It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll
May 7th, 2007 at 8:12 am by CrankyRolling Stone is commemorating their 40 years of world-changing, revolutionary contributions to the world of Rock and Roll.
Only, it really wasn’t all that world-changing or revolutionary. 6MB readers know we loves the rock music. But at the end of the day, we pretty much know that the music is just for fun and at it’s best the soundtrack to some of our best memories.
Jammie Wearing Fool points out a great article in the LA Times (click through JWF). Rolling Stone, as indicated by their decades of snarky leftism, seems to think otherwise. This leads to some exquisite cognitive dissonance when their idols don’t seem to be on the same wavelength.
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Poor Jack Nicholson even admitted that he was “incapable of hating a president of the United States.” This was considered so amazing that the editors displayed the quote prominently in a box.
May 7th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Rock stars are by nature, self-indulgent. But if not for the talent God gave them and the lucky break of being discovered in the sea of burn-outs who dream their garage band will “make it”, most would be working the 3am shift at AM/PM. When they hit it big, some of them feel that they are now so important that their views on life will be cherished by everyone (hello, GW Princess Sheryl Crow).
Of course, they are just too dumb to understand that they are being exploited.
Some of my favorite rockers are the ones who are honest enough to admit they got lucky and don’t feel the need to spread their “wisdom”.
I’ll never forget when Squeeze became one of my favorite bands. They were being interviewed on MTV in the mid 80′s…and the interviewer asked about their inspiration for their “intense” lyrical content.
Then Chris Difford stopped the interviewer dead and said, “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, Mate. We just want the songs to rhyme…”
May 7th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
What, are you trying to say these people didn’t save the world?
May 7th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
I see you never read ‘High Fidelity.’
May 7th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Egad, Hydra. Is that where all the 80s hair went or is this from the 80s?
Loved the movie Sharon. What does the book say on this topic?
May 7th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Hey Sharon…LOVED that movie. And let me tell you…the entire “top 5″ lists thing is DEAD on. Guys do that…and guys who love music like myself do that with their music…and their women.
But do you have disagreement on Cranky’s assertion that music is for fun, or on my assertion that rock stars are “self-indulgent”? Keep in mind, I am not saying ALL rock stars are vacuous…I am in fact, generalizing.
For example, Tom Petty is plenty thoughtful (even if in his southern drawl, he has difficulty articulating).
But he also knows his place as a rock star…and his strongest opinions are about what he knows best- Rock and Roll. I know for a fact that he is against the war and doesn’t care for the Bush administration. But I won’t get that jammed down my throat at one of his concerts. He understands what we are there for…to “rock on” with him.
May 7th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Cranky,
Think of the record store as a church or synagogue, and the hymn books (and Siddur) are the Gospels according to John and Paul…with last names.
May 7th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Oh. Mah. Gawd… Hydralisk, my quest to find the greatest collection of mullet-esque retards in one room with several knavish microphones and one really bad song has been achieved. Thank you. Thank you for your assistance. And to answer your question, “NO!” No, they did not save the world.
May 7th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Billy,
For me, music is everything. There is a song for every occasion.
BTW,what are your 5 shipwrecked albums? You’re alone on the island, except for Boo, your dog, and a record player (no Ipod/cd crap) that magically runs without electricity.
(No greatest hits allowed)
Mine? So glad you asked.
Rubber Soul-Beatles
Revolver- Beatles
Pet Sounds- Beach Boys
Legends-Bob Marley
Red Headed Stranger-Willie Nelson
May 8th, 2007 at 8:01 am
Sharon, you missed the earlier post on your desert island record? (I can’t find the link)
But since I only asked for one record, I’ll see your five and match it.
Quadrophenia – Who
Face Dances – Who
Word of Mouth – Kinks
Collective Soul – Dosage
(agonized over three way tie)
Back in Black – AC/DC
Goodbye Yello Brick Road – Elton John
You Bought It, You Name It – Joe Walsh
May 8th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Hey Sharon…now FIVE albums are a little more reasonable. Plus it falls in line with the Hi Fidelity “listing” thing that I do so often.
Still…narrowing down to just five would be so hard. If I had to (excluding compilations and “greatest hits”):
Damn the Torpedos…Tom Petty
The Stranger…Billy Joel
The White Album…The Beatles
Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player…Elton John
Boston (1st Album)…Boston
Instantly I cringe as I see Dark Side of the Moon, Led Zeppelin IV and Pop Goes the World (Men without Hats) floating away…
Of course, ask me tomorrow and I might just throw in your favorite Bon Jovi album…
May 8th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Dr. Deuce Cave, glad to have been of help