Blondie - What I Heard

Well, what I heard this evening is that there is a new Blondie album!  I had no idea!  This is pretty exciting news, and it looks like the album was just released in the U.S. this past September.  It's the first album since their 2003 release, Curse of Blondie.  I think I may have to listen to the songs on this album a few times, because they are really addicting.  I saw the video for "Mother" on their website and thought it was a terrific song...and then I found "What I Heard" this evening.  Love this song!  I think the lyrics are awesome, too.  In the chorus, we hear "You told me you were done with her, and I believed every word, and now I wonder what I heard...oooooh oooh oooh."  I think it would be really cool if she threw "kick you to the curb" in there, kind of like this: "You told me you were done with her, and I believed every word, and now I kick you to the curb...ooooooh oooh oooh."  That's my kind of lyric!  Yeah!  In all seriousness, this song is just as full of gusto, rock, and passion as we would expect from Blondie.  I love it.  Lost track of how many times I heard it this evening.  Debbie Harry's legendary rock vocals and the drive behind this song make it perfect for today.  I hope she goes on tour again this year.  Maybe she could tour with Pat Benatar again--or maybe with Heart.  She can certainly hold her own on tour, too.  I'd be first in line for tickets if she tours here.  Rock on, Ms. Harry!  You sound better than ever!

Survivor on Tour? I Can't Hold Back!

Well, it's kind of late here in Becky's World.  Long day, and I am pretty tired.  Well...I was pretty tired, until I found out that Survivor is on tour now.  In fact, they will be performing in Rhode Island, which is not far from me.  I might just have to go see them!  I am feeling super-excited about this for some reason.  I think I can "feel the hand of fate" reaching out to me...just like in their song, "I Can't Hold Back."  Check out the lyrics -- they are pretty gripping and enchanting.  That coupled with lead singer Jimi Jamison's magical voice -- ah, yes, "I can't hold back, I'm on the edge."  What a fun song!  I had forgotten about it.  I'm sure "Eye of the Tiger" is their biggest.  Everyone remembers that from Rocky III, but Survivor had lots of great tunes.  I am officially naming "I Can't Hold Back" as my personal favorite.  Check out these lyrics:
http://www.metrolyrics.com/i-cant-hold-back-lyrics-survivor.html

The video is captivating as well.  The lead singer and the girl he's swooning over are at the book store (turning the pages of desire no doubt).  He sings the first two verses with acoustic guitar, and when the drums come in,,,BOOM!  A flash of light...and they are in the concert arena.  She is all glammed up super '80s style, and he is on stage sporting red leather pants with zippers all over the place (leather parachute pants I suppose -- remember those?).  The video continues, and they eventually have quite the subway ride home.  When I saw that, I thought, "Hey, is that the L in Chicago?"  Yup, it is.  The band is from Chicago.  Love that city!  Toward the end of the video, we see that the whole thing was a day dream, and he chases after her when she leaves the bookstore.  Alas, he misses her, and she rides away on the L all alone...  It's okay.  I am sure they found each other eventually and lived happily ever after  :)

Love Walks in.....As An Alien

This morning I was reading about a new album coming out next week by Van Halen and was curious to know more about it.  So, as always, I began scouring the internet to find more information.  Had a chance to hear the new song, "Tattoo," on Van Halen's website, but I also came across some very interesting history about the band.  I admit, this may not be news to everyone, but I had no idea that the band's history was so intriguing -- and complicated.  I missed a couple of years in there, too, because I didn't realize they had three lead singers (I had no idea they had a third one - Gary Cherone).  I also did not realize that they were on the list of groups with finicky riders, which seemed prevalent in the '80s.  No brown M&Ms for Van Halen.  Not a single, solitary one.  Seem picky?  Well, turns out they used that as a test for their venue hosts.  They requested a bowl of M&Ms with the brown ones removed.  They wanted to make sure that the entire rider was read to assure safety measures written into the rider as well.  Sounds like an excellent idea to me.  Kind of like when you are talking to someone, and you realize they are not listening, so you say something off the wall and wait for their reaction.  I've done this a couple of times.  Anyway, I think if clarinetists were working at the host venue for a Van Halen tour, they would be more than happy to pick all the brown M&Ms out of the bowl.

