Metallica's second Orion Music + More festival is only a week away. Last time it held in NY/NJ area, and it was a huge success. This time around however, Metallica has taken a chance and hosting in a city that only partially exist - Detroit! I thought people in Detroit were only into turntables :-)
Orion is taking place on June 8 & 9. I think this one's going to be better than last one simply because Red Hot Chilli Peppers is highlighting the first night, and Metallica on second, unlike last year when Metallica was the only headlining band on both nights. I believe they should extend the festival to at least three days to include all the excitement from two successful mainstream bands.
Further information can be found on www.orionmusicandmore.com
If you are planning on attending the concert, have a safe ride, and hopefully you'll make out of the dead city in one piece.
Everything Rock N' Roll: blog about rock, hard rock and heavy metal songs, albums, bands and artists.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Song Meaning & Analysis: Run to the Hills by Iron Maiden
Run to the Hills from Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden |
The Song is about the British Invasion of the US in the early colonial times. First two choruses were written from the point of view of Native Americas. The lyrics are very self-explanatory. "White man came across the sea" refers the English crossing the Atlantic, invading the Eastern shores of the US. "We fought him hard we fought him well" states the resistance put forth by the Natives to stop the Brits from advancing further into the mainland. Of course, the Native Americas lost. This is now known as Western Expansion. In the song, natives are referred to as the "the Cree."
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Song Meaning: Master of Puppets by Metallica
Title track from Metallica's third studio album |
The song emphasizes the negative effects that result in the use of alcohols and drugs, like addiction and inevitable death. If GNR were to write a song about drugs, on the other hand, like Mr. Brownstone and Nightrain, they would put more emphasize on the enjoyment aspect of it. This contrast is one of the many features that distinguishes heavy metal from hard rock. But I think both genres are equally enjoyable.
Song Meaning: Another Brick in the Wall, Part II by Pink Floyd
I'm not a big fan of Pink Floyd because they usually put me to sleep. But my personal judgement in no way defines the success of a band that has sold over 300 million albums worldwide!
The song appeared on Pink Floyd's 1979 studio album of The Wall. It was the second of the total of tree songs under the same title. The song is also known No Education. Upon released as a single, Another Brick in the Wall, Part II was a hit in UK,US, and Europe. Since then, song has become a fan-favorite, and a reputable rock song around the world.
Song Meaning & Facts: Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Song Meaning & Facts: My Generation by The Who
"My Generation" is among many iconic songs that The Who produced in the 60s. The song is consistent with some memorable sound effects and lyrics. One such incident is Roger Daltrey's continuous stutter throughout the song. My analysis on this is that it's an evidence of acid rock. Daltrey is simulating the effect of being high on drugs while singing. Apparently, use of drugs/ counterculture was prominent at the time.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Song Meaning: I Can't Get No Satisfaction by Rolling Stones
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Song Meaning: Man in Black by Johnny Cash
I believe Johnny Cash is the greatest country musician in the history of American popular music. Growing up as a child protege, his musical influences were deeply rooted in southern country music. He was also talented in variety of other genres spanning across blues, soul, folk and rock n' roll. Cash worked with prominent rock n' rollers in the 50s, including Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Song Meaning & Facts: American Idiot by Green Day
American Idiot is a anti-establishment song that outlines most of the things wrong with the US: guns, racism, bigotry, sexism, general stupidity, and, of course, wars. In fact, the album was released following the year of Iraq War, and months before the 2004 US presidential election. Nevertheless the album did not manage to prevent Pres. Bush from reelecting back to the White House.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Song Meaning: Dream On by Aerosmith
The song is about the life in general, with an emphasis on the process of aging. "Every time when I look in the mirror/ All these lines on my face getting clearer" states a person who has come to accept the fact that aging cannot be stopped, and it's a part of life. Instead of saying "time flies", Steven Tyler sings "The past is gone /It went by, like dusk to dawn" with the use of an alliteration.
"I know nobody knows /Where it comes and where it goes" refers to idea that nobody is intelligent enough to understand life in it's deepest form, and all the attributes of it - aging being one. So everybody, like the singer himself, kind of has to "go with the flow" and eventually die.
"Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away" states that death could come upon us any minute. So,as sung in the previous lines, try to enjoy every minute of life. "Sing with me, sing for the years/ Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears / Sing with me, just for today" refers to just that. Singing is the best way to enjoy life? That's what Tyler says :-). It seems to contradict their drug-heavy rock n' roll life style, but whatever. Aerosmith fans should adopt what Aerosmith is saying, not what they do. If you do what the "toxic twins" did in the 1970s, you are definitely going to spend some time in a hospital bed.
The chorus repeats with "Dream On". I exactly don't know this is referring. Shocking, isn't it? But I think it's open to your own interpretation. I have few: Steve was so dunk when he wrote this, he just put together two words to complete the chorus. It could also be viewed as the singer asking the listener to keep working hard until certain goals in life are achieved, "Dream until your dreams come true." Fell free to correct me if you think otherwise. I welcome your input.
Every time when I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
The past is gone
It went by, like dusk to dawn
Isn't that the way
Everybody's got the dues in life to pay
I know nobody knows
Where it comes and where it goes
I know it's everybody sin
You got to lose to know how to win
Half my life
Is books written pages
Live and learn from fools and
From sages
You know it's true, oh
All these things you do come back to you
Sing with me, sing for the years
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears
Sing with me, just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good lord will take you away
Yeah, sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
Sing with me, just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
Dream on
Dream on
Dream on
Dream until your dreams come true
Dream on
Dream on
Dream on
Dream until your dreams come true
Dream on
Dream on
Dream on
Dream on
Dream on
Dream on
Dream on
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
Sing with me, just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
Sing with me, just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away.
Song Meaning: Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Song Meaning: Walk This Way by Aerosmith
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Song Meaning & Facts: Let's Spend the Night Together by Rolling Stones
Single from Between the Buttons by the Stones |
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Song Meaning: Cyanide by Metallica
Cyanide from Metallica's Death Magnetic |
Song Meaning & Analysis: Creeping Death by Metallica
Creeping Death from Ride the Lightning |
Friday, May 17, 2013
Song Meaning: Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
Artist: Bon Jovi | Album: Slippery When Wet | Released: 1986
Riding on the popularity of the glam metal scene in the 80's, "Livin' on a Prayer" shot to the top of the charts. It was Bon Jovi's second consecutive #1 hit from Slippery When Wet album, the first one was You Gave Love a Bad Name. Since it's release, it has become Bon Jovi's Paranoid, their signature song. It's never been excluded from their live setlist. Still to this day, it's very popular among rock and pop radio stations.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Song Meaning: One by Metallica
Artist: Metallica | Album: ...And Justice For All | Released: 1989
Second power ballad ( if I'm not mistaken ) by Metallica, "One" put the 'thrash' metal band on MTV. The single also marked a milestone for the band: they made the first music video to promote the song on MTV. The music video, however, was like no other other at the time - filmed in a gloomy setting, running over seven minutes in length . Nevertheless, the video compelling enough for the band to be nominated for a Grammy in 1988, but lost to Jetro Tall. This was later recognized as one of the f#@ed up moments in the history of Grammy Awards.
Song Meaning: Paranoid by Black Sabbath
Artist: Black Sabbath| Album: Paranoid | Released: 1970
A classic heavy metal song by a band that pioneered heavy metal in the 70's, "Paranoid" perfectly defines the themes of a true heavy metal song: death, depression, daemons, and darkness. The single was a hit on rock radio. It was facilitated on the back of the escalating Vietnam War; many people related the heartbreaking news stories of the war to the paranoia described in the lyrics.
Paranoid is the title track of the second Black Sabbath album |
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Song Meaning, Analysis & Facts: Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N' Roses
Artist: Guns N Roses | Album: Appetite for Destruction | Released: 1987
If there's one song that perfectly sums up G N' R perfectly, and captures the essence of rock n' roll, it's "Welcome to the Jungle". The song is the definition of sex, drugs and rock n' roll.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Song Meaning: Fade to Black by Metallica
Artist: Metallica | Album: Ride the Lightening | Released: 1984
First power ballad by the legendary heavy metal band Metallica, "Fade to Black" generated much controversy among hardcore thrash metal fans for its "bluesier", acoustic sound. But today the song is considered to be one of the best ballads in the history of rock n' roll.
