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Top 5 Progressive Rock: Yes – Signature and Popular Songs

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and have been contributing to music magazines and web media for over 15 years. Although Western music is my main field, I always strive to stay curious with the motto, “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in a band, where I was a bassist responsible for songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve performed on include bass, guitar, and piano. I resumed piano lessons after turning 40 and have been continuing ever since!
Composer/arranger, guitarist, and bloggerAyumi Saito
I started playing guitar in elementary school, and in junior high and high school I played the horn in the concert band. In college I became engrossed in composing and began using DTM. These days, I provide songs to artists as a composer, run a blog under the name “Sakki,” and post music lesson videos on YouTube. My musical roots are in rock, but I also love dance music!

Among the progressive rock bands that Britain proudly boasts, Yes stands out as one of the so-called “Big Four” or “Top Five” of prog, having achieved global success with their powerful yet symphonic ensemble underpinned by advanced technique, artwork that exudes aesthetic sensibility, mystical lyrics, and beautiful melodies.

Over their long career, the band has undergone many lineup changes and even explored more pop-oriented directions at times, so it may take some persistence for newcomers to trace their illustrious history.

In this article, we introduce a number of Yes’s wonderful and representative classic songs.

We hope this serves as a gateway for you to discover their music!

[The Big 5 of Prog] Yes – Signature and Popular Songs (21–30)

Going For The OneYES

Going for the One in HD by Yes

Going For The OneYES

The album produced after keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who had temporarily left, returned is 1977’s “Going for the One.” The track that opens the album starts with an intro that’s almost like surf rock, but once it enters the A section, it’s quintessential Yes.

You can only admire their mastery of structure.

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90125YES

YES – Owner of a Lonely Heart (Official Music Video)

90125YES

A masterpiece that wrote a new page in the history of UK rock, 90125.

Its refined sound evokes the breeze of the ’80s.

While retaining the complex song structures characteristic of Yes, it features more pop-oriented, catchy melodies.

The single that hit No.

1 in the U.

S.

is packed with memorable phrases that you can’t help but hum.

Since its release in November 1983, it has captivated countless listeners and never let go.

A record that transcends the boundaries of progressive rock and hints at new musical possibilities.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to experience the evolution of music!

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Into The LensYES

Yes – Into The Lens (Official Music Video)

Into The LensYES

A track from the 1980 studio album Drama.

It’s one of the works on which Jon Anderson does not handle vocals.

The quietly sung opening phrase leaves a strong impression, and the gradual build in layers and intensity draws you in.

The beautiful harmonies also help give the song a vivid, blossoming quality.

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Endress DreamYES

Yes – Endless Dream

Endress DreamYES

It’s a complex piece from the 1994 album Talk, in which tense sections and more relaxed passages unfold in alternation.

There was a theory that it was a sequel to the band’s signature song “Close to the Edge,” but that is said not to be true.

Even so, this superbly constructed track can rightly be considered a signature song of Yes in the 1990s.

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Open Your EyesYES

YES – OPEN YOUR EYES

Open Your EyesYES

This is the title track from the 1997 album Open Your Eyes.

On this song, Steve Porcaro of TOTO appears as a guest, stepping in for departing keyboardist Rick Wakeman.

As a huge Yes fan, Steve delivers a performance brimming with his love for the band, making it a track you can truly enjoy.

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Owner Of Lonley HeartYES

YES – Owner of a Lonely Heart (Official Music Video)

Owner Of Lonley HeartYES

Yes is a British rock band that helped lay the foundation of progressive rock and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

“Owner of a Lonely Heart,” the title track from their 1983 album, was used in Japan in commercials for Nissan Basara, Sanyo’s eneloop, and UCC Ueshima Coffee’s Clear.

Its simple yet unforgettable introductory guitar riff delivers the perfect impact to kick off the album.

If you play guitar, it’s a highly addictive rock tune you’ll definitely want to try covering.

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The Fish（Schindleria Praematurus）YES

Yes ~ The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) ~ Live at Montreux [2003] [HD 1080p]

The Fish（Schindleria Praematurus）YES

This is a track from the 1971 album Fragile.

It’s a Yes song that somehow evokes a sense of storytelling.

Like many of their pieces, this one feels like a self-contained tale.

The tense opening makes you hold your breath, and the way it gradually shifts into a driving, exhilarating sound is nothing short of masterful.

You’re sure to be captivated as well.

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