Meanwhile, I always preferred their songs from the Sammy Hagar days.  There were so many great love songs -- two of which I've previously posted ("When It's Love" and "Why Can't This Be Love").  I had forgotten about the third, "Love Walks In," and took a listen this morning.  I had no idea what the lyrics were other than "....nothing feels the same..." and "...love comes walkin' in..."  So, I listened to the rest of the lyrics and read an article about Sammy Hagar's meaning behind the lyrics.  Apparently, he's had some extraterrestrial visits, and the song references these experiences.  He sings, "Some kind of alien, waits for the opening, simply pulls a string, love comes walkin' in."  In retrospect, I thought I heard the word "alien" in the lyrics, but I figured that I was just hearing the lyrics incorrectly.  My brother and I used to argue over lyrics all the time in the 80s.  Back in the day, you couldn't just look them up on a computer.  So, looks like it really is "some kind of alien."  Drat.  I was sure it was love.  I guess it still could be, but it's hard for me to conceptualize love and extraterrestrials in the same lyrics.  Eh, well, I guess there's always Star Trek.  My family loves that show, and Captain Kirk was always winning over these gorgeous alien ladies.  Anyway, I hope you enjoy the video.  Check out Alex Van Halen and his awesome Ludwig Vistalite set, too.  Pretty awesome.

Rod Stewart Pop-Up Video Fun - Do Ya Think I'm Sexy

So, this evening I was poking around on the VH-1 Classic site and found some interesting clips. For instance, I had no idea that there was a VH-1 Divas show filmed in 2011. They had some really terrific artists performing, but unfortunately, I am a bit picky and couldn't find any songs that I wanted to write about. Since the show highlighted soul music, and they had Chaka Khan as one of the artists, I had hoped they would perform "Tell Me Something Good." But, alas, no such luck.

I figured I'd look around the site some more, and I found a listing of the first 30 videos played on VH-1. Low and behold, Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" was number 26. It was written in 1978, but since it was one of the first videos on MTV, that would mean it aired in 1981, so it's kind of a decade crossover. I found the "Pop-Up Video" version of the original video and thought it was hysterical, so I just had to add it here. The pop-up captions are really funny -- especially the one about him turning his head away from the camera when he forgot the words. Kind of reminds me of my post about him performing with Stevie Nicks: Stevie and Rod on Tour.  As I watched the video, I realized that Carmine Appice was the drummer. I probably should have know that, because I used to work with artists at the company that owns Ludwig drums, and he was a Ludwig artist. So, it was pretty cool to see a quick shot of him in the video with his Ludwig set. Come to find out, he wrote most of the music for this tune. Pretty cool. The lyrics are sort of comical today, although I guess they were realistic in the day. I love when he sings, "Now hold on a minute, before we go much further, give me a dime, so I can call my mother." Hmm...alright. I wonder if someone would actually say that back then. I can just imagine Rod Stewart running to the pay phone at the disco..."Hello, mom, uh...I won't be home tonight." I also noticed in the captions that he was married to Rachel Hunter at the time this video came out. I think he's had a couple of wives since then and a bunch of kids. That's alright. He's Rod Stewart. Although he did not say this song was about him, I think it probably worked to his advantage over the years...

I Found Someone...Who Said Cher Is Not Dead

So, it looks like we are in the midst of another celebrity death hoax running rampant in cyberspace.  What is even more disturbing is that Kim Kardashian was out there perpetuating this rumor with her tweets.  Yikes!  Kim--wake-up, honey.  You are Armenian!  Cher is Armenian!  You should support your brethren (or shall I say sisters?).

