't say which moon.
Circus on the Moon....3 million miles away? Consult an encyclopedia.
For some reason I like this
-relayer- wrote:
I lost interest in Horsby b/c all of the albums started to sound the same as each other. Interesting that almost 20 years later, it still sounds the same.
Gotta call total BS on your statement "all of the albums starting to sound the same". Listen to the album Big Swing Face and tell me that it sounds like anything else Bruce has created. Obviously, you HAVEN'T been listening for any length of time.
Ladies and gentlmen. I hereby nominate this as one of the stupidist, Is that a word? It is now, album covers of all time! Do I hear a second?
Less Hornsby PLZ. Good musician. Should play more intrumentals. His Dylan/Paul Simon voice grows tiresom on these aging nerves.
I lost interest in Horsby b/c all of the albums started to sound the same as each other. Interesting that almost 20 years later, it still sounds the same.
Nope. Sorry. I tried...really, I did. Negatory.
Sweet sweet music! This guy is beyond amazing.
bruuuuuuuuuuce! we need to hear more bruce on RP! great song!
Hey Bill. I think I could listen to this one more often. Whadaya say?
Just cuz this guy had huge hits when I was a kid and was on the radio pretty damn frequently then, AND I liked him a whole lot, does this mean that I'll be affected in the heart whenever I hear his voice and piano - eternally? I'm lovin it.
I think the beach house is the next crater over from the circus....
coldatlantic wrote:
Harbour Lights and Hot House are great.
Songs from the Southside definitely
Circus on the Moon. Wow.
stickers11 wrote:
Anyone have any suggestions which albums to look into for a new Hornsby fan? Always appreciated his musicianship....think it is time to add him to my collection. Thanks.....
Harbour Lights and Hot House are great.
stickers11 wrote:
Anyone have any suggestions which albums to look into for a new Hornsby fan? Always appreciated his musicianship....think it is time to add him to my collection. Thanks.....
earlier hornsby & the range is MUCH better. scenes from the southside, harbor lights, etc. i don't really like the later hornsby as much. also, the radio hits album will give you a taste of more of his "popular" songs - which i enjoy, as well.
fncll wrote:
Undeniably Bruce Hornsby, but I actually like it. What's happening to me? I could do without the Peanuts style piano soloing though...
seems a bit of a contradiction to like bruce hornsby but not like the piano...isn't the piano the essence of hornsby?
So how about the piano bit of this song was playing in my head when I got up this morning? And half an hour later, here it is on RP? You gotta love the psychic playlist.
Undeniably Bruce Hornsby, but I actually like it. What's happening to me? I could do without the Peanuts style piano soloing though...
dreadpixie wrote:
Please stop playing all the crappy music in a row.
It's less painful this way.
Please stop playing all the crappy music in a row.
Plingy Plongy piano playing in the middle... not working for me at all...
At least there's a cool track on the LRC.
Anyone have any suggestions which albums to look into for a new Hornsby fan? Always appreciated his musicianship....think it is time to add him to my collection. Thanks.....
I like this. Bit of a departure for Hornsby, adventurous and risky. It has a catchy bridge that just took me by surprise. Okay, so I'm easily caught. I love music in almost all its forms, and I guess I'm a visceral listener - I either like a song or I don't. Exception: "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac. When I first heard it, I didn't like it because it had a strangely-syncopated beat, and it threw me off. Took a few listens for me to decide it not only rocked, but rocked in spades. I guess I listen to the overall effect a song has on me, rather than picking apart a piano or guitar solor or a vocal. Ever watched "Almost Famous"? There's a scene where two men are discussing music, and the guitarist of the band says, "It's not the obvious stuff that makes the song - it's what's not there..." I realized that every song that's ever kept me listening to it over and over has had a "glitch" in it. Maybe the sound of the singer taking a deep breath, or the accidental chirp of a pick on a guitar string between beats, or a spontaneous "Yeah!" from one of the background musicians when a moment becomes magic and they all know it... Whatever it is, it hooks me. I suck at comparing one artist to another favorably or unfavorably. I just absorb the whole song for what it is, and if it kicks me in the heart, I like it. Bruce Hornsby kicks me in the heart.
:P :verymad: ¡That ugly!
Just saw Bruce last month for the third time. There are damn few bands that I would gladly pay to see three times, but Bruce and his band are sure the exception. Sonny Emory and J.V. Collier are the tightest and best sounding rythym section I have ever heard play live. Check our Bruce the next time you have the chance, I guar-un-tee you will be glad that you did.
Thought it sounded like drivel, then looked and it's Bruce Hornsby. Elementary, my dear watson...
I love this stuff. There are a couple of songs on his Harbour Lights and Hot House albums, "Harbour Lights", "China Doll" and "Spider Fingers" which are 10 degrees of kickass. More-or-less boring lyrics and vocal delivery though, which tends to deaden the experience a bit.
SpaceCowboy wrote:
A lot of people talking about the musician here... What about the music?
Indeed. Average song, but well executed, typically great BH piano. 5 points for the song + 1 extra point for the cool piano... :D
Interesting. A lot of people talking about the musician here... What about the music?
Continuing the spirt of the Dead...
Dull.
Jeffrey wrote:
Couldn't agree more!
Couldn't agree more!
beelzebubba wrote:
Whoah. This guy should play for the Grateful Dead.
very funny. whoa just in case you were not being a smart ass - he did.
jerseygirl wrote:
overlooked and underrated as a musician.
Couldn't agree more!
He is a superb musician and really adds a lot to Bonnie Raitt's live album, "Road Tested".
Most assuredly killer...especially after the Grateful Dead...Nice!
This song made a very brief appearance in Season 2 of Joan of Arcadia.
dburges wrote:
One of many outstanding tracks from a (so far) overlooked and underrated album.
overlooked and underrated as a musician.
beelzebubba wrote:
Whoah. This guy should play for the Grateful Dead.
very funny. whoa just in case you were not being a smart ass - he did.
Whoah. This guy should play for the Grateful Dead.
One of many outstanding tracks from a (so far) overlooked and underrated album.
Good to see this here. I like Halcyon Days, especially this track, "Dreamland" and "Hooray for Tom". Gets a bit uneven at parts, but if you're a Hornsby fan it won't disappoint.
Bright. I like it. The string section sounds similar to the Verve's Bittersweet Symphony. Like the piano part near the end.