Tag: rock

Jan 22 2011

Popular Culture (Music) 20110121: Donovan

One of the most popular, and in my opinion, most talented of the British Invasion solo acts was Donovan Philips Leitch, known simply as Donovan.  He had several monster hits both in the UK and in the US in the mid 1960s, and many people recognize the music but not necessarily the artist.

His style was more folk than rock, and I personally believe that if it had not been for Bob Dylan Donovan would be remembered as the greatest folk singer of the 1960s.  Fortunately, he is still with us and has a talented progeny as well.  

Jun 12 2010

Popular Culture (Music) 20100611. Screaming Lord Sutch

Screaming Lord Sutch was an early and, unfortunately, now obscure British rocker.  He did not really have that much musical ability of his own, but was able to collect about himself a collection of current and future British rock superstars.  His band came and went, but included some really big names.

He was not a Lord at all, he was a commoner named David Edward Sutch, born 19401110.  He took the stage name Screaming Lord Sutch, third Earl of Harrow (I have also seen fifth Earl quoted) in the early 1960s, and was pretty much known by that afterwards.  He took the “Screaming” part from Screaming Jay Hawkins, who we mentioned last week in the Arthur Brown istallment.

Feb 13 2010

Intermission-ing

Feb 07 2010

Talkin’ ’bout my generation…

There are many people who lament the end of the ’60s and complain about today’s self-absorbed, materialistic youth.  Now, I’m a teenager, and I can tell you that there’s a grain of truth (maybe a boulder…) to those complaints, but there’s also a vibrant political culture among those of us whippersnappers who do care.

Well, we all know Dylan, Lennon, and Young.  But what about Francis, Folds, and Morello?  If you take a look at the music scene today, it’s apparent that there are a lot of young people who care.  There’s currently a lot of music in the same spirit, if not the same style, as the classics of protest music.

Jul 25 2008

WORST rock songs of all time

Well, I have just had a heated debate.  The important topic was WORST rock ‘n roll song of all time.  The first issue was deciding what could be consider rock and what could not.  Schmaltz is not rock by definition, so no Carpenters songs, no Capt. & Tennile–that means no Muskrat Love.  We are not going there.  If there is no electric guitar, it is probably not rock ‘n roll.

So I won’t bore you with our desideratum.  That’s your part, below if you wish.

But here is the choice.  Imagine a song that manages to be both pompous (rock star strut), stupid, ugly and demeaning all at the same time.  A true harbinger for the death of rock ‘n roll.  Ladies and Gentlemen, submitted for your consideration as the worst rock ‘n roll song of all time, “What’s Your Name” by Lynyrd Skynyrd:

Well, its 8 o’clock in Boise, Idaho

I’ll find my limo driver

Mister, take us to the show

I done made some plans for later on tonight

I’ll find a little queen

And I know I can treat her right.

[chorus]

What’s your name, little girl?

What’s your name?

Shootin’ you straight, little girl?

Won’t you do the same?.

Back at the hotel

Lord we got such a mess

It seems that one of the crew

Had a go with one of the guests, oh yes

Well, the police said we can’t drink in the bar

What a shame

Won’t you come upstairs girl

And have a drink of champagne

What’s your name, little girl?

What’s your name?

Shootin’ you straight, little girl?

For there ain’t no shame.

[chorus 2x]

9 o’clock the next day

And I’m ready to go

I got six hundred miles to ride

To do one more show, oh no

Can I get you a taxi home

It sure was grand

When I come back here next year

I wanna see you again

What was your name, little girl?

What’s your name?

Shootin’ you straight, little girl?

Well there ain’t no shame

What was your name, little girl?

What’s your name?

Shootin’ you straight, little girl?

Won’t you do the same?