Which 3 (or more) songs can be played together to form a complete story?

Submitted by badcgi t3_zy6oq3 in Music

I was listening to The Killers the other day and was thinking how they created a story with their so called Murder Trillogy of...

Leave The Bourbon on the Shelf Midnight Show Jenny Was a Friend of Mine

Telling the story of a man who went through a breakup, planed and committed the murder of his ex, and is being questioned by the police.

I was wondering if there were other stories in multiple songs, even with multiple artists, whose music, taken together make for a full story.

The only other example that comes to mind is...

Rocket Man - Elton John Space Oddity - David Bowie Major Tom (Coming Home) - Peter Schilling

The story of a working astronaut who goes on a routine mission where something goes wrong and we hear his thoughts in his final moments.

Any other examples you can think of?

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thesaltwatersolution t1_j250csx wrote

Michael Stipe said that “The Lifting” was a prequel to the protagonist from “Daysleeper.” I’m happy for you or someone else to suggest the third one in the series.

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daddyfatsac t1_j250rwy wrote

Alive, Once and Footsteps by Pearl Jam are a trilogy story.

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OnionMcTwist t1_j24awn6 wrote

Chuck Berry has a canon in a sense, where Johnny B Good and other characters keep reappearing in his songs doing various things

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VanishingPint t1_j24cfmi wrote

The Stranglers had a series of bizarre b sides in the 80s -

  1. (The Strange Circumstances Which Lead To) Vladimir and Olga (Requesting Rehabilitation in a Siberian Health Resort as a Result of Stress in Furthering the People’s Policies).
  2. Vladimir & Sergei.
  3. Vladimir & The Beast.
  4. Vladimir goes to the Havana.
  5. !Viva Vlad!
  6. Vladimir & the pearl.

https://musicbrainz.org/release/0e76641d-7257-4d9b-be20-ef4399e28039

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0XYfcfvn8TjhOR4Yv2kArj?si=7Y-BFsg5QQeHt5p1HG4M5w

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badcgi OP t1_j24d3s3 wrote

Now that is an interesting one! I only really know the Stranglers from Golden Brown, but this makes for a cool mini setlist.

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bkydx t1_j24h81v wrote

Ren - The Tale of Jenny & Screech (Full)

Ren- Jenny

Ren - Screech.

Ren - Violets tale

(Warning/Spoiler: Contains abuse)

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cptnamr7 t1_j24ins4 wrote

I forget which songs exactly, but Pearl Jam has a series of songs about a kid being seduced by an older woman and murdering her husband for her. Black is involved in the set but I forget the others.

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SyringeTip t1_j24jkfx wrote

Made a really good short playlist awhile ago that can be interpreted as a story

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5FGiNHiXlfvZkqHMuDdusD?si=qpRo6s_YQmm4cl4_3dYBtQ

From my perspective, it's about enduring the worst that humanity has to offer, fighting your inner demons, and coming out in the end as the best version of yourself.

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NootNootington t1_j24vfmk wrote

The Virtute songs by The Weakerthans. Plea from a Cat Named Virtute -> Virtute the Cat Explains her Departure -> Virtute at Rest

There's also the three Amy songs by Frank Turner: Reasons Not to Be an Idiot -> I Am Disappeared -> Telltale Signs

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steeldigger t1_j25e9z8 wrote

Guns N' Roses:

  • Don’t Cry
  • November Rain
  • Estranged
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MarilynManson2003 t1_j242oxn wrote

Every song on “Year Zero” by NIИ.

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badcgi OP t1_j243m3f wrote

Great album but I think concept albums don't particularly count for this question. I was hoping for more "unofficial" examples, spanning several albums or artists.

Thanks for the suggestion though, might have to listen to that again this week, it's been a long time since I've heard them.

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Nizamark t1_j24h041 wrote

Ween - The Stallion Suite

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Ok-Pressure-3879 t1_j24lgh2 wrote

FM Static from the dear diary album

  1. Boy moves to a small town….
  2. Her Fathers Song
  3. Take me as I am

There are music videos that accompany the song and visualize a story. Bittersweet story and don’t watch if you struggle with the topic of suicide.

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AndrewPurnell t1_j24p759 wrote

Tool on the 10,000 Days album. Tool always had a hidden track until that album, but seemed like they didn’t. But if you mix Wings Pt. 1 & 2 along with Viginty Tres together (Viginti Tres then Wings pt 1 all over top of Wings pt 2) you get a third song

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HuesosdePlato t1_j24use3 wrote

Coheed and Cambria: their entire catalog follows a series of comics called the Amory Wars written by the lead singer of the band.

The Decemberists have great narratives in their albums but the best example of what you’re kind of describing would be the Crane Wife 1, 2, and 3.

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ZodiacalSeeker t1_j24xrp1 wrote

Falco - Jeanny; Coming Home; The Spirit Never Dies

Jeanny is off Falco 3, Coming Home is off Emotional, Spirit… is off the album of the same name.

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strayvoltage t1_j252ggv wrote

Willie Nelson's "Red Headed Stranger" is one story from beginning to end.

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flashpoint2112 t1_j259hxj wrote

Rush's Fear series

1 - the enemy within

2 - the weapon

3 - witch hunt

4 - freeze

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BrassOwlRing t1_j24maj0 wrote

Google "concept album". There ya go.

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