Aja (song)
| "Aja" | |
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| Song |
"Aja" is the title track of Steely Dan's 1977 album by that name. Like the other six songs on the album, it is in the jazz-rock genre. It was composed by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, the band's two members, who play bass guitar and electric piano on the track, with various studio musicians playing the other parts.
Musically, it is an extremely sophisticated and complex work that was praised on its release as the most ambitious song the duo had ever attempted.[1] Its lyrics are the interior monologue of a man who "run[s] to" the title character to escape the stresses of his life "up on the hill." Supposedly it was inspired by a relative of someone Becker and Fagen knew, who had married a Korean woman named Aja. Becker has described the song as being about "the calming influence of the love of a good woman."
While it was never released as a single, it is notable within the band's work for several reasons. At approximately eight minutes it is the longest song the band ever recorded.[1] It also features a tenor saxophone solo by Wayne Shorter, preceded by a Steve Gadd drum solo, which is continued in the song's tag. It has been a favorite of the band's fans, and they have performed in concert since they reunited late in the 20th century and began touring again.
See also
References
- ^ a b Duffy, Michael (December 1, 1977). "Aja (Steely Dan)". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 13, 2015.