- It totally has a Bluesy feel, but it has the more aggressive rock feel too. An old school blues artist said something to the effect that the Blues had a baby and called it Rock and Roll. To me, a legit Rock song needs some a little Blues.
- Not only does it have the "Bo Diddley beat," but he actually comes out and says that he's got the Bo Diddley beat. Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry were more influential to the development of Rock and Roll than Elvis, even though they don't get the mad props that Elvis does. (If you don't know what the "Bo Diddley beat" is, you need to look it up.)
- Chuck Berry, aside from being an amazing guitarist and a crafty lyricist, was able to produces songs that appealed to the youth of America. George Thorogood performs Who Do You Love? with that same rebel reckless abandon that embodies Rock and Roll, like when he says, "just 22 baby I don't mind dying." It's what Rock is all about.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
What Song Embodies Rock and Roll?
While driving around this weekend, listening to music, I had a realization. I love the song, Who Do You Love? by George Thorogood, because it is the embodiment of rock and roll to me. Here's a link for a TINY sample of it from amazon, link. It's number 2 on the list, and it really doesn't do it justice. It's totally worth the 99cent download from Itunes, but I am biased. And, yes, I know that this is originally a Bo Diddley song, and that it's been covered by an army of other musicians, some of whom are arguably more famous/successful that George Thorogood, but that doesn't change anything for me. For me, this song is what Rock and Roll is all about, and here are my reasons:
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I love your "about me" :) Anyway, after considering a number of Madonna's classics, I have chosen my ULTIMATE rock song of all time. I can't really back it up, but I think it speaks for itself.
ReplyDelete"Not Fade Away" by Buddy Holly.
p.s.- my overall favorite song of all time is "In your eyes" by Peter Gabriel...or "Fast Car" by Tracey Chapman...or "Requim Mass" by Mozart...or a million other ones. What is your favorite song?
Lori Ann,
ReplyDeleteAh, the mysterious appeal of the potential of Buddy Holly; in my opinion the original so geeky that he’s cool guy. You know the Beatles named their band in homage to Buddy Holly and the Crickets, two great bug bands, off course the Beatles used a clever little musical pun, changing beetle to beatle, but you get the idea.
Anyway, first off, I don’t dispute your assertion to Buddy Holly, but still request some legs for you claim.
Second, don’t go derailing my post asking about Top 3 songs. I’ll make that my next post for you, when ever I get around to doing another post, and you can comment on that post about your top 3, for now it’s just one, and it doesn’t need to be your favorite, just the one that embodies rock and roll for you.
McLean's "The Day the Music Died"embodies rock and roll not for it's sound but for the meaning behind the sound. It also embodies the movement behind rock and roll.
ReplyDeleteAha! I wondered when someone was going to get around to Don McLean and "The Day the Music Died." It ripped my heart out at the time -- I was in my early twenties -- but now, now I'd have to pick as my top three: 1) Jesse Winchester, "Third Rate Romance (Low Rent Rendezvous;" 2) Bruce Springsteen, "The Rising," and 3) Aretha Franklin, "Chain of Fools." Any number can place this game.
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