Over to you Hyacinth:
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My kids are grown up and live away from home now. When they come down at the weekend, like any good Dad, I tend to give them absolute power over the remote control (unless Spurs are playing, I'm not THAT good !!) That means for more Saturday evenings than are good for your health, its a few hours of the dreaded 'X Factor'.
Because there was no other option, I began to watch this mass produced mayhem in the faint, and so far fruitless,hope that someday,an act might appear that could hold a candle to some of the great singers and musicians that have graced our radios and TV's since Bill Haley rocked around the Clock in the mid 50';s, almost 60 years ago.
Back in the day (LOVE that saying, it describes SO much) and much to the displeasure of our grandparents, rock and roll was king. Its infectious back beat, driving guitars and suggestive lyrics was meat and drink to a generation that was crying out to rebel after the austerity of WW2 and the years of rationing that followed. Cue Elvis Presley with his swivel hips, Jerry Lee Lewis and his honky tonk piano and Little Richard's classic Good Golly Miss Molly, and the groundwork was done for a thousand bands and singers to vie for space in the Top 20 over the next 30 years.
From 1955 till the early 80's when record companies decided they didn't like rock and roll anymore, we were able to listen to the early pioneers of rock, then the Beatles and the Rolling Stones,the Who,Fleetwood Mac in all its various guises,Pink Floyd, Cream, with Eric Clapton and more lightweight bands, but equally listenable like The Hollies, During the 60's hardly a chart was issued that one or more of the these bands did not feature in.
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| Creedence Clearwater Revival incl John Fogerty |
In the late 60's and early 70's , we had the pleasure of listening to classic material from some big hitting American acts like Creedence, Simon and Garfunkel, Jimi Hendrix,, the Eagles and a young emerging talent called Bruce Springsteen. If you turn on your radio today, I guarantee you will still hear songs from all the acts mentioned above and lots more beside, that still sound as fresh and original as when first released.
Now back to the X Factor generation.
In the 1960's we had Simon and Garfunkel. The X factor gives us Jedward
In the 1970's, it was Crosby, Stills , Nash and Young. Now its One Direction.
I think its safe to say that the ' Greatest Hits of the Noughties' will be instantly forgettable, while the ' Greatest Hits of the 50's through to the 90's' covers a huge amount of classic music. music that was actually played on REAL guitars and drums, music that was was really sung into a live microphone. Not like todays electronically produced stuff and lip synced lyrics.
For that reason, I feel sorry for todays young people. Their musical tastes have been dictated to them by money grabbing leeches like Simon Cowell, who should be charged for Offences against Humanity for some of the'talent' he has manufactured.
I go to as many live gigs as I can. I am spoiled by the likes of Bruce Springsteen's 3 to 4 hour sets, by the likes of John Fogerty's magical guitar and voice, by Fleetwood Mac's vocal power and by The Who's sheer energy. Compare that to the 20 minutes or so of miming that is so common amongst Mr Cowell's acts. There is no comparison. Todays kids are being cheated, only they don't realise. All they are doing by buying a song by yet another one hit wonder on itunes is to allow Cowell purchase another Lamborghini.
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| The Awful Boyzone in Action |
I will finish with a joke that did the rounds when the awful 'Boyzone' started out in the 90's. The venue was packed when the announcer came on to say the gig was cancelled, somebody stole the tapedeck.
I rest my case.
Hyacinth.
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Thank you Hyacinth, You made me so thirsty for the old days that I checked Creedence on You Tube, and it brought the memories back so much so that I downloaded their complete Collection Box Set on to my iPhone. I'm rocking away as I edit. Here's a link to a YouTube video of CCR in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIPan-rEQJA&feature=player_detailpage enjoy.
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