hi all - long time lurker, short time poster a few years back. spent a nice sunday morning perusing this thread and the spotify playlist.
some questions that came to mind:
1. how many voters play guitar? if you are among them, did you vote for deep purple?? most Classic Rock band missing from the list for me. i wonder how dependent this is on your guitar teacher's taste... side note: voodoo child is my absolute favorite recording of an electric guitar performance ever.
2. i thought steely dan was ilm's favorite band... were they not deemed to be Classic Rock enough? if so, i get that, but then again i didn't get into them until my CRR-listening years were over, and i'm not sure how much airplay they get on CRR, though i know "ricki," "reelin'," "do it again," and "my old school" have made different sorts of imprints on my mind than other sd songs. i think that must be due to the radio. in an ideal world, surely "my old school" in particular would be part of CRR canon?? unbelievable guitars...
3. some interesting regional differences in US stations have come up... how far back do the accessible collated data go (re: mentioned top 500 lists, airplay, etc.)? is CR the genre of recorded music where the established canon was most influenced by the radio format?
i grew up on 98 rock in baltimore county, which i believe must have also been an influence on our poll-runner... "war pigs" kicked off the bumper i remember the most. would have been a contender for my #1 if i had voted. might be the funnest song to play on guitar ever. that or black dog.. or maybe highway star...
honorable mention: best bridge to "unchained." "ONE BREAK, COMIN' UP!!!" followed by another chorus...
― another al3x, Sunday, 3 August 2014 18:33 (nine years ago) link
yeah, i definitely grew up on 98 Rock too. i think of that as much more of a hard rock station than a classic rock station, though -- i didn't nominate stuff like Ozzy or Judas Priest unless i heard it on full-on classic rock stations too.
i think Steely Dan shook out much like Bowie per discussions upthread -- so many people here know and love the artist's whole catalog and might love the singles but don't necessarily hold them up as their absolute best work, so it made more sense to focus on bands known just by their singles like .38 Special or whatever. Zep or the Stones are way too central to classic rock radio to be left out of the top 100, but Steely Dan have always been kind of 2nd or 3rd tier in terms of airplay.
i've only collected airplay data from the last 5 years or so btw.
― some dude, Sunday, 3 August 2014 18:47 (nine years ago) link
It's interesting how these issues were discussed, particularly around which songs were the "most CR" for artists with canonized catalogues. It's how you get "Rebel Rebel" as the highest placing Bowie song, I think.
Based on that criteria, I thought that maybe "Reeling in the Years" might have a shot at the top 100, as it's the Steely Dan I've heard most in the CR format.
― Man, when I tell you she was cool, she was red hot, I mean she was (intheblanks), Sunday, 3 August 2014 19:00 (nine years ago) link
agreed on "reelin'." sd and bowie are both definitely different things than CR in my mind as well, understood.
thanks for the reply some dude. is there a different station that shaped your idea of Classic Rock more than 97.9? 101.1 or 100.7? those two came later in my mind. class of 2001 here.
i would be happy to play with some data that's in an excel-friendly format.
― another al3x, Sunday, 3 August 2014 19:10 (nine years ago) link
i lived all over Virginia and Delaware and Maryland growing up, so several different past and present stations around the region influenced my idea of CR radio.
i have all the points data together in one big messy Excel file, it's kinda for my eyes only but if someone else is really interested to see it i might share.
― some dude, Sunday, 3 August 2014 19:25 (nine years ago) link
My highest Chicago was 86, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is. Then Saturday in the Park at 89.
― Jeff, Sunday, 3 August 2014 20:15 (nine years ago) link
is CR the genre of recorded music where the established canon was most influenced by the radio format?
Does CR as a concept really exist outside of the AOR/Classic Rock radio format? And to what extent? Do rock listeners who grew up without CR radio conceive of a classic rock era that starts around 1967?
It seems that most other conceptions of rock heritage - for example, what you see in Mojo magazine - stress the continuities going back through the '60s, '50s, and even back to precursor forms. I know there's also a magazine called Classic Rock, but according to wikipedia it's "dedicated to the radio format of classic rock."
This point reminds me of something else I wanted to ask. Was there ever any rival rock radio format that was at all commercially successful during the heyday of Lee Abrams-style AOR radio, say 1972 to 1987 or so? Such as a format that would embrace stuff like The Stooges, NY Dolls, more than 2-3 Black Sabbath cuts, etc.?
― Josefa, Sunday, 3 August 2014 21:13 (nine years ago) link
yeah, I think if someone grew up just reading Rolling Stone and other mainstream magazines and record guides without any exposure to FM radio, they'd probably assume that 'classic rock' is very heavily defined by '64 era British Invasion stuff, maybe even early rock before that. the schism between traditional critical narratives about rock and radio playlists seems like kind of an inside joke that almost everybody i've ever known has intuitively been in on. are there people who consider Foreigner and Styx 'important' bands because of their radio ubiquity? the early '80s slant of rock radio has definitely helped along the canonization of "Don't Stop Believin'," but even that seems kind of knowing and anti-rockist, raising a Journey song to the platform of a timeless classic.