I still don't quite understand the popularity of the death hoax, but nevertheless, I thought it would be the perfect time to pay homage to Cher.  Her career has spanned several decades, and let's face it, she's an Oscar award-winning actress.  I really enjoyed her movies.  Her music in the '80s was fun.  Nothing wrong with that.  Everyone seems to remember the video from "If I Could Turn Back Time" because she wore that scandalous seatbelt-type getup and sang on a Navy battleship.  When I read about the hoax, I heard the song "I Found Someone" playing in my mind.  I guess I hadn't watched the video since it came out in 1987.  I don't think it got as much airplay as "If I Could Turn Back Time" (well, I guess the reason for that is obvious).  Anyway, check out the "I Found Someone Video."  Cher's then real-life boyfriend is in there.  The plot is straightforward.  They go to a club, some girl gives Cher's man a look, he's tempted, and I guess he goes with her.  Then, later in the video, we see Cher with a new guy, but the funny thing is that at first,  I couldn't tell the difference between the two guys because of their hair.  Meanwhile, Cher is gettin' down with this new guy on the dance floor--really rubbing the first guy's face in it while he dances with the other girl.  But, in the end, she takes her cheating guy back.  Hmm.  I guess that's alright--I mean, they have to end the video somehow.  That's kind of nice, but he could have at least brought her flowers.

Totally Awesome Covers

I was wondering if anyone had released a version of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" other than the kind of pop/techno one that came out recently (Nicki French from 1995 -- guess it's not that recent!).  So, as I was looking through YouTube, I found the most amazing version of "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" by Meatloaf.  The two songs do sound similar if you think about it, so I guess this isn't a surprise.  For me, it was a godsend.  I found an entire channel of videos by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.  Turns out that they have released several covers of songs from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond.  There are songs by ABBA, Queen, Phil Collins, The Police, U2, Pink Floyd, Bryan Adams, REM...and the list goes on.  It's amazing.  The Meatloaf one is definitely my favorite.  Too bad the video isn't better, but hey, a giant bat staring into the distance is still alright.  So, I've included both the Royal Phil's version and Meatloaf's video (which was from 1994, so I am technically cheating again).  Meatloaf's career has spanned several decades, so I guess it's okay to include this one.  Enjoy!

Beyoncé and Tina - Ouch!

So, this may seem like an odd post for an 80s music blog, considering Beyoncé is popular now, and Tina Turner is - well - legendary.  However, Tina had a huge comeback in the 80s.  Her album Private Dancer, released in 1984, sold millions of copies.  I absolutely loved that album.  Had it on cassette tape and probably wore it out listening to every track.  "What's Love Got to Do With It" is probably the biggest hit from the album, but my favorite is definitely the title track.  I can hear the bridge right now..."Deutch marks or dollars, American Express will do nicely, thank you.  Let me loosen up your collar, tell me, do-you-want-to-see-me-do-the shimmy again? Uhhhhhhh."  That last extended "uh" reminds me a bit of Donna Summer's "Love to Love You Baby."

Anyway, Tina has had an illustrious career, so I'm not surprised that there are many videos with her on YouTube.  I particularly like to see the tribute videos, and I came across one from the 2008 Grammys where she and Beyoncé performed together.  At about 4:45 minutes into the performance, Beyoncé stepped on Tina's foot.  Ouch.  I wish I could say "I feel her pain," but I bet it was worse than anytime I have had my foot stepped on.  Heels are dangerous.  I wonder if the duo will perform again.  I bet Tina will wear boots...

With or Without You

So, I was a bit inspired this evening by NAMM once again.  It's only been about two days since I returned from the convention, but I was completely thrilled one afternoon when I was there and saw Bono walk by our booth.  Yes!  Well, actually, no.  Come to find out, it was a really great Bono impersonator.  Oh well.  I should have known by the lack of an entourage.  Stevie Wonder walked by with an entourage, and that was the real deal.

