Cinema (song)
Encyclopedia
"Cinema" is an instrumental
song by the progressive rock
band Yes
, from their 1983 album, 90125
. It won the 1984 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
, the band's first (and as of 2010, only) Grammy.
, Geoff Downes
, Steve Howe
, Chris Squire
and Alan White
. When this group split up following the tour for the album Drama
, Squire and White joined forces with South Africa
n singer and guitarist Trevor Rabin
. The three were eventually joined by former Yes member Tony Kaye
, and the four began writing and recording demos under the band name "Cinema
".
Cinema (the band) demoed some of their recordings to former Yes lead singer Jon Anderson
, who expressed interest in participating in the project. With four out of the five having been Yes members, it was decided to change the name of band from Cinema to Yes. The title of the instrumental track "Cinema" is therefore a nod to this history.
"Cinema" developed from a twenty minute-long track with the working title "Time." At just over two minutes in length, "Cinema" is the shortest song on 90125,
and indeed one of the shortest songs Yes has recorded. Although the band had recorded shorter songs before, they were well-known in the 1970s
for entire albums of lengthy songs, such as 1973's Tales from Topographic Oceans
, which has four songs, none of which are shorter than 18 minutes.
"Cinema" is one of two songs on 90125 (the other being "Leave It
") that does not list Anderson as a co-writer.
concert video, "Cinema" was the first song played, preceding "Leave It" as it does on 90125.
In later years, Yes would follow "Cinema" with "Owner of a Lonely Heart
" instead, as seen in the House of Yes: Live from House of Blues
video concert.
In 2004, current and former Yes members Squire, White, Rabin, Howe, and Downes united to perform "Cinema" and "Owner of a Lonely Heart" at the Prince's Trust
concert honoring Horn.
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
song by the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, from their 1983 album, 90125
90125
-Yes:*Jon Anderson – lead vocals*Tony Kaye – keyboards*Trevor Rabin – guitars, additional keyboards, backing vocals*Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals*Alan White – drums, percussion, backing vocals- Studio personnel :...
. It won the 1984 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance was an honor presented to recording artists for quality instrumental rock performances at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
, the band's first (and as of 2010, only) Grammy.
History
The 1980 incarnation of Yes included Trevor HornTrevor Horn
Trevor Charles Horn CBE is an English pop music record producer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was born in Houghton-le-Spring in north-east England....
, Geoff Downes
Geoff Downes
Geoffrey "Geoff" Downes is an English rock keyboard player, songwriter, best known as the keyboardist for the bands The Buggles, Yes and Asia, of which he is the only consistent member. When he was a keyboardist for The Buggles, he played multiple keyboards to achieve a New Wave technopop sound...
, Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
, Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
and Alan White
Alan White (Yes drummer)
Alan White is an English rock drummer known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes. White was also a member of the Plastic Ono Band, playing live in 1969 at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, which was recorded and released three months later as Live Peace in Toronto 1969...
. When this group split up following the tour for the album Drama
Drama (Yes album)
Drama is the tenth studio album by British progressive rock group Yes. It is the first of two Yes albums without vocalist Jon Anderson. In early 1980, after rehearsing music for the follow-up to the tepidly-received Tormato, both Anderson and Rick Wakeman departed the band over creative and...
, Squire and White joined forces with South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n singer and guitarist Trevor Rabin
Trevor Rabin
Trevor Charles Rabin is a South African born musician, best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1983–1994, and since then, as a film composer.- Early years :...
. The three were eventually joined by former Yes member Tony Kaye
Tony Kaye (musician)
Tony Kaye is a British musician.Kaye was the original keyboard player for the progressive rock group Yes from 1968 to 1971, and rejoined Yes from 1983 to 1995...
, and the four began writing and recording demos under the band name "Cinema
Cinema (band)
Cinema yes were a short-lived band started in 1982 by former Yes members Alan White and Chris Squire, with guitarist Trevor Rabin. They had plans to release their debut album in 1983, and were working on a number of songs, most of which had been written by Rabin.Eventually, these musicians were...
".
Cinema (the band) demoed some of their recordings to former Yes lead singer Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
, who expressed interest in participating in the project. With four out of the five having been Yes members, it was decided to change the name of band from Cinema to Yes. The title of the instrumental track "Cinema" is therefore a nod to this history.
"Cinema" developed from a twenty minute-long track with the working title "Time." At just over two minutes in length, "Cinema" is the shortest song on 90125,
and indeed one of the shortest songs Yes has recorded. Although the band had recorded shorter songs before, they were well-known in the 1970s
for entire albums of lengthy songs, such as 1973's Tales from Topographic Oceans
Tales from Topographic Oceans
-2003 CD re-issue:A remastered edition was released in 2003, which restored a two-minute ambient section at the beginning of the album's first song. This section was deleted at the last minute before the album was originally pressed...
, which has four songs, none of which are shorter than 18 minutes.
"Cinema" is one of two songs on 90125 (the other being "Leave It
Leave It
"Leave It" is a song by Yes. It appears on their 1983 album, 90125. The song featured repeated single issues, most backed with remixes of the song or an a cappella version. The original version was occasionally placed as the B-side of "Owner of a Lonely Heart", and on another instance, the original...
") that does not list Anderson as a co-writer.
Live performances
In the 9012Live9012Live (video)
9012Live is the video release of a concert by the progressive rock group Yes recorded live at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, Canada, on September 28 and 29, 1984. It mostly features material from the band's reunion album 90125, which was a major success for the band. The 1984-1985 tour was the...
concert video, "Cinema" was the first song played, preceding "Leave It" as it does on 90125.
In later years, Yes would follow "Cinema" with "Owner of a Lonely Heart
Owner of a Lonely Heart
"Owner of a Lonely Heart" is a song by the progressive rock band Yes. It is the opening track of their 1983 album 90125. Written primarily by Trevor Rabin, the song reached number one on the United States Billboard Hot 100 — to date Yes's biggest chart success...
" instead, as seen in the House of Yes: Live from House of Blues
House of Yes: Live from House of Blues
House of Yes: Live from House of Blues is a double live CD by progressive rock band Yes. The album was recorded on Halloween night in 1999 at the House of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada, during touring obligations for the band's studio album, The Ladder....
video concert.
In 2004, current and former Yes members Squire, White, Rabin, Howe, and Downes united to perform "Cinema" and "Owner of a Lonely Heart" at the Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
concert honoring Horn.