Song Meaning: Every Rose Has Its Thorn by Poison
ARTIST: POISON | ALBUM: Open Up and Say... Ahh! | RELEASED: 1988
"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" marked Poison at their best, highlighted by the fact that this is their only No. 1 hit on Bill Board 100. As a rock n' roll fan, but necessary a fan of the glam metal stuff, I'll admit that this indeed is a good song - both musically and lyrically.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Song Meaning & Background: November Rain by Guns N' Roses
ARTIST: Guns n' roses | ALBUM: use your illusion i | RELEASED: 1992
This used to be my favorite song for a while as it gave me great comfort when I was going to through some rough times in my life.
About
Hi I'm David Thomson - an avid Rock N' Roll fan. I've been listening to Rock, hard rock and heavy metal for a better part of my life. My favorite bands/musicians are ( may be in order of most liked to least, I dunno; it depends on the day ☺) : Metallica, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Bon Jovi, Green Day, and many many more.
When I first created this blog, I thought I was going to only write about the themes hidden in songs, because most hard rock/rock n' roll songs have a deeper meaning that we conveniently ignore. We get so wrapped up in melodies, riffs and solos, but never take enough time to focus on the message. The reason why I say this is because since the 60's ( Beatles' era ) the band had much of the creative saying, meaning the song-writing was done within the band - giving the artist much room for his/her own creative saying. The best example is, none other than, Elvis. Elvis ruled the 50's, but didn't write a single song. The studio managers had song writers to do that for Elvis. This was due to something known as division of labor. It may be a little known fact that Elvis was the only Rock N Roll artist who had a major label, but it was surely no coincident, because major labels wanted artists who coincide with their policy of division of labor.
So as I was considering all this, I thought I should expand this blog beyond just the songs. I thought I should talk about the history of rock music, how bands were formed, background on some key artists/bands, the difference between Heavy Metal and Hard Rock, and evolution of rock itself. But for now I''ll stick to exploring the meanings of songs. As I said, many rock songs are wrapped around in depth themes, much more than the fun things - you know: sex, drugs and rock n' roll :-). Stairway to Heaven is probably the best example. It's hard to put this song into words! It's the most frequently request song in the 70's; not surprising, given that Led Zeppelin was the band of the decade. I shall embark on a journey to break this song down, but not right now, of course. Being a HUGE Metallica fan, songs like Fade to Black, Unforgiven part I, part II and part III also come to mind.
When I write about song means, I'll probably have the lyrics right beside my own interpretation of the song. I also would like to see you own take on the songs I post on the blog. So please feel free to leave comments suggesting what you think of the song, and if it affected your personal life in way. In the future I might further expand the blog to popular music of today, but that's very unlikely. Can you guess why?
When I first created this blog, I thought I was going to only write about the themes hidden in songs, because most hard rock/rock n' roll songs have a deeper meaning that we conveniently ignore. We get so wrapped up in melodies, riffs and solos, but never take enough time to focus on the message. The reason why I say this is because since the 60's ( Beatles' era ) the band had much of the creative saying, meaning the song-writing was done within the band - giving the artist much room for his/her own creative saying. The best example is, none other than, Elvis. Elvis ruled the 50's, but didn't write a single song. The studio managers had song writers to do that for Elvis. This was due to something known as division of labor. It may be a little known fact that Elvis was the only Rock N Roll artist who had a major label, but it was surely no coincident, because major labels wanted artists who coincide with their policy of division of labor.
So as I was considering all this, I thought I should expand this blog beyond just the songs. I thought I should talk about the history of rock music, how bands were formed, background on some key artists/bands, the difference between Heavy Metal and Hard Rock, and evolution of rock itself. But for now I''ll stick to exploring the meanings of songs. As I said, many rock songs are wrapped around in depth themes, much more than the fun things - you know: sex, drugs and rock n' roll :-). Stairway to Heaven is probably the best example. It's hard to put this song into words! It's the most frequently request song in the 70's; not surprising, given that Led Zeppelin was the band of the decade. I shall embark on a journey to break this song down, but not right now, of course. Being a HUGE Metallica fan, songs like Fade to Black, Unforgiven part I, part II and part III also come to mind.
When I write about song means, I'll probably have the lyrics right beside my own interpretation of the song. I also would like to see you own take on the songs I post on the blog. So please feel free to leave comments suggesting what you think of the song, and if it affected your personal life in way. In the future I might further expand the blog to popular music of today, but that's very unlikely. Can you guess why?
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