So, I thought I would take a look at U2's "With or Without You."  This is one of my favorite U2 songs - and probably one of my favorite '80s songs in general.  Kind of seems timeless, though, and not very "80s."  I think we can attribute that to the masterful lyricism of Bono and the extreme vocal control he demonstrates throughout the song.  The entire band performs with just as much control, creating a really tightly-knit ensemble that kind of grips you a the listener from beginning to end.  It is like a well-cooked meal or a fine painting with a full color palette.  Hard to describe, but the progression and development of the song is amazing with its layers of instrumental parts building and its vocals intensifying with a careful crescendo.  It's no surprise that there are several instrumental versions of this on YouTube.  I chose two for this post: one by the Vitamin String Quartet and one by 2Cellos.  Both of these are beautiful.  Bono and U2 should be proud.  The have inspired so many of us.  Enjoy.

Pressure, Anxiety, and Robots

The '80s were filled with so many love songs, which are typically my favorite, but I thought it would be interesting to look at some other styles this evening.  The dawn of music videos peeked everyone's interest and seemed sort of "other-worldly" at times.  There are so many videos with themes are references to space, technology, and well -- some things that are just plane scary.  I think back to 1982, when Billy Joel's "Pressure" was written, and as I watch the video,  I am reminded of the film "Poltergist."  Boy did that movie scare me.  There were so many others, too, and I think we were all a bit enthralled by horror and the paranormal back then. 

Anyway, the three songs and videos that scared me the most back in the day were (1) "Pressure" by Bill Joel (2) "Anxiety" by Pat Benatar, and (3) "Mr. Roboto" by Styx.  I'll probably take a look at numbers 2 and 3 a bit later, but I felt like hearing some Billy Joel this evening.  He really is a master songwriter and extremely gifted musician.  The nice thing about this tune is that it is all keyboards and vocals -- and it can still scare the daylights out of you.  I listen to it now and kind of imagine how creepy it would sound on harpsichord... just a thought.  If you listen to the song, the lyrics are clearly about a man who is, well, having trouble dealing with the pressures in life.  He's discovering that everything is not all roses and sunshine or "peachy keen," and it is piling up.  My favorite line from the song is "you turned the tap dance into your crusade, now here you are with your faith, and your Peter Pan advice."  Yup -- Peter Pan advice.  Touché!  I have no idea why I like that part so much, but it is awesome.  I should use that line more often. 

In the video, you will notice all kinds of strange, semi-paranormal things -- like people sinking into floors and being pulled sideways into walls.  Coffee spills by itself, water is pouring out or a song man's desk at school.  Kind of creepy and out of control!  Nothing like being stuck in a maze, either.  I guess this video is probably better for Halloween or something, but, the song is just so well-composed that I couldn't resist.  Nice to visit something different every now and then.

NAMM 2012

Just got back from the NAMM Convention in Anaheim, CA.  NAMM is the annual convention for the National Association of Music Merchants, and it is pretty crazy!  All kinds of rock and roll glamming up the industry in the same space as all the band and orchestra folks.  There are also exhibitors from around the world showing traditional folk instruments and all sorts of new products.  Check out their site: http://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2012

I really hoped to see Sharon and Ozzy Osborne, because I heard they were there.  But, alas, I did not see them.  I did, however, see Stevie Wonder walking by, and that was pretty neat.  Saw a Bono look-alike, too.  Anyway, glad to be back on the East Coast.  I'm going to get a bit of rest and check out what awesome 80s songs I can unearth...

Foolish Heart

I can't believe it has been almost a week since my last post.  I apologize.  I'm not sure how I got this far behind.  I was traveling a bit and am just about ready to leave again for the NAMM show in Anaheim.  That show is where everyone in the music business converges at the Anaheim Convention Center to show off all their latest goods -- and by goods, I mean products.  Anyway...  I was in a thrift store the other day and heard Steve Perry's "Foolish Heart."  It always amazes me what great music you can hear at places like that or drugstores like Walgreen's or CVS.  I've also heard some awesome '70s and '80s tunes in Michael's craft store, too.  You never know where you might catch excellent tunes while doing a bit of leisurely shopping.

