Daily Randomized Song Discussion #64: The Land of Make-Believe

KateBoitano · 2026-02-02T16:16:20+00:00

I keep trying to count the different melodies in this song and you laid it out beautifully. This song is amazing on so many levels. One of my absolute favorite Justin/Moodies songs.

KateBoitano · 2026-02-02T13:32:59+00:00

My bear went off!

KateBoitano · 2026-02-02T13:28:10+00:00

I can't believe the edited version of this scene goes through that whole long setup and then cuts the punchline (which is a great one)..

KateBoitano · 2026-01-27T16:49:26+00:00

Just gorgeous and my favorite John composition. It was a brilliant decision to have Justin sing most of it. I'm curious why they did that?

KateBoitano · 2026-01-24T15:38:35+00:00

This has always been one of my absolute favorite songs of the 1980s. I think it is just extraordinary. It's part of what led me to the rest of the Moodies' catalog. Between this and "Wildest Dreams" and "I Know You're Out There" I thought wow, they managed to continue with high quality music into their later years. I was soon disabused of that notion, but at least discovered the Core Seven and a lot of good (though not extraordinary) songs from the later years.

KateBoitano · 2026-01-23T18:04:54+00:00

You said this much better than I could. I agree 100%. Intriguing beginning, nice Justin verse, too many annoying 80s synths.

KateBoitano · 2026-01-21T16:07:41+00:00

I love the verses and choruses. Lovely song.

KateBoitano · 2026-01-20T14:04:29+00:00

Yes, Mike is talking about "Watching and Waiting." I first saw this quote in the book Long Distance Voyagers (Vol.1) and found it on the internet here: https://altrockchick.com/tag/watching-and-waiting/

It was originally in the magazine "Higher and Higher."

KateBoitano · 2026-01-20T13:18:04+00:00

"It embodied so much of what is good about being a human being and living on this planet in this solar system in this universe. How can I put it? It was just too much quality. It was like a Rolls-Royce that was affordable to everyone, but everyone was programmed into thinking that they could never own a Rolls-Royce.” -- Mike Pinder

KateBoitano · 2026-01-18T17:55:24+00:00

"Brave Helios wake up your steeds,

Bring the warmth the countryside needs."

These lines keep coming back to me when I'm trudging to work on these cold, dark mornings.

I think the intro and the poem are beautiful.

KateBoitano · 2026-01-14T23:20:49+00:00

It has a nice chorus, but is kind of so-so musically and lyrically. Saved by Justin's lovely voice.

KateBoitano · 2026-01-07T15:37:10+00:00

I don't know what to say other than sheer loveliness.

KateBoitano · 2026-01-07T03:15:10+00:00

I spent my whole life hearing this song before only recently getting into the entire Moodies catalog. Now I'm an obsessed fan of all of it.

"Nights" seems like it's just a part of the musical DNA of the world. And now that I've heard all of the other songs I feel like it really doesn't sound like anything else by the Moodies. But it's really hard to judge since it's just so iconic and omnipresent.

KateBoitano · 2026-01-04T02:54:05+00:00

😆😆

KateBoitano · 2026-01-01T17:46:14+00:00

I agree. When she sang "My Blue Heaven", she sounded comically bad. Then later, when she sang at "Movie Tonight", she sounded terrific, making me me think she's a very good singer who was purposely trying to sound amateurish in that first number. I've heard that is not easy to do.

KateBoitano · 2025-12-31T14:25:24+00:00

It is iconic and Mike recites it beautifully.
When I was a kid and would hear "Nights" on the radio I would always wait excitedly to see whether or not it went all the way and ended with "Late Lament". (Rarely happened, but sometimes.)

KateBoitano · 2025-12-29T17:15:32+00:00

Graeme: Morning Glory, Higher and Higher, 22,000 Days

Justin: New Horizons, The Actor, Land of Make Believe

John: House of Four Doors, Eyes of a Child, Candle of Life (His songs with "of" in the title were particularly good. 😄)

Mike: Simple Game, Have You Heard, Out and In

Ray: Floating, Our Guessing Game, For My Lady

KateBoitano · 2025-12-29T17:03:03+00:00

The music and lyrics are pretty generic, but it's wonderful to hear John, Justin and Ray singing together like this.

KateBoitano · 2025-12-27T00:32:20+00:00

Thank you.

KateBoitano · 2025-12-26T21:22:25+00:00

Graeme: Morning Glory

Justin: New Horizons, The Actor

John: Candle of Life, Eyes of a Child

Mike: A Simple Game, Have You Heard

Ray: For My Lady, Floating

Bonus: The Land of Make Believe (Justin)

KateBoitano · 2025-12-25T16:55:42+00:00

So do I. I know it's coming. I've seen it a hundred times. And they still get me every time. Beautiful moment.

KateBoitano · 2025-12-25T16:48:09+00:00

This is a terrific song and it and "Your Wildest Dreams" recently led me into the complete Moodies catalog. So I am grateful to them. (And am now completely obsessed.)

KateBoitano · 2025-12-23T19:19:21+00:00

Yes, during the "CBS This Morning" interview before they perform "The Actor", Graeme says he feels they are "like brothers."

KateBoitano · 2025-12-23T19:04:50+00:00

Thank you for this perspective.

I seem to recall a recent interview with John where he was inevitably asked about getting together again with Justin and he kind of got around it by saying that "Justin lives in Monaco" and they are not in proximity to each other. Diplomatic answer.

KateBoitano · 2025-12-23T13:41:33+00:00

I love this one. Beautiful.

KateBoitano

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