# The best music with wonky time signatures **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909 "2006-08-23T17:43:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/1 "2006-08-23T17:43:35Z")
I was listening to “Saint Augustine in Hell” by Sting the other day, a piece writting almost entirely in 7/4 time signature. Truly a great piece of music on what I consider to be Sting’s best album. I thought it might be fun to put together a mix CD with “The Best of the Wierd Time Signatures” as its theme. Top of the list for me would be St. Augustine [Amazon Link](http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000005IL1001007/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_007/104-4400047-1807125) Other, very different in style but still good music, would be the theme from Deep Space 9 [Link](http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000001P1D001001/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_001/104-4400047-1807125). What else should go on this mix? ---
**Author:** ![Sideshow\_Ralph\_Wiggum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Sideshow\_Ralph\_Wiggum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sideshow_Ralph_Wiggum)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/2 "2006-08-23T17:50:59Z")
**Take Five** by Dave Brubeck. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/3 "2006-08-23T17:53:03Z")
Kashmir by Led Zep? The Best I’ve ever heard was There Comes a Time by Gil Evans, if you’re into something jazzier. I have no idea what time signature it’s in. Drummer friends of mine couldn’t figure it out, either. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/4 "2006-08-23T19:03:50Z")
The original _Mission: Impossible_ theme, not that bastardized version they did for the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/5 "2006-08-23T19:18:34Z")
I rather like _Solisbury Hill_ – Peter Gabriel ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/6 "2006-08-23T19:22:17Z")
Most of the music of Tool, if you’re into something a bit more rock oriented, the songs “Money” by Pink Floyd, the song “Estimated Prophet” by the Grateful Dead both have really off kilter signatures that sound so natural that it’s hard to tell that they’re in funny times. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/7 "2006-08-23T19:22:25Z")
“The Ocean” by Led Zeppelin (15/8 in the instrumental parts, or 4/4 +7/8, depending on how you want to look at it). “Money” by Pink Floyd (7/4). I know the Beatles have at least one song that a few bars of 4/4, followed by a bar of 3/4, repeating in the verse, but I can’t think which song(s) off hand. The bridge to “Hear Comes the Sun” has the wacky 11/8, going into 4/4, going into 7/8. Juliana Hatfield’s “Spin the Bottle” is completely in 5/4, and barely broke into the Top 40. (Nice little pop ditty, but not really “best music” category, like the above). Smashing Pumpkin’s “Untitled” has much of the verse in 6/4, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/8 "2006-08-23T19:27:50Z")
Arrghhh… That would be _ **Solsbury** Hill_. Not to be confused with the steak… ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/9 "2006-08-23T19:29:52Z")
I think that “Impression That I Get” by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones is in 5/4. I know it had to be something weird because we had a hell of a time trying to march to it. ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/10 "2006-08-23T19:30:09Z")
**"Apocalypse in 9/8"** (from the **Supper’s Ready** suite on _Foxtrot_). Genesis when they were good (before Peter Gabriel left). ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/11 "2006-08-23T19:33:10Z")
> [@Belrix](#): > > I was listening to “Saint Augustine in Hell” by Sting the other day, a piece writting almost entirely in 7/4 time signature. Truly a great piece of music on what I consider to be Sting’s best album. Sting is one of my favorite artists, and that is one of my favorite songs by him. Excellent choice! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/12 "2006-08-23T19:38:53Z")
> [@hawksgirl](#): > > I think that “Impression That I Get” by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones is in 5/4. I know it had to be something weird because we had a hell of a time trying to march to it. I just had a listen to it. It’s all in 4/4. At the very very end of the song there’s a brief seque that lops off an eighth note, but the song is almost completely in a very quick 4/4. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/13 "2006-08-23T20:36:40Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I know the Beatles have at least one song that a few bars of 4/4, followed by a bar of 3/4, repeating in the verse, but I can’t think which song(s) off hand. _All You Need Is Love_. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/14 "2006-08-23T20:45:03Z")
_Unsquare Dance_ - Dave Brubeck ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/15 "2006-08-23T20:49:54Z")
_Blue Rondo Ala Turk_ by Dave Brubeck. It’s done in 9/8 time. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/16 "2006-08-23T20:58:05Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > _Blue Rondo Ala Turk_ by Dave Brubeck. It’s done in 9/8 time. &%$# I came here to say that one, ya bastige. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/17 "2006-08-23T21:06:29Z")
We just did this one: [Popular songs with unusual time signatures - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=374579). Half of the Rush catalog. A few Primus songs. **Hey Ya!** by Outkast is in 11 (8+6+8=22). **The Rite of Spring** by Igor Stravinsky is just nuts as is **The Firebird**. Some System of a Down songs I think. **Mars, the Bringer of War** by Holst is in 5/4. ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/18 "2006-08-23T21:54:32Z")
I too came here to mention all my favorite “unsquare” Brubeck songs. Seems I’m not the only Bru-booster! ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/19 "2006-08-23T23:22:05Z")
Does Led Zeppelin’s “The Bridge” qualify? ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909/20 "2006-08-23T23:25:26Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I just had a listen to it. It’s all in 4/4. At the very very end of the song there’s a brief seque that lops off an eighth note, but the song is almost completely in a very quick 4/4. Must have gotten my songs from that show confused. Might have been RX Bandits Sell You Beautiful? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-music-with-wonky-time-signatures/369909.md?page=2)