Let me be frank - if your kid doesn't know this song and he/she is 4 years old or older, there is a serious problem. This song was made for kids. It inspires them to jump, shout, howl like a coyote, and air guitar with a vicious rock sneer.
"I Love Rock n' Roll" is simple, catchy, timeless. As a kid I locked myself in the bathroom, gripped my microphone (hairbrush) and sang along with Joan. In college I raised both arms in joy as it played at a house party. And even today, I always turn it up when it comes on the car radio. That's the beauty of songs such as this one. It never gets old and it appeals to just about everyone.
Kids have about a 5 second window before they decide whether or not they like a song. Something needs to catch their attention and not let go. Because at the end of those 5 seconds, they ask themselves, "do I continue listening to this song or go back to setting up these blocks?"
To me Joan embodies the power and potential of what I see as a sorely lacking group of female rock singers. Pat Benatar is great, Stevie Nicks is amazing, Janis Joplin is an icon. But where are the others? You could make a case for Pink, an unbelievable singer who sometimes dabbles in rock. That's what makes Joan and this song so special. She stands out, and does it with an awesome pink sport jacket.
Please check out my new solo album "EXPLODE," which you can download on iTunes, Amazon, or CDBaby.
To say that my record collection was limited as a 7 year old is an understatement. I owned the three albums below and listened to them obsessively.
How can I forget the beautifully colorful kid's drawings on the inside of Elvis' record? The high pitched and perfectly harmonized renditions of the Urban Cowboy soundtrack as sung by three western chipmunks? And of course, Michael. MICHAEL. We'll save Michael for another week.
One of my great joys as a dad comes from introducing music I loved as a kid to my kids. I nearly shed a tear the first time I played "Welcome to the Jungle" for Quinn and Callie.
Steve Miller's "Abracadabra" was at the top of my list for a long time. Never before had I heard a song so centered around magic, and for that reason alone I loved the song. At 7, I was convinced I would be a magician. I spent days and nights honing my craft: borrowing card trick books from the library, mastering sleight of hand, and choosing only the finest threads for my cape. Naturally, Steve Miller's song fed into this passion with a song that blended mystique, danger, and seduction. "Abracadabra" would be the song I walked out on stage to....and the world would love my magic.
The video for this song, like most videos from the early 80's, is totally bizarre. Every video from this time is taken so literally. For example, the lyric goes, "I heat up, I can't cool down." You can almost hear the director say, "Ok guys, what heats up? Stoves. The sun. Fire. That's it! Let's show some fire while Steve sings the lyric 'I heat up.'"
But in my opinion, the strangeness of this video only adds to the intrigue of this song. Embrace "Abracadabra" for all it's weird imagery and unleash your kid's inner magician.
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Thanks and check back on Thursday for another rock recommendation.
Walk down the street in Brooklyn. Every toddler has a Stones shirt, an AC/DC shirt (or rather AB/CD), a Guns n' Roses shirt. But how many kids rock a Motorhead shirt? Very few and here's the reason why.
Motorhead is not, and will never be, mainstream rock. They formed during the year I was born, 1975, and have essentially written the same song over and over for more than a quarter of a century. Here's the formula:
1. Guitar riff starts out
2. Band kicks in
3. Lemmy begins shouting unintelligible lyrics
4. guitar solo
5. end
So why do Motorhead's fans love them if each song sounds like the next? Because it's a really good song. And the most famous of these is called "Ace of Spades," the opening track off their awesome album with the same name, released in 1980.
My son likes this song because of the few lyrics he is able to decipher. This is a boy who requests the Eagles song "Witchy Woman" repeatedly, simply because it has the word "witch" in the title. Somewhere during pre-k, he became fascinated with all forms of monsters: zombies, vampires, goblins, devils, demons, witches, you name it. "Ace of Spades" plays into this fascination, as Lemmy sings things like "dancing with the devil," "snake eyes watchin' you" and "don't forget the joker! (he relates this last lyric to Batman's Joker)."
So next time your strolling down a block in Brooklyn, make your way past the sea of Def Leppard onesies, grab your kid's hand and sing, "the only card I need is the ace of spades, the ace of spades."