So, I had to write about "Foolish Heart," which was released in 1984.  I didn't realize it was in the first half of the decade, but nevertheless, it is another timeless classic.  I hadn't paid much attention to the lyrics over the years.  I just remember, "Foolish heart, hear me calling...stop before, you start falling."  Then, I thought the lyrics went on to say, "foolish heart, hear my worries..." but it is actually, "foolish heart, heed my warning."  Ah, yes--sometimes we make up the most interesting lyrics in our minds...  Alas, I read some background information about the song, and it is about a man who wants to be in a relationship but is a bit hesitant, because he doesn't want his heart broken.  Makes perfect sense to me.  Regardless of the scenario, I am simply in love with Steve Perry's voice.  It is like magic.  Nothing else compares.  His voice has such beauty, intensity, control, and character.  He could sing about taking out the garbage or raking leaves or something, and it would be amazing.  The video is also very simple, which is terrific.  It lets you really focus on the beauty of Steve's voice and the pure, delicate sentiment of the song.  Very fitting as we approach Valentine's Day.  Hope you enjoy this Steve Perry classic!

Is This Love?

There are many songs out there from the '80s about love - no doubt about it.  Many of them ask us questions.  "Why Can't This Be Love?"  "Is ThisLove?"  The list goes on and on, but for this evening, I thought I would look at Whitsnake's "Is This Love?"  Great song from 1987, and it definitely takes me back to middle school.  It was such an awesome song back in the day, but I am sure people mostly remember it for the video.  Yes, Tawny Kitaen was in this video and the video for Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again."  "Here I Go Again" is also an excellent song and one of my favorites (very upbeat, up tempo, high octane for sure).  Anyway, Kitaen and Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale were a couple back in the '80s, so it is not surprising to see her featured in the video.  Guys are probably still drooling, so I give her credit.  David Coverdale may be overshadowed by her in the video, but I think he looks pretty good!  Gotta love that hair, but hey, he was a good-looking rockstar!  He could have any hairstyle he wanted.  He has also really aged quite gracefully -- just in case anyone was wondering.  (Throwing a pic out there for everyone to see).

David Coverdale

The song itself is pretty simple.  The lyrics tell the tale of a man who is obviously deeply in love and cannot stand to be apart from the woman in his life.  He can feel his love for her "growing stronger day by day," and he can't wait to see her again so he can hooooooold her in his arms.....  Wow.  This is pretty intense.  Definitely some intense images in the video, too, with a plot that makes you feel for David.  Seems like the relationship was a bit volatile.  Anyway, I do hope you enjoy the video and the song -- it's a nice, slow-paced ballad for a change, but it maintains the rock intensity of the decade with its vocals and guitar.  Very well done.

Heaven - Part II

I recently found out that Warrant's lead singer, Jani Lane, passed away last August.  I had no idea.  He was only 47 years old.  It's terribly sad for such a young life to be lost.  So, in honor of Jani, since someone on the web pointed out that there was no mention of this in the news, I thought I would post "Heaven."  It is one of my all-time favorite '80s songs, and it was written in 1989, so it just sneaks in to make the end of the decade.  The song itself has beautiful, thoughtful lyrics and powerful vocals.  Of course, it has the intensity, musically, of many power ballads from this time period.  If you watch the video, you will see many characteristic styles of the day - big, long, teased hair, lots of fringe on jackets, boots, pants with cut-outs, and....headbands.  I forgot about headbands.

Jani and the band really rock out in this video.  It's nice to see the close-ups shots of him in the video.  He definitely had charisma, and something special.  Something very endearing.  Rest in peace, Mr. Lane.  I hope you are making beautiful music in the heavens.  For the rest of us, as you said, "heaven isn't too far away...closer to it everyday."  Hope we all find the heavenly happiness you sang about here on earth.

