In Reply to: not sure I would call TFTEISYF a rock song posted by dave c on January 8, 2007 at 15:14:51:
It's true. I don't think any of my selections could be termed rock songs.It's interesting, though, how much more literate and lyrical the songs of the 30's, 40's and 50's are in comparison to those we have today.
Was it that the world was more literate? Was it that "adults" were in charge, rather than more "immature" rocks stars? Still, some great stuff came out of Tin Pan Alley, when Carole King, Neil Diamond, and others were just kids. The 50's offered up some exquisite love songs, I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU, UNCHAINED MELODY and so many others. Yet, when it comes to love songs, Broadway and show music in general has been a well-spring of articulate, poetic expressions of love that the rock era has rarely, if ever, equalled.
The Gershwins, Porter, Sondheim, Mercer, Carmicheal, Arlen, Lerner and Lowe, and so many more were true masters of the popular song. That's why, when I'm in the mood for love songs, I gravitate toward Sinatra, Fitzgerald and other great interpreters of this medium, rather than to my rock recordings.
Anyway, poor lyrics are almost endemic to rock music. So few rock composers, perhaps with the exception of people like Paul Simon, Dylan and a few others, can really write a well turned phrase or put their thoughts into and organized lyric that has poetic beauty and direction -- a least in terms of love songs. Rock music seemed more at home with expressions of protest, social reform and teenage angst.
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Follow Ups
- Re: not sure I would call TFTEISYF a rock song - halfnote 22:57:28 01/08/07 (0)