"The Logical Song" is Supertramp's biggest chart hit in both the United States, South Africa, and their native United Kingdom and is amongst their most widely recognised radio hits.[3][failed verification]Roger Hodgson composed the song from an autobiographical point of view, from his experience of being sent away to boarding school for ten years.[4] It won the 1979 Ivor Novello Award for "Best Song Musically and Lyrically".[5]
Composition and lyrics
"The Logical Song" was mostly penned by Roger Hodgson; Rick Davies wrote the vocal harmony on the second chorus.[6] The song makes use of keyboards, castanets, and an instrumental section.[3] Among the contemporary sound effects in this song are the 'tackled' sound from a Mattel electronic football game[6] and the Trouble "Pop-o-matic" bubble – both popular at the time this song was released.
The lyrics are a condemnation of an education system focused on categorical jargon as opposed to knowledge and sensitivity.[7] The lyrics are notable for their use of consonance, with a repetition of the '-ical/ -able' endings of multiple adjectives.
Critical reception
Rolling Stone called the song a "small masterpiece" praising the "hot sax" and Hodgson's "wry humor".[7] The magazine also made comparisons between Hodgson and Ray Davies from The Kinks.[7]
Commercial performance
The song was a hit on its original release, reaching number 7 in the United Kingdom and number 6 in the United States.[3][8][9] The song also spent two weeks at number 1 on the Canadian RPM Singles Chart, was the top song of the year, and was certified Platinum in Canada.[2][10] It stayed for three months on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1979.[3]
Personnel
Roger Hodgson – lead and backing vocals, Wurlitzer electric piano, electric and 12-string acoustic guitars
Rick Davies – Elka and Oberheim synthesisers, Hammond organ, Hohner Clavinet with wah-wah, backing vocal
The single reached number 1 in several European countries, including Norway and Ireland, as well as number 1 in Australia in 2002. It reached number 2 in the United Kingdom, their highest ever charting single beating the number 18 peak of "Back in the U.K." in 1996; it has been certified gold by the BPI, selling over 400,000 copies and was the 15th best-selling single of 2002.[32]
^"Tout les Titres par Artiste: S" (in French). Infodsic.fr. 1 May 2013. Click on the search bar, type "Supert", select "SUPERTRAMP" and click "OK". Retrieved 1 May 2013.
