Songs Easy To Admire, Hard To Like
Rock 'n Roll is,
largely, rebellion, which is why it is so appealing to the young and those
desperate to remain young. Most people harbor an urge to rebel throughout life,
albeit to a lesser degree through the years, as age seems to value comfort
above all else. In my 40's I began listening to standards, a sort of rebellion
against the direction modern music was taking. I longed for the comfort of
melodious, beautifully written songs about love and heartbreak. I visited my
rock library less and less. Eventually, I began re-including the hundreds of
wonderful pop songs of the '50's and '60's, and the '70's, all of which were
dubbed rock simply because they flourished in the rock era.
The '60's gave
rise to protest music, initially regarding the civil rights movement, later
against the war in Vietnam and the society that supported it. This spawned
advocacy for sexual freedom and drug usage, changing America and the world
forever. The jury is still out on whether those particular changes were for the
better. I liked most of the songs and, given my youth, agreed with their
message. These days I have a grudging admiration for many of them.
Bob Dylan's Masters of War is basically a screed
against arms-makers. In a tribute concert to Dylan, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder
did a chilling, passionate rendition of this powerful piece: "Even Jesus
would never forgive what you do." Of course, in the real world,
circumstances are not as simple as they are in such a song. Even a writer as
gifted as Dylan may miss the full picture, especially when vision is hampered
by youth. The enemy is armed and wants to defeat, annihilate us if necessary.
Those who developed "the bomb" before the Nazis and Japanese were
heroes, not villains.
Black Sabbath
took a stab at the anti-war movement in the harrowing War Pigs, likening generals to "witches at black masses"
who in the end receive their just desserts: "Day of Judgement, God is
calling/ On their knees the war pigs crawling." As big a fan as I was of
Sabbath, I am more a fan of generals and all who serve and sacrifice so much to
stand guard while the rest of us prosper in this privileged nation. For every
soldier that goes astray, there are scores if not thousands who do their duty
honorably, no matter what screenwriters might say. I feel safer with them in
the vanguard than with those who would woo the enemy with reason. Perhaps a
worldwide, heartfelt chorus of John Lennon's Give Peace a Chance will convince Al Qaeda to cease its lunacy. If
only things were that simple.
Occasionally,
while cruising in the car, Edwin Starr's rousing War is broadcast on the radio: "What is it good for --
absolutely nothin'." I still try to match his growl: "Good God,
y'all," forgetting for the moment the oversimplification of the song's
theme. Although he was using the general term, he was alluding to Vietnam. I
doubt he would have railed so ardently against the Revolutionary or Civil War,
or World War II, but he might have against World War I and the Korean conflict.
It’s a selective outrage most of us practice. I suspect we will be hearing more
of this dramatic piece as the war in Iraq continues. What we probably won't be
hearing, especially in song, are viable alternatives in the war on terror.
These songs
naturally appeal to the young, who don't want to be cheated of the life ahead
of them. Although they do not face a draft, perhaps they, as I at 56, feel
guilty and ashamed about how others are dying for them, and wish the horrible
images to simply go away. Fortunately, there are enough young men willing to
face the ultimate sacrifice. Where do they find the courage and resolve? It is
awe-inspiring, and humbling to those of us who lack it. And it is disheartening
to see so many talented artists unite to undermine them, although that is not
their intent -- I hope. Given the contempt many artists have for the military,
one cannot be entirely sure. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. They
would have our forces rush to stop the slaughter in Darfur, but are ready to
abandon Iraqis of good will, who likely will die in greater numbers if we cut
and run. I wonder if the main objection is that the carnage has interrupted the
party that is America, made it impossible for us to return to the comfort, or
the illusion of it, we knew prior to 9/11. I doubt we will know it for decades,
even should the situation in Baghdad reverse in our favor.
Ian Dury and the
Blockheads sang jauntily of Sex and Drugs
and Rock and Roll. In the words of Meatloaf: "Two out of three ain't
bad." Drug use is another theme that began making its way into music in
the '60's. No song did it more boldly than Lou Reed's Heroin: "It's my wife and it's my life." The 13-minute
version on the Velvet Underground's legendary, live Rock 'n Roll Animal LP is fascinating and unapologetic, and
features soaring guitar work by Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter. Of course, no
song can convey an actual high to the un-experienced. Even Jimi Hendrix's
dazzling riffs on Purple Haze fail to
convey an acid trip.
The only people
who have done less drugs than I are those who have done none at all. A friend
had to point out to me that Reed's Sweet
Jane is an ode to marijuana. Still, it is only human to wonder what the
highs of heroin and LSD are like. Fortunately, the potential consequences keep
most from indulging. Reed survived substance abuse. I wonder how many who
bought into the philosophy of Heroin
("You can all go take a f----n'
walk") did not. I recall an interview in which Grace Slick regretted the
example she had set. She was receiving letters from fans institutionalized due
to drug abuse -- and who were still advocating the lifestyle. In her and in
Reed's defense, even the premature death of so many young musicians fails as a
deterrent. How many young wrestlers have died due to suspected steroid use? Bam
Bam Bigelow, 45, is the latest. Pro wrestlers must have the shortest lifespan
of all Americans, even shorter than that of rock artists. The arrogance of
youth fools many into believing or hoping the most dire consequences will elude
them.
In White Rabbit ("One pill makes you
larger, and one pill makes you small"), Slick sang hauntingly of the
frightening allure of narcotics. The final lines captured vividly the mindset
of the user: "...What the dormouse said/ Feed your head." I used to
think it was "doorknob," not "dormouse," which worked even
better for me, although it is contrary to the other imagery of the piece,
which, apparently, was influenced by Alice
in Wonderland, as well as by Go Ask
Alice, the diary of a teenage addict. With compelling artistry, it shows
the addict will find any rationale to indulge. I think of this brilliant track
in a paraphrase of Neil Young: "Way beyond blue and into the black."
It is Jefferson Starship's finest moment, a song hard to like, but easy to admire.
What do you
think?
War – Whitfield/Strong
Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll - Dury and Jankel
Two Out of Three Ain't Bad - Jim Steinman
All other songs by the artists in question
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