Exploring Rhythm And Melody

No, we're not exploring Big Audio Dynamite today, but we are exploring rhythm and melody.

For those of you who have been seriously long term readers of this blog (like since 2009), you may remember my very first foray into writing fiction with blatant sex in it. The story itself was inspired by the song Dani California by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Now, even though the Peppers came to video relatively late (early 90's), they have made some truly interesting conceptual videos. For instance, the video for the song What's Your Story? features all kinds of local bands telling their story and then playing with the Peppers. For Californication, they did it as a conceptual video game.

However, the video done for Dani California is the reason as to why I'm writing this strange little post today. Instead of telling a story, they decided to touch upon different types of music/artists from the past 60 years of rock music.

Now for someone who came extremely late in listening to the type of music presented in this video, this was actually a cool thing. Most of the genres/artists presented in this video I've never really listened to, only read about. Some of them were easy enough for me identify, but a couple others took quite a while (like a year) to identify.

So, without further ado, Cedar's Mountain is proud to present to, a slight musical interlude. The artists that you're about to see videos on, are presented in the same order that the video shows them. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did searching for them.

1} 50's rock: This was a no-brainer as they gave you a choice of Bill Haley or Elvis. I choose Elvis and his song Hound Dog.

2} British Invasion: This was also a no-brainer as they gave you the visual of The Beatles. Since the British Invasion was more than just the Beatles, I chose their stablemates Gerry and The Pacemakers, doing the song How Do You Do It?

3} 60's Psychedelic: Another no-brainer as Anthony Kiedis pulls off a very decent impersonation of Jimi Hendrix. Thus, we have the song Are You Exprienced?

4} 70's Funk: Another no-brainer (seems a bit redundant, don't it?) as the example given was from George Clinton's Parliament/Funkadelic conglomo. The song is Bring The Funk, which to me sort of matches what the Peppers were doing in the video.

5} 70's proto-punk: The only previous exposure that I had to the New York Dolls was through the various articles about the New York music scene; David Johannson; and a fantastic documentary on the late Arthur "Killer" Kane. The song is Jet Boy

6} 70's U.K. punk: The Sex Pistols were the first punk band that I had any kind of exposure to and became the second band that I enjoy listening to and acquiring music of (I have four albums: reissue of "Never Mind The Bollocks"; a compilation called "Flogging A Dead Horse"; soundtrack to the movie "The Great Rock & Roll Swindle"; and a bootleg recorded in Texas on their one and only North American tour). Since some people might still have a strong opinion about the Sex Pistols, I chose not post a video clip on them.

7} 80's California punk/metal: This one was a lot harder to figure out and it took me well over a year to connect the dots. Fortunately, the fetid medium of television provided the answer for me. I was watching an episode of "L.A. Ink" when a drummer for the band The Misfits came in wanting a tattoo on his neck. Once they showed a picture of him performing with his band, all of it fell into place. The video you're about see is called Scream and I'm guessing that it's based on the horror movie of the same name. Because of that, viewer discretion is strongly advised and actively encouraged.

8} 80's hair metal: Love hair metal. Hair metal is the modern equivalent of country music featuring the cowboy hat, cowboy boot, jeans and poppy electric guitar. Lots of bands to choose from, so my choice is Cinderella's Shelter Me

9} Seattle grunge: Anthony Kiedis pulls off a dead ringer impersonation of Kurt Cobain. My favorite Nirvana song is In Bloom

10} Modern rock: Betcha thought I was gonna post another Pepper's video or another Nirvana or even Pearl Jam. HAH!!!! Instead, here's a song called California Dreamin' by the Japanese punk/metal band Hi-Standard.

One last point: I own either the 45 or the LP version of all the songs save 4, 5 & 7. I don't have #5 or #7 and I may have #4 buried somewhere in my record collection.

Yeah, I'm strange, but my family and friends wouldn't have it any other way. Would you?