Question (The Moody Blues song)
Encyclopedia
"Question" is a 1970 single by the English progressive rock
band The Moody Blues
. It was written by guitarist Justin Hayward
, who provides lead vocals. "Question" was first released as a single in April 1970, and was later featured as the lead track on the 1970 album A Question of Balance
.
Originally, the song itself was also to have been named "A Question of Balance," but was shortened to "Question." The lyrics of the chorus, which are "Why do we never get an answer, when we're knocking at the door/ With a thousand million questions about hate and death and war?" represented the feelings and attitude toward the Vietnam War
.
At the time, "Question" was a simple recording for the Moody Blues. Their previous album, To Our Children's Children's Children
, featured songs which included many different sounds provided by overdubbing and double-tracking. Unfortunately, this made most of the songs on the album very difficult to perform live. For this reason, "Question" was recorded in one take, and did not need any overdubbing or double-tracking, making it easier for the Moody Blues to perform live. It was written in Open-C tuning (CGCGCE) and recorded (and usually performed live) on a 12-string acoustic guitar.
The single also features the song "Candle of Life
" on its B-side, which was from the Moody Blues previous album To Our Children's Children's Children
.
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 The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
. It was written by guitarist Justin Hayward
Justin Hayward
Justin Hayward is an English musician, best known as singer, songwriter and guitarist in the rock band The Moody Blues.Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England...
, who provides lead vocals. "Question" was first released as a single in April 1970, and was later featured as the lead track on the 1970 album A Question of Balance
A Question of Balance
A Question of Balance, released in 1970, is the sixth album by The Moody Blues. The album was an attempt by the group to strip down their well-known lush, psychedelic sound in order to be able to better perform the songs in concert...
.
Originally, the song itself was also to have been named "A Question of Balance," but was shortened to "Question." The lyrics of the chorus, which are "Why do we never get an answer, when we're knocking at the door/ With a thousand million questions about hate and death and war?" represented the feelings and attitude toward the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
At the time, "Question" was a simple recording for the Moody Blues. Their previous album, To Our Children's Children's Children
To Our Children's Children's Children
To Our Children's Children's Children is the fifth album by The Moody Blues, first issued in late 1969. It was the first album released on the group's newly formed Threshold Records label, which was named after the band's previous album from the same year, On the Threshold of a Dream.It was...
, featured songs which included many different sounds provided by overdubbing and double-tracking. Unfortunately, this made most of the songs on the album very difficult to perform live. For this reason, "Question" was recorded in one take, and did not need any overdubbing or double-tracking, making it easier for the Moody Blues to perform live. It was written in Open-C tuning (CGCGCE) and recorded (and usually performed live) on a 12-string acoustic guitar.
The single also features the song "Candle of Life
Candle of Life
"Candle of Life" is a 1969 song by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues, from their album To Our Children's Children's Children, a concept album about space travel...
" on its B-side, which was from the Moody Blues previous album To Our Children's Children's Children
To Our Children's Children's Children
To Our Children's Children's Children is the fifth album by The Moody Blues, first issued in late 1969. It was the first album released on the group's newly formed Threshold Records label, which was named after the band's previous album from the same year, On the Threshold of a Dream.It was...
.
Personnel
- Justin HaywardJustin HaywardJustin Hayward is an English musician, best known as singer, songwriter and guitarist in the rock band The Moody Blues.Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England...
: acoustic guitar, lead vocals - John Lodge: bass guitar, back vocals
- Mike PinderMike PinderMichael Thomas "Mike" Pinder is an English rock musician, and is a founding member or the British rock group, the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's album, Octave, in 1978...
: mellotron, back vocals - Ray ThomasRay ThomasRay Thomas is an English musician, best known as the flautist and as a singer and composer in the rock band, The Moody Blues.-Career:...
: tambourine, back vocals - Graeme EdgeGraeme EdgeGraeme Charles Edge is best known as the drummer and a songwriter for the Moody Blues, but has also led his own outfit, the Graeme Edge Band.-Biography:...
: drums, percussion
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
2 |
| 1970 | 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... |
21 |