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Lyric of the Day #18: “Cherub Rock” by The Smashing Pumpkins

15 Jun

“Freak out, And give in , Doesn’t matter what you thought you knew, Stay cool, And be somebody’s fool this year , ’cause they know ,Who is righteous, What is bold , So I’m told , Who wants honey, As long as there’s some money ,Who wants that honey?”

This is the first verse to The Smashing Pumpkins 1993 premiere single from their second studio album “Siamese Dream”.  To understand the lyrics to a song one must understand the title and a Cherub is a form of angel usually depicted as a little toddler in art.  But the lyrics still don’t really make sense, what does a song basically titled Angel Rock have to do with the first verse.  Well here’s verse two:

“Hipsters unite , Come align for the big fight to rock for you , But beware , All those angels, with their wings glued on , ’cause deep down , They are frightened and they’re scared , If you don’t stare”

Now the song is starting to make more sense, if you put the two verses together the lyrics are describing the battle between bands artistic visions and the record companies that are trying to rope them into their label to profit form them.  the best line in those two verses I find is “But beware, All those angels with their wings glued on” which implies that the bands are coerced by agents who seem nice at first but it’s only an act, hence the glued on wings.  The chorus is also has a very deep meaning, “Who wants honey, as long as there’s some money” is a reference to the record companies tempting the bands with all the fame and fortune but only if they are brining in money for the company which reflects the bands feelings of being used by their label (Virgin Records). 

The ending lyrics is lead singer Billy Corgan (also known for other projects including Zwan and his solo career both during The Smashing Pumpkins 6 year (200-2006) hiatus) repeating over a few times “Let Me Out” which implies that he is aware of the record labels corrupting but can’t really do anything about it since he wouldn’t be able to perform and record without their help.  Now a days it’s easier for bands to survive without a huge record label backing them since there are so many indie labels around so it is easier for a band to find the label that suits them the best instead of being forced to side with just one because they are being offered a contract at that time.

Song of the Day #18: “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” by Iron Butterfly

15 Jun

                A very happy 66th birthday to Lee Dorman who over 41 years ago played bass on the iconic track, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” with his significant band Iron Butterfly. Don’t know the song? Well, I bet you the know the famous minor-key riff. The guitar and bass ostinato (musical phrase that repeats over the same musical voice). The haunting and endless basis for the guitar and organ solos that extend the song to an incredible 17 minutes and 5 seconds. The song that occupies the entire second side of their 1968 album, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” which was released on June 14th, 1968 (41 years and one day ago).

          The song has been featured in numerous television programs like the Simpsons, in commercials like a Castrol commercial In-A-Gadda-Da-Vidathat debuted during the Superbowl and in movies like High Fidelity. It has also been covered by bands from The Incredible Bongo Band in 1973 to Slayer in 1987 (That is one interesting match-up. I pride myself in possibly being the only one ever to mention both of those bands in the same sentence). So what is the cause for the hype around this one song. Well, for one, it is an insanely catchy and relatively easy riff that can fit well into television, commercial, or movie scenes. Secondly, the story behind the name has simply made the song more iconic.

                There are a few different versions of the story but this one came from the liner notes of the newer 1995 version of the album. According to the notes, singer Doug Ingle was drunk when he first told the drummer Ron Bushy the title of the song. The title which originally was, “In the Garden of Eden.” Bushy wrote down what he heard and this created the mondegreen(a misheard phrase commonly found in a song). After Ingle sobered up Bushy showed him what he wrote down and the drunken slurred title stuck. Just like that a classic was made. The title just gives the deep riff an even more heavy metal feel. One must understand, this was 1968. Heavy Metal was in its infant stages and bands like Blue Cheer, Steppenwolf and Iron Butterfly were experimenting with taking psychedelic music and producing it with more of a heavy metal touch.

              Fun Fact. The song was crowned as the 24th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1

Links of the Day: Paul McCartney

15 Jun

         

See You in July

See You in July

             An early birthday present was bestowed upon me this morning in my search for Paul McCartney tickets. As many of you may already know Paul is coming to Citi Field (The Mets new ballpark) to perform the first concert at the stadium. He will be celebrating the new structure and honoring the 44th anniversary of The Beatles historic Shea Stadium (Mets old ballpark) show. Tickets went on sale today at 10:00 a.m. I was on my computer ready to go at 9:55. Here is the story.

          100 dollars a ticket was the target price. My brother, my father, and I were the three tickets. Immediately, as the clock struck 10:00 a.m, I was on the site (507tixx.com) and clicking best avaliable for the July 17th date. Paul is coming the 17th and the 18th (my birthday, this is why it is an early birthday gift). The best avaliable tickets took me towards 175 dollar tickets and because for anybody (unless there was a Pink Floyd reunion with Richard Wright rising from the grave) this price is absurd I dropped the tickets and looked for the target 100 dollar price. Epic fail. They all sold out and slipped through my fingers like sand. My oppurtunity to see Paul for the first time in the greatest venue was shot down. We decided we would look on stubhub, but, there is a fantastic chance worse tickets will be going for 175 dollars. So, we simply gave up. But, here is when things get interesting.

                 I decided to go on five minutes later just for the heck of it. Then, like a light at the end of a long, musicless tunnel I saw it. July 21’st added to the once two shows. I flew on like a man on a mission and clicked my way to 100 dollar tickets. On the 21’st of July we shall be sitting in section 121, row 13 and I am, like I was for Clapton and Winwood, quite psyched. So, to honor the good luck I thought I would provide you guys with an awesome link of Paul and various other musicians like Elton John, Sting, Phil Collins and Eric Clapton performing “Hey Jude” in support of the people of Montserrat. Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCwQiIqWpRY