It Can Happen (Yes song)
Encyclopedia
"It Can Happen" is a song by the progressive rock
band Yes
, from their 1983 album 90125
. It was released as the third single from that album, reaching number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in 1984.
and drummer Alan White
joined with South Africa
n guitarist Trevor Rabin
to form a new band, called Cinema
. An early version of song "It Can Happen", sung by Squire, was written and recorded during this time.
Squire, White and Rabin eventually joined forces with former Yes members Jon Anderson
, Tony Kaye
and Trevor Horn
, changing the name of their new band Cinema to "Yes" in the process. Anderson rewrote the lyrics of "It Can Happen" and it was included 90125, with Anderson singing the verses.
The Cinema version of the song was released on 1991's Yesyears box set, and later on the remastered version of 90125. The version sung by Anderson was released as a single in 1984, and was included in several later Yes compilations, including the In a Word: Yes (1969–) box set and The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection
.
A video for the song is included in the Greatest Video Hits
DVD, and a live performance appears in the 9012Live
concert video.
The dialogue that can be heard under the guitar solo - about 3 minutes and 13 seconds in - on the 90125 version, is taken from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. The lines, "...Come, old boy, you had much better have the thing out at once...." and "...that is exactly what dentists always do. Now, go on! Tell me the whole thing" are spoken by the character Algernon Moncrieff, in the play.
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 was released as the third single from that album, reaching number 51 on the 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...
chart in 1984.
History
Following the 1981 breakup of the band, bassist Chris SquireChris 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 drummer 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...
joined 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 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 :...
to form a new band, called 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...
. An early version of song "It Can Happen", sung by Squire, was written and recorded during this time.
Squire, White and Rabin eventually joined forces with former Yes members 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...
, 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 Trevor Horn
Trevor 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....
, changing the name of their new band Cinema to "Yes" in the process. Anderson rewrote the lyrics of "It Can Happen" and it was included 90125, with Anderson singing the verses.
The Cinema version of the song was released on 1991's Yesyears box set, and later on the remastered version of 90125. The version sung by Anderson was released as a single in 1984, and was included in several later Yes compilations, including the In a Word: Yes (1969–) box set and The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection
The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection
The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection is a triple compilation album by progressive rock band Yes, was released in 2003 in the United Kingdom and in early 2004 in the United States, and covers the length and breadth of the band's thirty-five-year career.Released on Warner Music in the UK as...
.
A video for the song is included in the Greatest Video Hits
Greatest Video Hits (Yes video)
Greatest Video Hits is a 1991 compilation DVD of promotional videos from progressive rock group Yes. It contains the majority of MTV videos filmed by the band, as well as a few early promotional videos that pre-date MTV...
DVD, and a live performance appears in the 9012Live
9012Live (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.
The dialogue that can be heard under the guitar solo - about 3 minutes and 13 seconds in - on the 90125 version, is taken from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. The lines, "...Come, old boy, you had much better have the thing out at once...." and "...that is exactly what dentists always do. Now, go on! Tell me the whole thing" are spoken by the character Algernon Moncrieff, in the play.