Surreal moment of the week, month, and maybe the year: I’m flipping between the NASCAR race and some NFL game (Houston vs. Jacksonville, I think) and on one of the outros going to commercial, the music playing over the NFL graphics was the Morrissey song, “Every Day is Like Sunday.” Not exactly a song I’d associate with big sweaty muscular men running into each other for large sums of money….
Since I’ve been humming the song all afternoon now, here’s the original video for the song, which appeared on the former Smiths singer’s debut solo album Viva Hate in 1988.
If you look it up on Wikipedia it already contains a reference to its usage by the NFL, so it seems I’m a little late to the surreal-ization, I suppose.
Around here, we’re getting into back-to-school mode with the kids, which gives me another excuse for a list of great songs—this time, school-related.
“Be True To Your School,” Beach Boys
A fine example of the squeaky clean pop harmonies that are a Beach Boys trademark, this is about as saccharine a sentiment as you’ll hear about school, complete with a piece of the Univeristy of Wisconsin’s fight song in the middle.
“Wonderful World,”Sam Cooke
Now this is a more honest-sounding tune, with the narrator using his lack of knowledge about school subjects like history to contrast that with his love for a girl. If school’s not for picking up girls, what’s it for, right?
“Catholic Schoolgirls Rule,” Red Hot Chili Peppers
Speaking of picking up girls…anyone who ever dated a catholic school girl (my brother married one) knows of what this song speaks.
The Headmaster Ritual, The Smiths
You want realism in music, here’s a horrific example of a school experience nobody would want to have. At least it’s a great song.
High School Confidential, Jerry Lee Lewis
All the best school songs are from the 50s and 60s, and this is one of the Killer’s best, period.
Hot For Teacher, Van Halen
Who hasn’t had a crush on at least one teacher in their lives?
Another Brick in the Wall, Part II, Pink Floyd
The anti-school anthem: “We don’t need no education…”
Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, The Ramones
Maybe they could make rock ‘n’ roll magnet schools, like they do for science or arts…then you really could have a Rock ‘n’ Roll High School.
School’s Out, Alice Cooper
The classic end-of-school anthem.
School Is Out, School Is In, Gary U.S. Bonds
60’s teenybopper star Bonds covered both ends of the school year with these two singles, making certain he’d be on the radio as school started and as it ended.
The passing of rock ‘n’ roll originator Bo Diddley today marks the loss of one of the artists who defined what the music would sound like. His trademark, primal rhythm, that went, “Bomp—Bomp—Bomp—Bomp-Bomp,” was one of the building blocks of early rock, and it has remained an influential beat. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1987, you can read his entry on the Hall’s website here. Here, then, is a list of ten songs I like that use the “Bo Diddley Beat.” There are thousands out there (Just check out Diddley’s Wikipedia entry for a few dozen of them), so leave a comment with your own favorites.
“Not Fade Away,” Buddy Holly – Covered by everyone from the Grateful Dead to Springsteen, this is probably the best known non-Diddley use of his beat.
“She’s The One,”Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band – Bruce’s finest album is arguably Born To Run, on which he combined his love for 50’s rock with an equal affection for the grand 60’s production style of Phil Spector. This song steals unapologetically from Diddley.
“Willie & The Hand Jive,”Johnny Otis, Eric Clapton, others – This tune recognized the playful nature of the beat and gave it lyrics to match.
“Magic Carpet Ride,”Steppenwolf – John Kay and company were a garage band gone wild, and this swirling masterpiece of Hammond organ gets its energy from Diddley’s beat.
“Magic Bus,” The Who – The British were ahead of the curve when it came to recognizing the potency of the early rock ‘n’ roll pioneers (See the Rolling Stones’ take on “Not Fade Away” ), this is a great example of that potency put to psychedelic use.
“I Want Candy,” Bow Wow Wow (originally done by the Strangeloves)– One of the unforgettable one-hit wonders on the border of punk and New Wave, even a supposedly ‘hip’ MTV-era act had to borrow from the best.
“Faith,”George Michael – Say what you will about Wham! and Michael’s well documented offstage escapades, this hit was the best thing he ever did.
“Desire,” U2 – Their Rattle and Hum album was a tribute to American rock and blues, and who better to honor than Bo Diddley, with this Bono-ization of the beat?
“Love Is A Battlefield,” Pat Benetar – The beat’s a little buried in the mix, but it surfaces at all the right places on this 80’s hit from pop queen Benetar. I once had an extended 12” single of this song on which one side was just the beat, over and over again.
“How Soon Is Now,”The Smiths – Ubiquitous on the college radio airwaves of the mid-1980s, this Smiths song slows the beat down, but even at half speed it dominates the track.
