Rock 'n' Drool
We talk about so much more than politics around these parts. We talk movies, complain about television, and we have a Song of the Day, a Song of the Week and a Song from Moment-To-Moment. We even do history (guilty) and sports (guiltier).
So let's get the anger and the animus out of the way. I hate beating around the bush, so let's just say it, get it over with and lay our cards on the table: Rock 'n' Roll sucks. It ages like milk.
There's nothing like a 69-year-old Mick Jagger warbling "I can't get no satisfaction." Are you kidding? At that age just getting up in the morning is satisfying. And with the way he's treated his body, he's lucky he still wakes up at all.
And many of them don't. The number 27 has taken on an almost mystical quality in the annals of Rockdom since that seems to be the age so many of them keel over and die from their narcissistic and hedonistic lifestyles.
With it's crudity and youth-centric themes, neither the rocker or his music translates well over the decades.
At age 69, Frank Sinatra could still belt out a Cole Porter tune. Sammy Davis could handle Birth of the Blues 'til the day he died. A man near his seventh decade cannot sing "Sometimes I'm sexy, move like a stud..." and keep his dignity.
It's also difficult to maintain your rebel street cred while accepting a knighthood from the Queen, like Sir Mick, Sir Paul and Sir Elton.
So let the bashing begin. Lance can lash and Mr. Escalante can "Vandalize" me to his heart's content. Besides, it's time for my oatmeal and vitamin shot...
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Comments:
Jul '11
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
I think old rockers are cool even when they drool. A couple of relatively famous ones are friends. Here is my favorite though.
Neil Young - Rockin' In The Free World
Jun '10
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
The photo caption is unfair. Sinatra looked better at 69 than Mick Jagger did at 23.
Aug '11
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
Don't forget the lamb embryo-essence injections!
Sep '10
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
Led Zeppelin kicks Frank Sinatra's butt, and then gives him a wedgie. Many more Americans agree with me than with you.
Aug '11
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
I was just listening to Johnny Cash's last album - his voice is a bit rough but he was making great music (not just revisiting old tunes) up until the end.
Dec '10
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
There's nothing sadder than a former arena rocker playing the casinos.
Apr '12
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
Bach is holding his own at 327, Antonio Vivaldi at 334, Alessandro Scarlatti at 352. I doubt that the Chairman will last so long. Will the Rolling Stones be played in 300 years?
Nov '11
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
I dislike the older Sinatra, there's a sort of macho, almost vulgar undertone to his voice by then, completely different from the vulnerability and innocence of his voice in the 40s and 50s. Vulgar is the wrong word, I guess, but there's an edge to it I don't like. It's understandable, of course, since he did a lot of living in between, but I like him before he got so worldly.
And yes, down with rock'n'roll, bring back Gershwin!
May '10
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
As rock'n'roll as I get.
Nov '11
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
My theory, which is probably totally wrong but is mine so I like it, is that country music is the true heir to the popular music of the 40s and 50s. The emphasis on melody, and intelligent/fun lyrics, and old fashioned American values, that you'd find in Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters, and company, have far more in common with today's country music than with our popular music, which was taken over by rock and rap. The adult pop music tradition lives on, then, you just have to look past the 'mainstream' pop charts to the country stations.
Sep '10
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
I worry about the aging members of the band Limp Bizkit.
Dec '10
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
Sorry EJ - you've gone over the edge. Frank Sinatra never sang on key in his life.
Mar '11
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
At the risk of being excoriated for liking a series of albums that have been pretty much panned, I'll admit I like the Rod Stewart of the Great American Songbook as much as I liked him when we were both in our twenties in the heyday of Faces.
Mar '11
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
Are you out of your mind? His sense of pitch and timing were without equal.
Feb '12
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
I loved this post. My mom still goes to see Rod Stewart. It's embarrassing for everyone involved. She also still goes to see Willie Nelson, which is a good thing.
Jul '11
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
My 17 yr old sang back up vocals a couple months ago for Foreigner. He described the casino audience as nice old drunk people and the band as nice old dudes. Man I'm getting old.
Jul '11
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
Ditto.
May '10
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
GreatAd - Sinatra was never my favorite. I often cringed at the lackadaisical approach he took toward a lyric at times. However, he surrounded himself with the best arrangers the world has ever known.
May '10
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
Let's stipulate that there are few performers that quit the stage in time. (Madonna running around the stage at the Superbowl would be another fine exhibit and she even looks good for her age.)
But EJ you have confused the performer with the music and I would contend that the music holds its own as well as any popular genre. (There was plenty of schlock from der Bingo's day that has gracefully retreated since.)
Still Sinatra had style and with the odd exception of a Jim Croce tune, knew what suited. He wasn't singing "Oh Look at Me Now" in his 80's, but "Lady is a Tramp," "Angel Eyes," and "One for the Road" translated quite well.
Aug '10
Re: Rock 'n' Drool
One picture is worth a thousand months.