Happy Birthday to Steven Tyler!

Rag doll...

Best wishes to Steven Tyler today on his 63rd birthday.  Earlier this year, he announced his engagement, so it has been very full year for Mr. Tyler so far.  In honor of his birthday, I thought I would pick one of my favorite songs, although "Walk This Way" really is my favorite Aerosmith tune.  We looked at that song in an earlier post.  So, tonight, I've chosen "Rag Doll" in honor of Mr. Tyler.  This song simply makes me laugh because the lyrics sound, well, a bit like jibberish.  With all due respect to Mr. Tyler and Aerosmith, it is a great song, and the meaning is pretty straightforward..."Rag doll, livin' in a movie, hot tramp, daddy's little cutie, so fine, I never see ya leavin' by the backdoor...man."  Yes, she is so fine that she doesn't need to sneak around--the guys are coming to her!  Aha!  So, she's got it made.  Kudos, Rag Doll!  I think my other favorite part of the song is the very end, when Tyler does a sort of bluesy/rock/pop skat sequence, and I swear he says, "bibbity bibbity bop...."  Just be careful, because if you are watching the video, the very end has an extremely sloppy kiss between Tyler and his rag doll.  Look out.  Don't say I didn't warn you!  Anyway, all kidding aside, many happy returns to the one, the only, the legendary Steven Tyler.  Thank you, sir, for the fabulous musical gifts you have given us over the years.  May you have many today in return!

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.