The very first concert I saw was… er, a very long time ago! Teenybop pop rockers Herman’s Hermits headlined the show, and the opening act was The Blues Magoos, performing their #5 Billboard hit, “(We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet”:
The Blues Magoos, from The Bronx, were early practitioners of psychedelic rock’n’roll, going so far as to name their debut album “Psychedelic Lollipop”. They were loud, heavy, and wore these electric suits that blinked on and off during their rendition of the classic “Tobacco Road”:
Even without the suits, they were pretty far out, man! The lineup consisted of Emil “Peppy Castro” Theilheim (vocals, rhythm guitar), Mike Esposito (lead guitar), Ralph Scala (organ), Ron Gilbert (bass), and Geoff Daking (drums). They made the rounds of all the TV shows, like AMERICAN BANDSTAND, THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS COMEDY HOUR , and the above clip from a Jack Benny-hosted episode of THE KRAFT…
I will readily admit that I am a child of the 80’s. I grew up listening to 80’s music whether it was metal (though I didn’t truly listen to them until the 90’s), rap all the way to synthpop and new wave which became quite popular during the decade with groups such as Depeche Mode, INXS, Duran Duran and The Cure. One band which I listened to quite a bit during the mid-80’s was the British new wave band Tears For Fears. It’s from this band that the latest “Song of the Day” comes from: “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”.
The song is actually an 80’s classic that has stood the test of time and musical taste. While many scoff and ridicule most of the pop songs which blew up during the 80’s this particular song from Tears For Fears was never one of them. While the song does have a foundation in the synthpop sound of the time the song itself doesn’t really sound like most of the 80’s pop music. The lyrics are socially aware without being too preachy. In fact, if one was to listen to the song now it’s original message of limitless optimism in the future for everyone actually sounds a bit selfish in today’s social climate.
The song has been covered quite a bit by many singers and bands of different stripes from such groups as The Dresden Dolls, Clare & The Reasons and Dru Hill right up to the pop punk band Care Bares on Fire whose cover was used during the end credits for Season 5, Episode 9 of True Blood.
Let this song kick-off my 80’s music revival and all of it due to the awesome inclusion of some classic 80’s pop tracks in the equally awesome and great new Netflix series, Stranger Things.
Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Welcome to your life There’s no turning back Even while we sleep We will find you acting on your best behavior Turn your back on Mother Nature Everybody wants to rule the world
It’s my own design It’s my own remorse Help me to decide Help me make the most Of freedom and of pleasure Nothing ever lasts forever Everybody wants to rule the world
There’s a room where the light won’t find you Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down When they do I’ll be right behind you So glad we’ve almost made it So sad they had to fade it Everybody wants to rule the world
I can’t stand this indecision Married with a lack of vision Everybody wants to rule the world Say that you’ll never never never never need it One headline why believe it? Everybody wants to rule the world
All for freedom and for pleasure Nothing ever lasts forever Everybody wants to rule the world
I think I’ve been saying that all day and it’s all because of a very catchy and classic hard rock song from my youth. It’s also the latest “Song of the Day” and marks another entry in the current series of great guitar solos.
“Rock You Like A Hurricane” by Scorpions was one of those rock songs during the 1980’s that really help propel a very good rock band into the next level of epicness (yes, that’s a word I decided is a real one). It was also a song that took advantage of the new visual media called music video to help market it to a much wider audience.
Many people tend to just fixate on the chorus of the song and tend to not remember the bulk of the songs lyrics. If they did they would realize it’s quite the raunchy bit of songwriting. The song is pretty much about someone looking to hook up and once partner has been chosen…well we know by the chorus how the encounter will develop and end up.
For a song about no-nonsense one-night stands it also has a classic guitar solo in the middle by lead guitarist Matthias Jabs that has been admired by listeners since the song’s inception. Jabs might not be as well known outside of the hard rock and heavy metal community, but his guitar playing talent was and is just as good as any of his contemporaries during the early 80’s.
Rock You Like A Hurricane
It’s early morning, the sun comes out Last night was shaking and pretty loud My cat is purring, it scratches my skin So what is wrong with another sin?
The bitch is hungry, she needs to tell So give her inches and feed her well More days to come, new places to go I’ve got to leave, it’s time for a show
Here I am Rock you like a hurricane Here I am Rock you like a hurricane
My body is burning, it starts to shout Desire is coming, it breaks out loud Lust is in cages till storm breaks loose Just have to make it with someone I choose
The night is calling, I have to go The wolf is hungry, he runs the show He’s licking his lips, he’s ready to win On the hunt tonight for love at first sting
Here I am Rock you like a hurricane (Are you ready, baby?) Here I am Rock you like a hurricane Here I am Rock you like a hurricane (Come on, come on, baby) Here I am Rock you like a hurricane
Rock you like a hurricane
(guitar solo)
It’s early morning, the sun comes out Last night was shaking and pretty loud My cat is purring, it scratched my skin So what is wrong with another sin?
The night is calling, I have to go The wolf is hungry, he runs the show He’s licking his lips, he’s ready to win On the hunt tonight for love at first sting
Here I am Rock you like a hurricane (Are you ready, baby?) Here I am Rock you like a hurricane Here I am Rock you like a hurricane (Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on) Here I am Rock you like a hurricane
Even though it’s a day late I should still include as the latest “Song of the Day” an epic song from the greatest rock band to come out of the Emerald Isle.
The band is Thin Lizzy. The song is “Róisín Dubh (Black Rose)”.
I would’ve added this song somewhere down in the future even if it didn’t have an awesome guitar solo that segues into dueling guitars during the middle section. Why you ask would I have added it well it’s because it’s Thin Lizzy and was a great marriage of traditional Celtic music with that very American folksy blues rock that was huge during the 1970’s.
Phil Lynott (R.I.P.) does an amazing job on bass and with the vocals (one of the best there ever was on the mic). Yet, the song soars once Gary Moore and Scott Gorham start battling it out in the middle section with an opening guitar solo and then both going at it.
So, yes it is a great addition to our ongoing “Greatest Guitar Solos” series within the “Song of the Day” feature.
Róisín Dubh
Tell me the legends of long ago When the kings and queens would dance in the realm of the Black Rose Play me their melodies I want to know So I can teach my children, oh
Pray tell me the story of young Cuchulainn How his eyes were dark his expression sullen And how he’d fight and always won And how they cried when he was fallen
Oh tell me the story of the Queen of this land And how her sons died at her own hand And how fools obey commands Oh tell me the legends of long ago
Where the mountains of Mourne come down to the sea Will she no come back to me Will she no come back to me
Oh Shenandoah I hear you calling Far away you rolling river All down the mountain side All around the green heather go lassie go
(dueling guitar solos)
Oh Tell me the legends of long ago When the kings and queens would dance in the realms of the Black Rose Play me their melodies so I might know So I can tell my children, oh
My Roisin Dubh is my one and only true love It was a joy that Joyce brought to me While William Butler waits And Oscar, he’s going Wilde
Ah sure, Brendan where have you Behan? Looking for a girl with green eyes My dark Rosaleen is my only colleen That Georgie knows Best
But Van is the man Starvation once again Drinking whiskey in the jar-o Synge’s Playboy of the Western World
As Shaw, Sean I was born and reared there Where the Mountains of Mourne come down to the sea It’s such a long, long way from Tipperary
Through the Shattered Lens 