Thursday, September 14, 2006

MEMED BY THE CAVEMAN HIMSELF

Music Meme

Best title ever for a piece of music
Like the Catholic Caveman, who tagged me, I will go with a long title. Sixteen Little Red Noses and a Horse that Sweats by Jim Stafford. (Second would be his I Ain't Sharin' Sharon)

Most underrated guitarist
Wally Bryson of the Raspberries, though the Caveman's choice of Chicago's Terry Kath (1946-1978) is up there. Jim Croce's (+1973) lead acoustic guitarist also ranks up there.

Music that moves me to tears
All by Myself by Eric Carmen, especially the Rachmaninoff piano solo in the 7:13-long album version.

Most unusual lead instrument in a piece of music
That would be Ted Nugent's guitar, played with a violin bow, on his Double Live Gonzo album. In any of my podcasts, it would be Shamus' voice.

Coolest name ever for a Rock 'N Roll band
Gotta love that generic band name from the 1960's, The Band

Worst genre of music ever
It's a tie between Rap and Hip Hop, and that stuff today that people actually have the colossal nerve to call R&B. I'm sorry, when I think R&B, I think BB King. I agree with Caveman that Rap is definitely the "bastard child" of disco, and disco was a bad thing. However, the "bastard child" really turned out to be a "problem child", far worse than its ancestor, IMO.

Best guitar jam
I will agree on Freebird.

Music that's ever scared your kid
I don't remember any particular piece of music that scared any of my kids (remember, I'm a father of four). I can remember music that scared me as a kid, however - that would be anything on the organ by the old bitty of an organist at the neighborhood church, played and/or sung. It was just dang awful! When she finally retired, it was a breath of fresh air. Her replacement came in when I was nine. That replacement and I have been good friends for three decades now.

National Anthem that most gets the blood pumping
Other than the U.S., Canada, and Deutschland, I really don't know many national anthems. I will say Canada. In addition, it's a lot easier to sing than our own here in the U.S., and doesn't blatantly promote rockets and bombs. (George Carlin once said, We have the only national anthem that mentions f***ing rockets and bombs in it!)

OK Brian, who will you tag?
Anyone who dares to read this.

Peace,
BMP

5 comments:

Jeff Miller said...

Best title: Pink Floyd's
"Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict"

Most underated guitarist
Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. He was simply never a showoff. Next would be Randy Rhoads. He was both amazingly talented and humble. Trained on the classical guitar his work with Ozzy is just plain amazing.

Most unusual lead instrument in a piece of music:
Jimmy Page beat Ted Nugent by quite a bit with the violin on a guitar bit with Zep's first album with Dazed and Confused and he also used a theremin.
Though I do like Terrible Ted and even have an autographed poster from him. The Kinks though are the only band I can think of that can use an accordion and not suck.

Coolest name:
Galactic Cowboys or Our Lady Peace

Worse genre:
Disco of course.

Best guitar jam.
Difficult though Freebird is a good choice. Cause We've ended as lovers by Jeff Beck has one the most amazing jams I have ever heard - he just went into hyperdrive all of a sudden. Jimmy Page on Since I've been loving you still gives me chills. Hendrix's Voodoo Child is simply amazing. I guess I could go on all day with this one.

PhiMuAlpha2681 said...

BEST TITLE: "How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away?" -- Red Clay Ramblers

MOST UNDERRATED GUITARIST: stumped me here...

MUSIC THAT MOVES ME TO TEARS: "Ave Maria" -- Franz Biebl, as sung by Chanticleer

MUST UNUSUAL LEAD INSTRUMENT: Ondes Martinot

COOLEST BAND NAME: Strawberry Alarm Clock

WORST GENRE: Music is music. There is value in all genres, even if it doesn't appeal to me personally.

BEST GUITAR JAM: Carlos Santana, in "Oye Como Va", would probably be my call...

MUSIC THAT'S SCARED MY KID: n/a, no kids.

NATIONAL ANTHEM: the old Soviet Union anthem.

CastCantor said...

BEST TITLE: A three way tie. "Roll Over Beethoven," "A Boy Named Sue", or "We Need A Whole Lot More Jesus and A Lot Less Rock and Roll"

MOST UNDERRATED GUITARIST: Me. For good reason.

MUSIC THAT MOVES ME TO TEARS: "Christus Factus Est," by Anton Bruckner. Every single time. And at the end of "Pinocchio," the part right after he's turned into a real boy and Geppetto is happy, and Jiminy Cricket gets his medal, and the Disney choir comes welling up and Jiminy sings "When You Wish Upon a Star" . . I can't help myself.

MUST UNUSUAL LEAD INSTRUMENT: Andrea Boccelli's voice backed by soft rock.

COOLEST BAND NAME: Afghan Whigs, The Police

WORST GENRE: Rap is awful, but not the worst. The worst is the genre that features treacly, saccharine, bombastic "inspirational" songs that never seem to mention a deity by name, popularized by Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Charlotte Church, etc., etc. and produced by David Foster, the genius that brought us the "Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire."

BEST GUITAR JAM: Whatever was played at the last Folk Mass

MUSIC THAT'S SCARED MY KID: He likes music and is practicing his piano right now under Daddy's tutelage

NATIONAL ANTHEM: La Marsellaise, for the first half. I love the SSB.

Brian Michael Page said...

CC, you mention David Foster. I'm a big of Chicago's earlier stuff. Since David Foster took over production in the early 80's, the band was never the same. Don't get me wrong - "Hard for me to say I'm sorry" isn't a bad tune (IMO), but give me "25 or 6 to 4", "Make me smile", and "I'm a man" anyday (the last was penned by Steve Winwood, but the late Terry Kath's guitar playing was a force to be reckoned with). Oh, and that 9-1/4 minute "Sing a mean tune kid" that I haven't heard in ages.
BMP

CastCantor said...

It's not hard for me to say I'm sorry . . . . that I don't remember a lot of Chicago before the 80s, but "25 or 6 to 4" IS a great, taut song. Also a great title!