Heaven

I was looking for something kind of quiet this morning, and after a bit of surfing the web, I found a couple of versions of Bryan Adams' "Heaven."  I think there was a dance version of this released in 2002, and it was cute.  But, the original song was definitely much different and memorable for its sensitive and beautiful lyrics.  The melody is simple, and the vocal line rather delicate.  Written in 1983 and released on Bryan's 1984 album, "Reckless," it is a beautiful '80s ballad.  I read that Bryan was influenced by Journey when writing "Heaven," particularly by Journey's "Faithfully."

So, it is much too early in the day for me to compare and contrast a beautiful rock ballad with a dance version, so luckily, I found the original video and an acoustic "unplugged" version.  I have to say that the acoustic version surprised me -- I never knew it was out there!  When I first saw the video, I didn't even recognize Bryan Adams (mostly because of his hairstyle).  He has a different look in this video.  I guess I am used to his white t-shirt and jeans look from the '80s.  Anyway, the acoustic version has some truly beautiful vocals and acoustic guitar.  About two minutes into the song, the rest of the ensemble joins in, and a whole new color palette is produced.  It's almost like turning the lights on.  I really enjoyed the performance and thought the recorder was a nice touch, too.  At least, I thought I heard a recorder, but at the end I saw a man playing what appeared to be a metal tube.  Hmm....I imagine it is an electronic wind instrument of some sort.  It definitely does the trick.  I will have to find out more about that.  Anyway, hope you enjoy these two versions of "Heaven."

Hard to Say I'm Sorry

Ahh...a nice quiet evening at home, and Chicago's music is here to make me smile--or cry.  I've heard "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" many times on the radio when I'm driving, and without fail, it makes me cry everytime.  When Peter Cetera gets to the chorus and sings, "and after all that's been said and done, you're just a part of me I can't let go."  It's like a bittersweet melody that just lingers and makes you tearful.  But, alas, Peter Cetera's voice is magical, so most of the song makes me smile.

I found two videos that I wanted to share.  One is from 1982 (when the song was released) and the other is from 2004.  These videos are very different.  In the first one, it's not hard for me to say that I was mesmerized not only by Peter Cetera's voice but his looks as well.  Wow.  I don't think I've ever seen anyone with such perfect hair and teeth.  It is amazing, and I mean that honestly.  I do believe I have a video crush now.  Before I had seen this, I was simply in love with the melody, piano, and lyrics.  So delicate, so heartfelt.  Now, I can't stop watching this video!  So, I wondered if there were more, and I stumbled one with a LIVE ORCHESTRA!  BRAVO!  I am so happy to have found this video.  The brass really crank things up at the end, and the strings are kickin' with their funky, syncopated '70s licks.  If only I could get a gig like that...  Anyway, Peter Cetera looks somewhat different in this video, and I do believe that the key has changed to accommodate time and his graceful aging.  But, alas, Mr. Cetera still has it.  Too bad I didn't realize until today that he hasn't been in the band since 1985.  Oh well!  His beautiful voice and music transcend time, so it's okay if I am a bit behind...

Why Can't This Be Love?

I have had this song stuck in my head for a while.  Actually, it is the synthesized keyboard "ostinato" that is really what I hear over and over, but that is a good thing.  It's got this crazy momentum with a tinge of a "robotic" sound that is very addicting.  So, once you get past this in the intro, you'll hear the lyrics, and we're off to the races....  At least that's kind of what it feels like.  This Van Halen classic was released in 1986, and it seems to energize me everytime I hear it.  It really is timeless, and it is one of the most invigorating rock songs I've heard.  Makes me want to run out and buy Gatorade and then run a marathon or something.  I'm not sure what it is about this song that makes it so energetic and propelling, but I am hooked.

