Even though the majority of you will already know a crap load about Nirvana, I thought I might as well do a series about one of my favourite bands ever. To begin with, we'll start with some of the band's most famous songs (mainly because I'm to lazy to actually write anything)
You Know Your Right (The band's last recorded song)
Aneurysm (A crowd favourite at concerts, written about ex-girlfriend and Bikini Kill member Tobi Vail)
Smells Like Teen Spirit (The band's most popular song)
The Man Who Sold The World ("I guarantee you I will screw this song up")
Pennyroyal Tea (A herbal method for abortion)
Heart-Shaped Box
Lithium
All Apologies (A song expressing Kurt's feelings of guilt for Courtney Love's Herion addiction)
It’s remarkably rare for Rockstars to survive their Rock & Roll years. But, some do. Of course, no one can forget America’s Aerosmith, who were recognised as unrivalled rock and rollers in the early 70s. Nowadays, Aerosmith are still going, albeit hindered by their age and the detrimental effects of their previous drug habits. Recently producing their 13th studio album, many people speculate this band has long since peaked. Steven Tyler is certainly feeling his age, having to cancel an already interrupted (other members of the band had been unwell) 2006 tour as a result of potentially career-ending throat surgery.
Another bunch of unforgettable oldies is without doubt the Rolling Stones, who have been together since 1962. Keith Richards has reached the ripe old age of 62 and Mick Jagger is one year his senior, although the Rockstars look closer to 90 thanks to decades of substance abuse. In April 2006 Keith Richards suffered a potentially fatal fall from a coconut tree and sustained a significant head injury. Mick Jagger now relies upon an onstage autocue to remind him of his 40 year old lyrics, as well as prompting him the names of the cities the band performs in. Should rockers like this stop dragging it out and know when to quit? Hell no! Aerosmith’s latest album has received significant critical acclaim and Steven Tyler is rocking harder than ever in the band’s live performances. The Rolling Stones are back on the road as Richards’ head injury heals and Jagger recovers from laryngitis. Sure, these artists may have long since passed their peak. However, that is no justification for denying millions of fans what they’d want more than anything else; to see and hear their favourite bands perform live. Who cares if these Rockstars are old, they are living the way Rockstars should live, rocking and rolling till they die.
What’s the greatest song ever written? We are talking musically, lyrically… every facet that makes a song. It must be a song everyone’s heard, so unfortunately we can’t ramble about the greatest songs made by unsigned or unknown bands. Not so long ago Rolling Stone magazine compiled a ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time’ list, the top 10 of which is:
1. Like a Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan
2. Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones
3. Imagine, John Lennon
4. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye
5. Respect, Aretha Franklin
6. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys
7. Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry
8. Hey Jude, The Beatles
9. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
10. What'd I Say, Ray Charles
From http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs
Now I’ve never thought of Rolling Stone as an accurate authority on this kind of stuff – especially in recent times – and, well, I guess this list reinforces my doubt of the magazine’s integrity. It’s pretty naïve to attempt to make a list of the greatest songs of all time in the first place, but I’ve found this list to be pretty dodgy. Anyway, getting back to the songs: I certainly love all of these songs, but are they really the best ever? Imagine sticks out the most to me: sure it is a beautiful and meaningful song, but I really don’t think it’s the third greatest song of all time. Imagine is repetitive, formulaic, and, maybe not even Lennon’s best. Smells Like Teen Spirit also sticks out. Now, despite me being a Nirvana nut, it seems to me this song was put in merely so that the list wasn’t completely old school. Smells Like is an awesome song and it may very well have been the sound that defined the early 1990s, but I don’t think it should be crowned the ninth best song ever.
Coming in at 31st position in the Rolling Stone list is Led Zep’s Stairway to Heaven, which seems an inadequate rating to me. People always tell me that, because of this song’s unrivalled popularity, it’s overrated. Personally, I don’t think this song could ever be overrated! It’s epic, it’s exquisite, it’s musically perfect and, for one song, it takes the listener to so many different plains in the one experience. Possibly this song should knock off Like a Rolling Stone and claim number one position? If I ever wrote a song of the standard of Stairway I could never write another song, because I know that anything I ever concocted after this would be a total and utter let down. It’s like Da Vinci painting the Mona Lisa and then steering his career toward colouring-in books. Anyway, what do you think is the greatest song of all time?
Looking at the state of the modern-rock scene the answer seems to be: not anytime soon! Sure, we have some great bands going right now, notably The Strokes, Oasis, the Chili Peppers, Coldplay, Foo Fighters and Australia’s own Wolfmother. However, the popularity of Rock & Roll certainly seems to be in a downward spiral, sliding down the slippery slide to non-existence, following the path of classical music, blues and jazz. It’s such a sorry fate for this great music to be replaced by the formulaic, sleep inducing music of Britney Spears, the Pussy Cat Dolls and the Sugababes. Now, I know I’m going to have to prepare for a torrent of metro slaps and pointed-stiletto kicks. But honestly, no amount of make-up and silicone breasts could make these “artists” comparable at all to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Could the music of the Beatles, Stones, Pink Floyd and Led Zep ever be matched? Will there ever come a modern-rock band who not only sells a massive amount of records like these bands have, but produces music just as good, if not better?
Hey, that's a great idea! I can't believe I didn't think of that before, Editor-In-Chief, I like that. Thanks for the inspiration! Yeah, I would like to tell them what they've been doing wrong.
Anyway, you must think I'm doing something wrong but, ironically enough, you don't tell me what it is. Is it that I'm criticizing Rolling Stone? If so, I think I justified my claims, unlike you.
Wow, that's pretty surprising. I thought with other bands like the Stones, Pink Flloyd and Sex Pistols the British music would have been fine without the Beatles, well, at least it would survive without them. Very interesting.
I suppose I mean "Beating the Beatles" in a general way, both popularly and musically.
The Eagles did have the best-selling individual album, however, the Beatles are the
best-selling band of all time. See http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ledzeppelin/articles/story/
5926820/led_zeppelin_is_second_highest_selling_band_in_us_history.
I hadn't heard that Let it Be was inspired by Bridge over Troubled Water. I'm not sure if this is true
because as far as I know Let it Be was recorded in early 69 and Bridge over Troubled Water was
not released till 1970. I am probably wrong though. Regardless, I too love Paul Simon, though not as
much as the Fab Four.
Sadly enough I must agree that the days of the Beatles have passed.
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Comment by Jass
on Best Song Ever?
Anyway, you must think I'm doing something wrong but, ironically enough, you don't tell me what it is. Is it that I'm criticizing Rolling Stone? If so, I think I justified my claims, unlike you.