Old music with a timely message.

1. 60

   lisafwg01posted 14 years ago

   Last night we decided to break out the old record collection. Thanks to a nicely working turntable we spent hours walking (dancing..and singing badly) down memory lane. I had forgotten how much I really love listening to albums. CDs are great, but they're just not the same..
   
   Anyway, the lyrics of a 1969 Steppenwolf song that I haven't heard for years really struck me. Read these lyrics and tell me that this song doesn't perfectly illustrate the old adage that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. In my opinion, this song could have been written in 2009 instead of 1969!
   
   I firmly believe that they don't make music like this (or any of the other albums we listened to last night) any more. Today's music is mostly just synthetic noise, IMO.
   
   One question though...when, exactly, did I turn into my father????
   
   ***********
   
   
   
   
   Once the religious, the hunted and weary
   Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
   Came to this country to build a new vision
   Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope
   Like good Christians, some would burn the witches
   Later some got slaves to gather riches
   
   But still from near and far to seek America
   They came by thousands to court the wild
   And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
   To be their spirit and guiding light
   
   And once the ties with the crown had been broken
   Westward in saddle and wagon it went
   And 'til the railroad linked ocean to ocean
   Many the lives which had come to an end
   While we bullied, stole and bought our a homeland
   We began the slaughter of the red man
   
   But still from near and far to seek America
   They came by thousands to court the wild
   And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
   To be their spirit and guiding light
   
   The blue and grey they stomped it
   They kicked it just like a dog
   And when the war over
   They stuffed it just like a hog
   
   And though the past has it's share of injustice
   Kind was the spirit in many a way
   But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping
   Now it's a monster and will not obey
   
   (Suicide)
   The spirit was freedom and justice
   And it's keepers seem generous and kind
   It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
   But now they won't pay it no mind
   'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
   And now their vote is a meaningless joke
   They babble about law and order
   But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
   Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
   It's got our heads into a noose
   And it just sits there watchin'
   
   Our cities have turned into jungles
   And corruption is stranglin' the land
   The police force is watching the people
   And the people just can't understand
   We don't know how to mind our own business
   'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
   Now we are fighting a war over there
   No matter who's the winner
   We can't pay the cost
   'Cause there's a monster on the loose
   It's got our heads into a noose
   And it just sits there watching
   
   (America)
   America where are you now?
   Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
   Don't you know we need you now
   We can't fight alone against the monster

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2. 0

   Adam Bposted 14 years ago

   They sure don;t make music like they used to.  I mean, where are the new bands that are going to create a legacy?  Green Day?  Coldplay?   King of Leon? 
   
   How can we have had bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, The Beatles etc all in one era and now we are left with crap?

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   1. 60

      Raven Kingposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      It's not crap. The good stuff is free and underground like noise, industrial and trance.
      Darling of the Dead is feverishly GOOD.
      Noise is a good solid genre in and of itself.
      If you ever worked on a synth you know that it is a vibrant and passionate medium.

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   2. 59

      Pete Maidaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Music is in the ear of the beholder.  I started with fifties music and I still like some of the later stuff though I guess I dropped out about 2003 or so.  I like Green Day, Nickel Back, Black Eyed Peas, Third Eye Blind, and especially Three Doors Down.
      I can't get into rap; it seems to me the only talent in rap is in the writing, but my one son likes it a lot.
      
      Its whatever moves you.

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      1. 60

         Raven Kingposted 14 years agoin reply to this

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   3. 60

      lxxyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I think you're getting a limited view of "todays" music. You're missing out on a lot of good groups with great messages.
      
      Also, for those who enjoy old skool music:
      
      http://www.archive.org/details/cylindertransfer
      
      Recordings from cylinder phonographs. Neat stuff!
      
      lxxy

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   4. 63

      BristolBoyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I think it is hard to determine which bands will have a lasting legacy until after the period.  For example, in the UK The Jam and The Smiths/Morrissey are still played often and continue to have a great effect on music. 
      
      Having said that , there are many bands in the UK which try and write lyrics with meaning.  However, they often get drowned out by other artists.  I am a big fan of Bloc Party, who create some tracks about serious things.  For example:
      
      North to south
      Empty
      Running on
      Bravado
      As if to say, as if to say
      As if to say, he doesn't like chocolate
      He's born a liar, he'll die a liar
      Some things will never be different
      
      Stop being so American
      There's a time and there's a place
      So James Dean
      So blue jeans
      Gonna save the world
      He's gonna
      
      Are you hoping for a miracle?
      Are you hoping for a miracle?
      Are you hoping for a miracle?
      Are you hoping for a miracle?
      
      Three out of five, three out of five (it's not enough)
      Six out of ten
      Better luck next time
      Just like his Dad, just like his Dad (the same mistakes)
      Some things will never be different
      Hungry and dumb, hungry and dumb (so wait in line)
      Queuing up for some more junk food
      It's not my fault, it's not my fault (just this once)
      They're getting so much younger
      
      Why can't you be more European
      Bastard child of guilt and shame
      Bury your head in the sand
      I'm thinking six, six, six
      I'm thinking six
      
      Are you hoping for a miracle?
      Are you hoping for a miracle?
      Are you hoping for a miracle?
      Are you hoping for a miracle?
      
      It's not enough.
      
      I think we can all guess which leader that was about!

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3. 59

   Pete Maidaposted 14 years ago

   Monster, I wrote about this song in a hub about songs with meaning.  It is a ten minute masterpieace.  You don't Steppenwolf Live do you?  Man I wore that album out.  Johnny Kay, the leader of Steppnewolf knew about opression; he and his family came over the Berlin Wall to freedom.

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   1. 60

      lisafwg01posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I do have Live in my collection; along with Monster and 7.
      
      
      Right now though, we're listening to some Beatles...Just put Abbey Road on the turntable.

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4. 60

   Colebabieposted 14 years ago

   I've been to Green Day and Kings of Leon shows, and they were both great! There are quite a few bands now-a-days that are extremely talented and amazing. I agree that Led Zeppelin, The Who, etc. are great bands. I listen to that music just as much as new. But don't discount current talent! Need any bands to listen to?? Let me know!
   
   Just watch Andrew McMahon, learn his story and listen to his music (Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin) Jack's was the last concert I went to. Even more amazing than I thought it would be.
   
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NwJWWnn-cw

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