Tuesday, January 17, 2012

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?

12 comments:

  1. When I saw Reverend Horton Heat a couple years ago they did a medley of covers spanning decades of music, going even farther back than this. It was fantastic. Hearing the Reverend cover Black Sabbath was pretty awesome.

    As for your Misfits choice there, you are treading on dangerous ground, my friend. "True" Misfits fans don't even acknowledge the Misfits period you are referencing with this song. The era when Glenn Danzig was the singer is the only one they accept, and this song is post-Danzig, post-lawsuit. However, I like the lineup in this song, and the album it is on, Famous Monsters, is a lot of fun.

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  2. Your wide range of knowledge dwarfs mine! I haven't heard much of any of this, although I do like DAni Callifornia.

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  3. How is it I like Funk and 80's hair bands.

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  4. California Dreamin' is one of my favorite songs and this version just leaves me speechless (in a good way). How in the world did they think to do that song???

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  5. Chris: There are some Horton Heat songs that I like, Martini Time and their wicked cover of Jonny Quest.

    I've heard of Glenn Danzig only during his commercial metal heyday, so I know nothing of his previous life and lawsuits. But I can understand how "true" fans of the band consider the original lineup to be the best (another good example would be AC/DC).

    I will keep an eye out for that particular album/c.d. in question, as I'm always open to different types of music.

    Charles: I find that hard to believe, but I thank you for the compliment.

    Bearman: I'm slowly starting to enjoy/appreciate funk, which is mainly due to the Parliament/Funkadelic conglomo and Bootsy Collins (yes, I have an album of his as well), as well as some of the smaller college/high school radio stations play it as well.

    We all have our dirty little musical secrets. :D

    Mine happens to be country music from the 60's/70's.

    Lynn: I'm always drawn to strange covers of 60's music and this was one of the strangest ones that I've come across. Glad you find this one to your liking.

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  6. I love the Sex Pistols! I only have the one official release - I'll totally check out the other albums you mentioned. I actually saw Horton Heat as an opening act for Smashing Pumpkins ages ago and wasn't really impressed.

    And I *have to* know: there is really a band called Gerry and The Pacemakers?

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  7. R: Yes, there really is a band called Gerry and the Pacemakers.

    They were part of the British Invasion of the 60's, along with the Dave Clark 5, Herman's Hermits, and the Swinging Blue Jeans, just to name a few.

    The bootleg might be a little difficult to find as I bought it in the late 80's, but good luck in finding the others.

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  8. I always love new music recommendations. Thanks for these. Good to hear something from the 60's besides the Beatles.

    Sarah Allen
    (my creative writing blog)

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  9. Sarah: You're more than welcome. I always thought that the British Invasion was pretty cool but they never played enough of it on the radio.

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  10. Wow, that Gerry and the Pacemakers video is something else. What a band name. Also, Casey Kasem. Man, blast from the past.

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  11. As I much I love Elvis Presley's music, I'm also a big fan of Bill Haley and his Comets too. I think "Rock Around The Clock" is just a timeless classic, as is Hound Dog of course too.

    I can't stand the 60's swing beat music, including the Beatles. I have no idea why, it just has never worked for me.

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  12. ABFtS: Thanks for stopping by to comment.

    Yeah, Casey Kasem is definitely a blast from the past. I think most people forget that he's still around doing his radio show.

    As for Gerry and the Pacemakers, the monikers back then were more original than functional. But the music was really good.

    Joey: I like "Rock Around The Clock" very much. Wasn't sure if I could find a decent video for it, which is why I went for Elvis instead.

    For the Beatles, their early stuff really doesn't do much for me as much as their later stuff does. And the rest of the British invasion stuff I never really got to listen to in-depth, beyond what few compilations I used to listen to.

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G. B. Miller

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