Music Memories

Andy Williams passed away last night.

I know he will always be identified with Moon River, but I will always think of his Christmas music. "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" is the song that I identify with holiday cheer, happy times with family, old records, and just classic music.  RIP.

Old School Music

We watched a Behind the Music special the other day about Genesis. Wow, what an interesting band and so scandal free.  Phil Collins has been married a few times, but usually these specials are replete with drugs, boozing, and partying.  Good to know they seem like good guys. Anyway, "Invisible Touch" was one of my songs of the day. And oh, A Little Respect by Erasure. Needed that one.

Top 500

We spent a good part of this weekend listening to 100.3's countdown of the Big 500 songs of rock. Lots of classic choices on their, including lots of Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, the Beatles, U2, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Bob Seger, Styx, Billy Joel, the Cars, Springsteen, Queen, and all of the usual suspects.  Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" was #1. 

I think the newest song might have been "Beautiful Day."  I guess if it was just rock, maybe that would qualify. But certainly not as "classic rock."  How do you define that, anyway? I think it needs to be at least 25 years old.  That would be 1987.  But I traditionally think it is from the 1970s. Those big, over-the-top anthems weren't what I grew up with.  There's 80s rock, 90s alternative, 00s indie...not sure what is next. Yes, I don't count boy bands or rap or any of those categories.  Just what I listen to.

I will say there are always a few random choices, probably put in there by a couple of fans who were mass voting. We need to get our opinions in next time, right?

Classics Revisited

Since my classic rock knowledge is sorely lacking, I am going to start playing some "Old Music Tuesday" selections. Today, as recommended by Robin Hilton, some classic Neil Young.

1966

Much discussion has taken place regarding last week's Mad Men episode, when Don Draper disregarded the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows."  He earlier wondered, "When did music become so important?" as he navigated the era's changing times.  Psychedelic rock may not have hit the fan just yet, but Don wouldn't have been ready, anyway.

That question of "When did music become so important?" resonates today.  Every movie, every commercial has its own soundtrack, and music (pop, rap, R&B, indie, etc.) is always in the background.  Music responds to the cultural shifts.  And no, I don't agree at all with this assessment of the episode. Don is a 1930s man "who grew up happy to have indoor plumbing."  He's married to a younger woman, and he's intimidated by the change, though he's also trying to cope with it. The music was representing that cultural shift he was not so comfortable with.  And yeah, that it was the Beatles was important.

First Albums

Paste has an interesting round-up of first album purchases by several different artists, like members of Deer Tick. The list reveals the influence of Green Day's Dookie and Nirvana, which is of no surprise for these musicians who are mostly 20-somethings. Nirvana is now twenty plus years old, and Green Day came out 18 years ago. They both are still played quite a bit on (DC!) radio and they still sound like they could have come out a year ago.

I remember getting REM's "Out of Time" and U2's Achtung Baby when I started high school, maybe Sophomore year.  But earlier, I mostly had the typical Debbie Gibson, Janet Jackson, and even a NKOTB album.  It was only later in high school that I discovered most of the alt-indie rock that I started to get into more. But it's an interesting question: what music has influenced you? More than anything, it was growing up with Michael Jackson, Madonna, hair bands, etc. 80s music, which I was old enough to remember.  Cindi Lauper.  INXS.  Some of which I still listen to today.

National to Fleetwood Mac

I was listening to a playlist inspired by the National (yes, all my music is in the same family) and a song by Fleetwood Mac came on. Stevie Nicks really is awesome, isn't she? To get me in pre-work HH mood (and yes, I need to psyche myself up for that, too), I thought some "Go Your Own Way," "Landslide," "Dreams," and "Everywhere" would do a suitable job.

Classics

Janet Jackson is as good as she has always been. So is Cyndi Lauper. Madonna has not aged as well, you know?

Natalie Merchant, always classy.

Last week, American Idol performed Billy Joel songs. Always classics. It's amazing how much a good voice and good songwriting lasts through decades, and wimpy lyrics and wimpy songs don't hold up. Like Paula Abdul--not so much.

All of these artists had less than stellar ventures. But of what I liked in the 80s, and like still today, there are definite differences. Some age well. Others, not so much.