Music of the Day, 16 June 2025

paranoia's poison door

The origins of today’s MotD aren’t hard to see, at least for those keeping up on current events. It’s a powerful reminder of how history often rhymes.

I was completely unaware of King Crimson when the band debuted in 1969; I guess its sound was too out there for my aunts and uncles who’d introduced me to rock music. In the mid ‘90s, a former student (who’d become a friend) gave me a sampler¹ compilation after discovering I was a big Rush fan. I remember listening to it … but not much beyond that. In fairness, my marriage was crumbling, and as part of that I was rethinking a lot of things.

So I don’t know if that was how I was introduced to “21st Century Schizoid Man,” but I’m a little doubtful that it was; I don’t think I could have completely forgotten it. And I don’t remember how I (re)discovered it, either—the title just started popping up in my mind while consuming various news items. At some point I listened to it and was smitten. The concise, biting lyrics, Greg Lake’s powerful delivery of them, and the complex music all hooked me. The song’s Wiki page provides a lot of information about it and how “21st Century Schizoid Man” (and really, the entire album In the Court of the Crimson King) shook up rock music.

The version above is shortened for radio play. Even though I adore the song, sometimes it’s a bit much to take in, and that’s how I’m feeling today … although I’ll be playing it on repeat as I’m able in between tasks. The “schizoid” element² seems to apply to too many in positions of power and influence these days.

As for the mixtape/mixdisc my friend gave me: I kept it for years and at some point shared it with my oldest stepkid. They instantly adored it; and I don’t think they gave it back to me. I’m fine with that, as it led them to explore other, weirder music, some of which they shared with me.

My only regret is that I have just one vague memory³ of it, which is wholly insufficient for attempting to recreate what my friend shared with me. It was always a fun exercise to think about why specific songs and their order were chosen by a mixtape’s creator; and I’d like to be able to indulge that again. More important, though, is it would guide my exploration of King Crimson’s music, as I have nothing by the band in my library. Suggestions are welcome.

1. I don’t remember if it was a disc or cassette

2. by that I mean withdrawal from relationships and other things around one; dissociation from life and indifference to it and others

3. that is “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic,” which could point to the two instrumental pieces or some other piece from that album