I was recently perusing through the relentless abyss of internet musical commentary when I decided to check out one of the ultimate staples in entertainment journalism, Rolling Stone. The website posted a super neato ranking of the modern queens of pop, with selection determined by readers.
First of all, I want to shake the hand of whoever is responsible for placing Sir Elton John as number 9 on the list, comfortably one spot away from Mariah Carey at number 10. Kudos to you good madame(s) or sir(s), kudos to you.
Ultimately, the content of this list, in my opinion, was pretty solid . The sequencing was a little odd though-Aretha Franklin was at 6…Britney Spears at number 3. But this can be chalked up to the fact that the list was derived from a reader’s poll, in which case reply variance can always produce some weird twists.
Overall Queen Madge is well deserving of the number one spot. Yeah she may not be a vocalist in the same league of Aretha, but the lady pretty much invented, or at least greatly defined, modern pop as we know it today. As stated by Rolling Stone, “Sure, her last few albums didn’t match up to the classics. Nobody cares. She’s Madonna”. They are certainly right. At this point, Madonna could maitntain her iconic status even while fading into obscurity at Bora Bora.
Madonna on a horse, just because.
Madonna is currently working on a much anticipated 12th album, proof that living legends can indeed maintain a perpetual cultural relevance.
Hopefully you all enjoyed your Fourth of July weekend. Now that we are all back to being fully ensconced in the drudgery of life without reckless barbecues and fireworks play, I think it is a good time to reveal the answers to the Fourth of July Music Trivia Game. If you still want to play, go and answer these questions prior to reading this post Unfortunately, I cannot crown a winner this week because no one commented on the post with their name and answers. Perhaps I will create a better way to crown the winners in the future without making individuals comment on the post. I can still post up the answers and tell you all how you did. Let me commend everyone who played for all getting the first question correct. The national anthem did indeed come from a British Drinking Song (the one below to be exact).
Credit to the Georgia Tech Glee Club for the rendition. While there was a 100 percent success rate on the first question, things did not go as well for the other three questions. Let’s answer them one by one.
2.) I want to know what American musician gave Randy California his stage name?
The popular choice was Jim Morrison. It does make sense in both the geographical and time aspects. California received his nickname in 1966 and the Doors formed in 1965. But despite the links, Morrison did not give Randy his nickname. Jimi Hendrix, who met Randy at a guitar store in NYC, gave him the nickname of California when he joined Hendrix’s short-lived 1966 band, The Blue Flames. The band, which also featured bassist Randy Palmer, had a slight same-name problem that Hendrix solved by giving each Randy a nickname based by where they came from. Palmer became Randy Texas and Randy Wolfe became Randy California. Congrats to those who got this question correct
3.) Jimmy Page is often cited as the originator of using a violin bow on a guitar, but this is incorrect information. Who was the true FIRST guitarist to popularize this practice?
I admit, this was a bit of a trick question. But I’m glad I asked it, because it just exposes the unfortunate anonymity of the guitarist who started this inventive trend and also still serves as a great guitarist. Eddie Phillips did not receive a single vote, but he is the correct answer. Jimmy Page was inspired to strike the guitar with a violin bow by David Lindley, a multi-instrumentalist who did indeed experiment with this practice, but did so after Eddie Phillips started. There is the slight catch. Phillips first played the guitar with a violin bow in his pre-Creation band The Mark Four. With the Creation, Phillips mastered the playing style and used it in several popular recordings.
4.) Newman vocalist/keyboardist John “Speedy” Keen worked as a chauffeur for a famous British band who’s guitarist thanked Keen by creating the band around him to showcase his work. What was that band?
Most votes went to the Rolling Stones, but “Speedy” Keen was not driving around Mick and Keith. Instead, Keen chauffeured Pete, Roger, John and a probably intoxicated Keith Moon. Townshend, a good ear for talent, gave Keen the opportunity and man did they strike gold with “Something in the Air.” Enjoy!