I think, perhaps, the chorus may be the key to the intense energy of this song...  "It's got what it takes...so tell me why can't this be love?"  Hmm...  It's got what it takes.  Yes.  This is most likely the phrase that hints at sportsmanship, competition, athleticism, energy.  Could be a commercial.  Do you have what it takes?  Could you be love?  Sure puts the pressure on, but SCORE!  Once you find the one who has what it takes, well, it just could be love... 

Maria, Blondie, and Pat Benatar

Okay--so I admit that the title of this post is a bit odd.  Let me explain.  I was watching "Behind the Music: Remastered" on VH-1 Classic.com.  It was the episode about Pat Benatar, who is probably my absolute favorite female singer from the '80s (and my idol!).  Toward the end of the episode, they showed a clip of Debbie Harry from Blondie because she and Pat had recently toured together. This reminded me of how much I enjoyed the song "Maria" by Blondie, which was released in 1998.  So, technically, that is not an '80s song, but it was the first hit for the group since they broke up in 1982.

Anyway, Pat and Debbie are both amazing singers, and I wanted to share a light song this evening, so I thought "Maria" was perfect.  Looking at the lyrics and reading a bit about the song, I found out that it is about a boy's love/infatuation for a girl from because the boy was shy and "awkward."   The whole "Maria" and "Ave Maria" related to the idolization concept and the idea of the girl being sort of "untouchable" to this extremely insecure boy.  Pretty neat.  I hadn't thought much about it before since I just loved the vocal quality in the song and the very awesome chime sounds.  I do hope you will enjoy this tune.  There are so many Blondie and Pat Benatar songs that are amazing, so perhaps this will be sort of an interlude to more posts with their music!

Walk This Way

I read this evening that Steven Tyler of Aerosmith is engaged to model Erin Brady.  I hadn't heard about their relationship before, but the articles mentioned that they were dating since 2006.  So, I guess it is not new news, but their engagement is new.  Congrats to the couple!  I guess it is a bit controversial, theoretically, since he is 63 and she is 38.  But, you know, in Becky's World, age is really just a number.  I don't pay attention to numbers unless they are scale degrees ;)

So, I thought it would be perfect to take a look at "Walk This Way" to celebrate the occasion.  The song was released by Aerosmith in 1975, but a version with Run-DMC was released in 1986 -- and this is the version I remember.  It was so cool to see a rap group join forces with a rock group, which was kind of a monumental event back in the '80s.  Today I think it is much more common to see this type of genre "hybrid" or crossing (like on CMT's "Crossroads").  It certainly provides audiences with an extraordinary artistic product, and audiences who may never have heard the music of one half of the collaborators have the chance to experience something new.  Back in 1986, I may not have listened much to Aerosmith, but I certainly found out who they were after this song.  What I mostly remember is that rap music was new, and it was really quite intriguing.  The beats, the record scratching, song sampling, and rap vocals were simply something completely new.  It seemed to spread like wildfire, and it really was a phenomenon.  Rap singers definitely had a look, too, and I remember many of my classmates emulating the styles.  That being said, what I remember most about this song and video are the Adidas sneakers!  Bright white, black stripes, no laces, tongue sticking out.  Yeah.  That was cool.  Goodbye laces!

I actually hadn't listened to the verses until just a few minutes ago when I looked at the lyrics.  Wow.  If you have never read the lyrics, take a look.  It is kind of like risqué poetry, but not all that shocking today.  Probably could make the average person blush -- at least it did with me.  But, it is all good and all very Aerosmith.  Nothing wrong with having fun in your songwriting, and the group is legendary.  Awesome guitar riffs, incredible rock vocal style, and well, rock "royalty" outfits and hair.  Steven Tyler amazes me with his outfits -- so daring, so cool.  Only he could wear those awesome legging-type pants and scarves.  I am jealous.  One day, I do hope to see them in concert--maybe with Run-DMC, too!  Hope you enjoy this classic collaboration.

Happy New Year!

To everyone around the world, Happy New Year!  May this day bring hope and prosperity to everyone.  Looking forward to sharing all the best with you in this new year.  Welcome 2012!