I have always loved rock, but some of my favorite rock songs are pretty cynical about the business of it or the lifestyle or even the audience. Here are four of those I came up with. If you know others, please post them in the comments.
But if you're open to an Outlaw Country piece on the same themes, here's David Allan Coe singing about how none of the country DJs will ever come to see him in this dive:
...and if you liked that one, here's Charlie Daniels singing about the perils of a longhaired musician traveling to a gig in LA through the South in the early 70s.
That Hillbilly Hellcats' song is hilarious. Singer sounds a lot like George Thorogood. And of course Outlaw Country is welcome. So's anything we listen to here, and maybe some we don't.
I don't pay much attention to rock song lyrics. Rather noisy. Are they reciting the phone directory? One time I was asked to translate a rock song into Spanish. My reply was that as I couldn't tell what they were saying in English, I couldn't translate into Spanish.
Glen Campbell "Rhinestone Cowboy", especially the version from "See You There"- it's a much more melancholy sound that fits the lyrics better, I think. Never liked the song when I was a kid, but do now.
Yeah, I've got one for you.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/aBkG9FH3py0
Also, I hate all of those songs. :)
ReplyDeleteBut if you're open to an Outlaw Country piece on the same themes, here's David Allan Coe singing about how none of the country DJs will ever come to see him in this dive:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3OcOPDJeZk
...and if you liked that one, here's Charlie Daniels singing about the perils of a longhaired musician traveling to a gig in LA through the South in the early 70s.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=952h-AJ3Bcg
That Hillbilly Hellcats' song is hilarious. Singer sounds a lot like George Thorogood. And of course Outlaw Country is welcome. So's anything we listen to here, and maybe some we don't.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I hate all of those songs. :)
ReplyDeleteServes you right, then. :D
So... For something completely different. :-)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqMs9WsJg2k
I'd nominate Bob Seger's 'Turn The Page'.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sTJnz6b6eY
I don't pay much attention to rock song lyrics. Rather noisy. Are they reciting the phone directory?
ReplyDeleteOne time I was asked to translate a rock song into Spanish. My reply was that as I couldn't tell what they were saying in English, I couldn't translate into Spanish.
Grim, that's probably my favorite Charlie Daniels song.
ReplyDeleteRuss, clearly Pinkie and the Brain is a metaphor for record company execs. Or, something.
Christopher, I hadn't thought of that song like that, but it fits. Been a long time since I listened to Segar.
Gringo, you should probably write a rock song about that. That would fit the theme.
Ray Wylie Hubbard:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTUDAV9OJmk
Good one, Elise. Never listened to much of Hubbard. I'll have to check out some more of his stuff.
ReplyDeleteGrowl is by far my favorite Hubbard album. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteGlen Campbell "Rhinestone Cowboy", especially the version from "See You There"- it's a much more melancholy sound that fits the lyrics better, I think. Never liked the song when I was a kid, but do now.
ReplyDelete