― some dude, Sunday, 3 August 2014 21:55 (nine years ago) link
I know it made at least one voter unhappy, but I was thrilled that Foreigner didn't make the top 100. The sheer quantity of Foreigner songs in CR rotation is astounding to me; the only group I can think of that rivals them in terms of "tons of classic rock staples, all of which are awful" is Bad Company.
― Man, when I tell you she was cool, she was red hot, I mean she was (intheblanks), Sunday, 3 August 2014 22:25 (nine years ago) link
"double vision" really the most earnest ode to inebriation to ever get radio play
― °ㅇ๐ْ ° (gr8080), Sunday, 3 August 2014 22:36 (nine years ago) link
i like Foreigner in small doses, but it just seems like the consensus about any one of their singles is not as strong as "Believin'" is with Journey -- Johnny Fever kept championing "Urgent," but that one bores me, I like "Feels Like The First Time" and "Juke Box Hero," and I'm sure someone else has a different favorite entirely.
― some dude, Sunday, 3 August 2014 22:41 (nine years ago) link
(To some dude's previous post) Right, and though I've known countless rock fans in my lifetime it's difficult to imagine any of them at any point saying, "Hey, let's go listen to some classic rock!" Unless they meant it as an ironic reference to the radio format. It's like when people say "Is that Freedom Rock?! Turn it up, man!" - they're jokingly referring to the old TV ad with no acknowledgement that they personally sort music into a Freedom Rock category, which they probably don't.
― Josefa, Sunday, 3 August 2014 22:45 (nine years ago) link
the consensus about any one of their singles is not as strong as "Believin'" is with Journey
Yeah, it actually feels like the late 70s/early 80s bands Foreigner gets lumped in with each have at least one consensus song, be it "Don't Stop Believing," "Dust in the Wind," or "Come Sail Away." I don't think Foreigner has an equivalent track in their catalogue.
― Man, when I tell you she was cool, she was red hot, I mean she was (intheblanks), Sunday, 3 August 2014 23:48 (nine years ago) link
playlist data suggests that the top 3 is Cold As Ice / Juke Box Hero / Double Vision but they're all pretty close in spins and which gets the most varies from year to year.
― some dude, Sunday, 3 August 2014 23:53 (nine years ago) link
I used to be kind of meh about Foreigner but I could only stay immune to the power of Lou for so long. FEEEEELS LIIIIKE THE VEEEERRRY FIRST TIME
― SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 3 August 2014 23:58 (nine years ago) link
urgent! urgent! emergency!
― cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Monday, 4 August 2014 00:01 (nine years ago) link
urgent!urgent!urgent!eMERRRgency
― SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 4 August 2014 00:02 (nine years ago) link
that's the song that made me go wait a second, seriously foreigner? and then i thought about all their other songs and it all kinda made sense. they are gross and unimaginative when it comes to lyrics.
― cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Monday, 4 August 2014 00:03 (nine years ago) link
imoalthough cold as ice is ok
very proud of this thread: JUKEBOX HERO POLL
― some dude, Monday, 4 August 2014 00:04 (nine years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfzJtKZUCw8
― pplains, Monday, 4 August 2014 00:17 (nine years ago) link
"Hot Blooded" the best/worst Foreigner lyrics for sheer boneheadedness
― Man, when I tell you she was cool, she was red hot, I mean she was (intheblanks), Monday, 4 August 2014 00:24 (nine years ago) link
Whenever I hear "Hot Blooded" on the radio, I respond literally. You have a fever of 103? You should really go to the emergency room immediately. Do I do more than dance? No, absolutely nothing; I have no other interests, nor am I capable of any movements that are not a direct response to whatever music may be playing at any given moment.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 4 August 2014 00:44 (nine years ago) link
You're not shy, you get aroundYou wanna fly, don't want your feet on the groundYou stay up, you won't come downYou wanna live, you wanna move to the sound
Got fire in your veinsBurnin' hot but you don't feel the painYour desire is insaneYou can't stop until you do it again
But sometimes I wonder as I look in your eyesMaybe you're thinking of some other guyBut I know, yes I know, how to treat you rightThat's why you call me in the middle of the night
You say it's urgentSo urgent, so oh oh urgentJust wait and seeHow urgent my love can beIt's urgent
You play tricks on my mindYou're everywhere but you're so hard to findYou're not warm or sentimentalYou're so extreme, you can be so temperamental
But I'm not looking for a love that will lastI know what I need and I need it fastYeah, there's one thing in common that we both shareThat's a need for for each other anytime, anywhere
It gets so urgentSo urgentYou know it's urgentI wanna tell you it's the same for meSo oh oh urgentJust you wait and seeHow urgent our love can beIt's urgent
You say it's urgentMake it fast, make it urgentDo it quick, do it urgentGotta rush, make it urgentWant it quickUrgent, urgent, emergencyUrgent, urgent, emergencyUrgent, urgent, emergencyUrgent, urgent, emergencySo urgent, emergencyEmer... emer... emer...It's urgent
― cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Monday, 4 August 2014 00:58 (nine years ago) link
i just feel like you could sub those words for much better words and it would be a better song
― cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:04 (nine years ago) link
Foreigner have really started growing on me, if you tune out everything but the broadest gist of the lyrics and just let that singer and those hooks sell that affect to you they're pretty stirring. Plus they really love their synths way more than journey.