The Beatles. The biggest band in the entire world. I often wonder why their songs are so memorable. Is it that each song is a two and a half minute masterpiece or that their entire catalog has been played so often on radio? It's probably a bit of both, but more so the masterpiece. As a songwriter I am amazed that The Beatles were able to put out so many songs that sounded so unique, yet so cohesive.
"Helter Skelter" is a far cry from "I Want To Hold Your Hand" but you can tell they come from the same band. That's what was so beautiful about their talent - each could contribute a song, sing lead, and put their own mark on another member's track.
I particularly love "Helter Skelter" because I can hear the effect it had on subsequent genres. It seemed right for the time -- political unrest, youth revolt, the birth of garage rock. You can sense all of that in the song. But when I listen to it I hear the early stages of metal in the heavy guitar riff and the scream vocals later found in grunge.
Does any of this matter to kids? Absolutely not. They'll probably want to hear it for two reasons alone:
1) it's a great song to go crazy to
2) they can mimic Ringo Starr at the end of the song, when he shouts "I got blisters on my fingers!"
Kids are awesome for a number of reasons, but one of the things they are great at doing is recognizing is popular music. I noticed a trend very early in my parenthood: the more popular the song, the more my kids liked it. Take Michael Jackson's Thriller, for example. The album is the work of a genius start to finish, but despite my attempts to get them to appreciate the whole album, Quinn and Callie really only want to hear "Beat It" and "Thriller." They have no knowledge that these were 2 of the album's biggest selling singles, but they know. It's like some innate gift.
Aerosmith's song "Walk This Way" is one of those songs. It's incredibly popular and it's no mystery that kids love it. Go down the line....Walk This Way has it all:
1. killer beat - check
2. killer guitar riff - check
3. easy to sing chorus - check
4. verse rap that makes you want to learn the lyrics - check
5. steven tyler - check
This is a special recommendation because it's really the gift that keeps on giving. After all, who can forget Aerosmith's monumental collaboration with Run DMC? The video featured Aerosmith in one rehearsal room and Run DMC in the adjacent one. The two groups are annoyed with each other's music until finally Steven puts his mic stand through the wall and they unite. Who knew Walk This Way had the potential to be a symbolic message about breaking down the walls of racial stereotyping?
I love both versions equally, but the Run DMC collab holds a special place in my heart. At the time it was released I was wearing my black windbreaker outfit religiously and breakdancing on a broken down refrigerator box for money. While listening to Walk This Way I would build elaborate plots similar to The Karate Kid in my mind. Me, overcoming the bully in the final round of the Breakdancing Championship, crushing him with a lightning quick armspin-into-backspin combo (never completed before!!!). Crowd cheers. I am raised on the shoulders of Grandmaster Flash. Run DMC and Aerosmith perform at the ticker tape parade. Victory!
It's tough to classify "Jessie's Girl" as a rock song, just as it's tough to call last week's entry, Journey's "Separate Ways," rock. Both of these songs walk the fine line of pop and rock, but I'm choosing "Jessie's Girl" for one reason - it's got the best lyrical rhyme I have ever heard:
"You know, I feel so dirty when they start talking cute
I wanna tell her that I love her, but the point is probably moot"
I think "Jessie's Girl" could be the only song in the history of recorded music to use the word "moot." I laugh whenever I hear it because I envision a frustrated Rick Springfield, desperate to find a word to rhyme with "cute." My imagined story goes something like this.
It's 1981. Rick Springfield's label is demanding a hit song, so he and his co-writer are working feverishly. Time is running out. This is make it or break it for Rick's career. No hit and he's back to doing soaps for a living.
But things are looking up. Rick and co-writer are developing "Jessie's Girl" and it feels good. Real good. Rick is frustrated because he's having a tough time writing lyrics, so co-writer says, "Easy does it, Rick. Just let it flow, man. BE JESSIE." They start playing and Rick delivers the line "you know, I feel so dirty when they start talking cute." Both of them love it and co-writer says, "Good job, Ricky. Gimme one more just like that one." But Rick's creative streak stops there. He simply can't come up with a follow-up lyric.
