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Music Meme (from shadowkat67)
May. 24th, 2018 10:53 amTalk about pop music? Any time, all day long....
1. Beatles or Stones?
The Stones' great strength is the combination of Keith's rock solid blues guitar and Mick's preening peacock voice and stage presence. Attempts to vary that formula have rarely worked, especially after Brian Jones--their expert in exotic instrumentation--left/was kicked off the band. ("Some Girls" may have been their most successful formula shakeup.)
The Stones are essential, but basically two dimensional. The Beatles, OTOH, could--and did--do anything and everything. Not everything was perfect, but the diversity of musical styles was breathtaking.
2. Heart or Queen?
Ann and Nancy are wonderful. (Their cover of "Stairway to Heaven" is the only version of the song I can still listen to.) But Queen was just a phenomenal band, all four members talented musicians and songwriters. There is nobody who plays guitar like Brian May. There will never be another Freddie Mercury. See the movie in October.
3. Nirvana or Coldplay?
Other than "Viva la Vida," Coldplay bores me stiff. And if you think all Cobain could do was make noise, listen to the acoustic "About a Boy" from MTV Unplugged. He was the real deal.
4. Prince or Michael Jackson?
Prince. By ten miles. (My son would disagree, though.)
5. The Who or Pink Floyd?
Since Floyd's 70s output would have been impossible without the Who's experiments in theater and concept albums and their incorporation of synthesizers, give this one to Townshend and Co. But beyond that, the Who's songs simply connect with me more on an emotional level.
6. Eagles or ABBA?
Bjorn and Benny wrote some truly kickass melodies, but I love listening to the Eagles play together as a band. (Next time you cue up the full "Hotel California," skip the lyrics and go to the two minute coda. If you can somehow get past Joe Walsh's brain melting guitar solo, focus on Henley's drumming and Randy Meisner's bass. These guys can PLAY.)
7. Lady Gaga or Madonna?
Never liked Madge all that much. To me, "Bad Romance" blows away most of Madonna's back catalogue. Gaga has more vocal range. (I do like "Live to Tell," though.)
8. Fleetwood Mac or Wings?
Paul McCartney has forgotten more about songwriting than all the members of Fleetwood Mac ever knew. But Mac's blend of personalities--Christine's modest songbird, Nicks' witchy woman and Buckingham's control freak--are a highly entertaining study in group dynamics and interpersonal angst. (It's been over 40 years since Rumors, and they're STILL fighting!)
9. Leonard Cohen or Paul Simon?
10. David Bowie or Bob Dylan?
I usually enjoy Cohen and Dylan songs when somebody else sings them. (See: Jennifer Warnes' album of Cohen covers, Famous Blue Raincoat.) Simon and Bowie are the more enjoyable performers.
1. Beatles or Stones?
The Stones' great strength is the combination of Keith's rock solid blues guitar and Mick's preening peacock voice and stage presence. Attempts to vary that formula have rarely worked, especially after Brian Jones--their expert in exotic instrumentation--left/was kicked off the band. ("Some Girls" may have been their most successful formula shakeup.)
The Stones are essential, but basically two dimensional. The Beatles, OTOH, could--and did--do anything and everything. Not everything was perfect, but the diversity of musical styles was breathtaking.
2. Heart or Queen?
Ann and Nancy are wonderful. (Their cover of "Stairway to Heaven" is the only version of the song I can still listen to.) But Queen was just a phenomenal band, all four members talented musicians and songwriters. There is nobody who plays guitar like Brian May. There will never be another Freddie Mercury. See the movie in October.
3. Nirvana or Coldplay?
Other than "Viva la Vida," Coldplay bores me stiff. And if you think all Cobain could do was make noise, listen to the acoustic "About a Boy" from MTV Unplugged. He was the real deal.
4. Prince or Michael Jackson?
Prince. By ten miles. (My son would disagree, though.)
5. The Who or Pink Floyd?
Since Floyd's 70s output would have been impossible without the Who's experiments in theater and concept albums and their incorporation of synthesizers, give this one to Townshend and Co. But beyond that, the Who's songs simply connect with me more on an emotional level.
6. Eagles or ABBA?
Bjorn and Benny wrote some truly kickass melodies, but I love listening to the Eagles play together as a band. (Next time you cue up the full "Hotel California," skip the lyrics and go to the two minute coda. If you can somehow get past Joe Walsh's brain melting guitar solo, focus on Henley's drumming and Randy Meisner's bass. These guys can PLAY.)
7. Lady Gaga or Madonna?
Never liked Madge all that much. To me, "Bad Romance" blows away most of Madonna's back catalogue. Gaga has more vocal range. (I do like "Live to Tell," though.)
8. Fleetwood Mac or Wings?
Paul McCartney has forgotten more about songwriting than all the members of Fleetwood Mac ever knew. But Mac's blend of personalities--Christine's modest songbird, Nicks' witchy woman and Buckingham's control freak--are a highly entertaining study in group dynamics and interpersonal angst. (It's been over 40 years since Rumors, and they're STILL fighting!)
9. Leonard Cohen or Paul Simon?
10. David Bowie or Bob Dylan?
I usually enjoy Cohen and Dylan songs when somebody else sings them. (See: Jennifer Warnes' album of Cohen covers, Famous Blue Raincoat.) Simon and Bowie are the more enjoyable performers.