― before you die you see the rink (Jon Lewis), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:22 (nine years ago) link
i can't help it -- i fault them for lacking imagination!
― cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:29 (nine years ago) link
yeah the lyrics are what turned me off about them for so long
― SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:31 (nine years ago) link
just pretend they're actual foreigners and that their command of English is actually impressive given that it's not their native tongue
― some dude, Monday, 4 August 2014 01:36 (nine years ago) link
lol
― Man, when I tell you she was cool, she was red hot, I mean she was (intheblanks), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:40 (nine years ago) link
given my line of work (ESL writing teacher) i'm gonna veto that idea but i get your point
― cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:41 (nine years ago) link
All lyrics are stupid anyway. Words in the face of music are always a farce.
FEELS LIKE THE VERRY FIRST TIIIME
― before you die you see the rink (Jon Lewis), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:41 (nine years ago) link
if they are a farce, choose a more amusing farcical concept than URGENT URGENT EMERGENCY unless you're trying to teach ppl the difference between 911 and 311 and in that case carry on
― cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:44 (nine years ago) link
i like how they kind of botched "Feels Like The First Time" by making it their actual first single.
― some dude, Monday, 4 August 2014 01:45 (nine years ago) link
The lessons I learned from that song have helped free up valuable emergency operator capacity!
― before you die you see the rink (Jon Lewis), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:45 (nine years ago) link
fervent ferventinsurgency
― cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:48 (nine years ago) link
Tbrr, I basically wish Marc Bolan could have somehow written the lyrics for every song by every band ever. He knew how to own the innate stupidity of song lyrics.
― before you die you see the rink (Jon Lewis), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:49 (nine years ago) link
otm. It's not that Foreigner's lyrics are stupid, it's that they're just kind of boneheaded. There's nothing gloriously stupid about them, it's just some lunk singing cliches and awkward rhymes at you.
― Man, when I tell you she was cool, she was red hot, I mean she was (intheblanks), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:54 (nine years ago) link
Classic example.
― Man, when I tell you she was cool, she was red hot, I mean she was (intheblanks), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:55 (nine years ago) link
and i know it's the man in youthat brings out the woman in me
hee hee
― SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:57 (nine years ago) link
agreeanyone who understands that the words just have to sound cool and not mean anything is oklou gramm didn't seem to get that so i feel that he lacks imagination
― cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Monday, 4 August 2014 01:58 (nine years ago) link
He's a dumb guy feeling big things, like those moments that used to happen in every Harvey kietel movie where he would be naked and just sort of moaning.
― before you die you see the rink (Jon Lewis), Monday, 4 August 2014 02:06 (nine years ago) link
lolpoor fella
― cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Monday, 4 August 2014 02:07 (nine years ago) link
you're everywhere
but you're so hard to find
― SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 4 August 2014 02:12 (nine years ago) link
would really love an AM Gold poll at some point
just walked out of "guardians of the galaxy," which is a very very AM-gold-friendly.
― PORPOISE AND ME (fact checking cuz), Monday, 4 August 2014 02:19 (nine years ago) link
right!?
― SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 4 August 2014 02:22 (nine years ago) link
Thread just took any ugly turn while I was away.
I'll just be over here listening to Urgent by myself with the most kickass sax solo in all of classic rock.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 4 August 2014 02:44 (nine years ago) link
<3
― SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 4 August 2014 03:04 (nine years ago) link
tbh I did stick Double Vision near the bottom of my ballot because it felt weird to have a classic rock poll without putting some Foreigner on there, even if I hate them. So I just went with the most tolerable of their songs.
― Man, when I tell you she was cool, she was red hot, I mean she was (intheblanks), Monday, 4 August 2014 04:31 (nine years ago) link
I just realized how much I like "Cold as Ice" sometime in the last year or so.
― timellison, Monday, 4 August 2014 04:39 (nine years ago) link