Hours turn into days. Days turn into weeks, and weeks into months. The label calls and says, "Rick, either you finish 'Jessie's Girl' today or we're pulling the plug. I want the finished song on my desk in 3 hours." Rick's blood is racing. He scrambles for a rhyming dictionary, looking for words that rhyme with "cute." Flute, loot, astute - nothing feels right. Time is running out. Rick is desperate. He writes the alphabet on a sheet of paper and begins going down the line looking for that magic rhyme. Finally he sees it: MOOT. The angels sing. Rick scrambles for the producer and says, "I got it. I wanna tell her that I love her, but the point is probably moot." Producer says, "uh, OK Rick." And the rest is history.
No one but Rick really knows if things played out this way, but that's the beauty of music. Each song tells a story in different ways. For me it was a single word - moot - which painted a beautiful picture of 1981.
Hypothetical scenario: a robot points a laser gun at me and says:
"I come from the future. You have 1 minute to predict what your son's profession will be. Answer correctly and you live. Answer incorrectly and....(uncomfortably long pause)......YOU DIE!"
In a typical timed life or death situation, one might feel any number of emotions: fear, anxiety, distress. But I am not nervous. In fact, I am perfectly calm. Not a single bead of sweat forms on my skin, not a single lump moves through my throat. I answer calmly and confidently: "My son will be a dramatic actor."
I live.
I am so confident of this response because I witness it every day. There are times when I think my sole purpose for living is to serve as supporting actor for Quinn's long and repetitive dramas. A few examples:
"Dad, I am Mufasa and you are Simba. I'm going to fall off Pride Rock and die. You have to hold me and start crying."
"Dad, you are a zombie who is sad because you don't have any friends. I will become your friend and you will love me."
"Dad, you have had a bad accident and you are bleeding severely. I am a paramedic and I will bandage you up and save you."
I am no actor but my skills more than suffice for his mini dramas. The traditional rules of subtlety in acting need not apply here. The more drawn out the sob, the more pained the howl, the better. And it's not enough to put forth one great performance. These demands come by the dozen, with little or no notice.
This sets us up perfectly for this week's pick: Journey's dramatic and intimidating "Separate Ways." No mystery here, it's one of Quinn's all-time favorites. I could play it for him 100 times in a row and he'd say, "Dad, one more time."
What could be more dramatic than 5 guys air-playing their instruments in an abandoned warehouse? To add to the suspense, an emotional/irritated/confused/passionate Steve Perry is shown singing the song from every possible angle.
Then there is the woman in white high heels. Where is she going and why is she walking so quickly? Is she real or does she only exist in Steve's mind? How can she walk so quickly in those high heels?
While "Separate Ways" has been played about 1,000 times too many in my apartment, I never seem to tire of the video. Each time I watch it, I find something new to love about it. The synchronized head turns, a bare armed and fist clenched Steve Perry giving it his all, the slow-motion sequence, the keyboardist clawing at an invisible keyboard like a panther (then later playing a keyboard which hangs on a wall????)
If your child has a flair for the dramatic, I can't recommend "Separate Ways" enough. Grab your air instrument and play along with this 80s classic:
Queens, NY - It's 1988. I am 13 years old and absolutely giddy. I've spent an eternity waiting for cable service to come to neighborhood and finally it arrives. No more bad reception. No more PBS. I go straight to the crown jewel - MTV - and my world changes forever.
Each night I sit transfixed, watching Adam Curry deliver the top 20 countdown, either oblivious or indifferent to the fact that the charts rarely change from day to day. Hair bands, one after another, fill my head with images of rockers in bare chested unitards, explosive stage shows, and mid air splits. Cinderella, Jovi, Skid Row, Ratt, Poison, Gwar, Warrant, Great White, Whitesnake, White Lion, Mr. Big. The list goes on forever.
But on this particular day I have the stage set. Two pillows meticulously placed before me. They are the drums. In each hand, lincoln logs. The drumsticks. I am waiting for Guns n' Roses "Paradise City." Waiting for the chance to take the stage and play along with Steven Adler.
Guns n' Roses was different. Even as a 13 year old, I could tell that Warrant was cheesy. Granted, I loved "Cherry Pie" just as much as the next kid, but I knew it was pretty generic rock. By the time “Paradise City” was released, Gn’R already had two videos in the can and both sent a totally different message. There was their intro to mainstream, “Welcome to the Jungle,” a song which scared and excited me. Who is this androgynous lead singer with the tightest leather pants I have ever seen? Who is this mysterious guitarist with no face and a top hat? Axl toned his look down for “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and revealed a tender side, yet the band still rocked. It was almost too good to be true.