When you mention Coldplay you often get an eye-roll or a noticeable disapproving grunt. I know I have mentioned this phenomenon before on the blog and, while it seems that I always preface a Coldplay-related post with a disclaimer, I am generally bemused by Coldplay’s treatment. Yes, I do understand, that they are laughing all the way to the bank, and perhaps their mainstream economically succesful status may be a drawback for some, but Coldplay definitely odes not deserve the rap it gets. Their new single “Moving to Mars,” which appears on a three-song EP foreshadowing their new studio album’s Fall release, demonstrates the continuing maturation of this piano pop/rock juggernaut.
Chris Martin has an excellent voice with broad range. “Moving to Mars” is a soft piano piece that represents sincere simplicity and portrays Martin’s range. The melody is ingenuous and not at all gaudy (a label that some of Coldplay’s songs receive). The song is inventive and this is much appreciated. It’s keyboard driven filler portions alludes to some prog-rock conventions of the 1970s. Also, for a plus-four minute song, it moves quickly. Well done.
John McVie? Isn’t he the bassist from Fleetwood Mac? Absolutely. But he wasn’t always in Fleetwood Mac. Welcome John McVie into this week’s installment of “Same Artist, Different Place.”
McVie got his start by playing in High School with a cover band. This has become an almost hackneyed opening to all musician stories, but High School cover bands are truly the way that most famous musicians get started. So the lesson here is to seek out the talented musicians in your High School (like McVie) and latch on to their band. Can’t play an instrument? No matter, be their manager or something. Let’s get back to reality.
McVie played music from the Shadows with his band Krewsaders until leaving school at 17 for tax inspector training. Music, at that time, became a side hobby until bassist Cliff Barton turned down a part in a new Chicago-blues style band called John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers and suggested that Mayall give McVie an audition. Mayall listened and was impressed with McVie. So, Mcvie, with no formal training in music, was accepted into the Bluesbreakers. Mayall gave him albums from B.B. King and other blues musicians to study.
Before Fleetwood Mac, there was the Bluesbreakers, who would later become known as a talented platform band, where English musicians went before becoming famous with other acts (kind of like The Yardbirds). Musicians like Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, “Sugarcane” Harris, Andy Fraser and Aynsley Dunbar played with the band. The band was exceptionally talented and it sustained itself with tremendously talented musicians.
After Clapton and Bruce left the Bluesbreakers (they would later form Cream), Mayall added guitarist Peter Green in 1966 and soon after added drummer Mick Fleetwood. I bet you see where this is going. McVie developed a great relationship with Green and Fleetwood and after Green was replaced by Mick Taylor he started a new band which he called Fleetwood Mac, after his beloved rhythm section of Fleetwood and McVie. It didn’t take too much convincing to get Fleetwood over to the new band and after McVie became dissatisfied with Bluesbreaker’s move towards Jazz he joined the new band in 1967.
The rest is history.
Here is McVie playing “All Your Love” with the Bluesbreakers (Eric Clapton on guitar).
I don’t talk about U2 much on this blog because I admit I am not the biggest U2 fan. They are just not exactly my cup of tea. That being said, I still recognize them as a fantastic band and lead singer Bono as one of the better frontmen ever. But I feel the need to post about them today after watching an inspirational and extremely heart-warming video from their recent concert in Nashville.
After U2 finished the concert and took a bow, Bono noticed a blind man in the crowd holding up a sign reading that he wanted to play a song for his wife. Many musicians, especially those who can sell out massive arenas, would most likely ignore the sign, throw a piece of memorabilia in the stands and then walk off stage to the catered post-show dinner. But, not Bono. Bono walked to the man and asked him what he would like to play. The blind man’s answer was “All I Want Is You.” Bono preceded to help the man onto the stage and provide him with his custom-made acoustic guitar to play. First Bono, and then all of U2 played “All I Want Is You” as the self-proclaimed nervous fan (I think I understand his jitters) strummed the chords on the acoustic. After the song, the man attempts to give Bono his guitar back, but Bono placed it back into the fan’s hands and told him to keep it. What a special moment.
That is beyond classy, it’s noble. It demonstrates Bono’s level-headed kindness. Star musicians like Bono can provide fans with lifelong stories through small, kind actions. Bono, though, took it a bit further, and for that he gets a standing ovation from me.
The Music Court 