So here we have this week’s recommendation: “Paradise City,” an excellent song to ring in the start of summer. It’s got everything. The pretty guitar intro, the arena rock drum beat, the catchy chorus, that summer good feeling sound, and of course the whistle at 1:19 leading into a pretty heavy verse. In the video, Axl spits out his lyrics in white leather jacket and matching pants. Does it get any better than that?
This is a great song to jump and go crazy to. And it’s a fairly long song so it requires some stamina. Just about the time when you’ve run out of steam, Axl hits a seemingly endless note at 4:35, which lasts until about 4:48. This is a crucial time for rest, because the song is about to go from 10 to 11. By now the band is drenched in sweat, the crowd is completely out of their minds, and your child should be going absolutely crazy. During this part of the song, Quinn and Callie are typically writhing around on the floor like radioactive worms. It’s a beautiful display of dance, movement without a trace of rhyme or reason.
My little girl knows what she wants. Of the hundreds of books in our apartment, Callie only wants 3 or 4 read to her. When the TV goes on, it's Yo Gabba Gabba or nothing. But the beauty of giving her something she likes--carrots, for instance--is that she will sit there in total bliss and have the time of her life.
And so began my quest to find her the perfect rock song. Months went by. Callie perched on her chair coloring, me desperately playing songs in hopes of drawing a reaction. Zeppelin - nothing. Stones - nothing. The harder I tried, the more futile my attempts seemed.
Then Pat Benatar came on and Callie stopped coloring. She raised her head and stared at the speakers, perfectly silent and hypnotized by the drums. Think of a deer munching on berries that suddenly hears footsteps.
Pat Benatar won Callie's heart with her song "Heartbreaker." Who can deny the monstrous opening guitar riff, the awesome chorus, the caged-animal vocals? You can't help but feel like you're in some 80s gang movie, running through an alley or scaling some giant fence.
Callie, the mild-mannered and sweet 2 1/2 year old, turns into a raging rocker when Pat sings for her. She slams her air drums, jumps, spins, howls, yelps -- all the while making some sort of pirate face. Watching her rock to this song is a thing of beauty. Together with her brother, they have developed some sort of odd chaotic choreography. At 2:15, when Pat sings accapella, Quinn and Callie take one final rest before going into an all-out, no holds barred blitz. They flip, twist and turn their bodies into positions that seem painful, and I can't help but throw my arms into the air and shout: VICTORY!
-Neal
Here's Pat in action, rocking "Heartbreaker" on American Bandstand -
I am not one of those parents who thinks his son is a saint. I've seen my 4-year old bring his little sister to tears too many times to know better. This became clear last winter as I actually rooted for his classmate to win in a snowball fight. Does that make be a bad dad?
That being said, one of my favorite things about Quinn is his purity and hunger for drama. This brings me to my first rock recommendation for parents who want to get their kids started on the right foot: AC/DC's "Givin' the Dog A Bone."
Let's cut to the chase - AC/DC is rock. Go through their catalog. You won't find any guest vocals from Justin Bieber or albums with grandiose orchestral arrangements. Just pure, animalistic, fist-pumping rock. Good luck finding lyrics that deal with inner turmoil, repressed emotions, or lost love. If it's not about rock, playing rock, listening to rock, or thinking about rock, then it isn't AC/DC.
And so for all you parents who want to introduce real rock to your kids, I highly suggest "Givin' the Dog A Bone" off AC/DC's Back In Black album. My story to Quinn goes something like this:
One day AC/DC was walking down the street, when they saw a dog crying. They went over to the dog and said, "What's wrong, little puppy?" He lifted his head weakly and groaned, "Ugh, I'm soooo hungry." Luckily, AC/DC had a dollar in their pocket so they went to the pet store and bought a bone for the dog. The little puppy was so happy they decided to write a song about it.
There you have it....a somewhat crude lyric turned into a beautiful message about saving a dog in need.
Check back each week for a rock recommendation. I am also scheduling private guitar lessons and parties for the summer. Visit nealcarlsonmusic.com to contact me or find out more.
