Music for Generations
January 21, 2010
Filed under A & E, Features
“Cause I’m free as a bird now, and this bird you cannot change…” Name the song and artist.
It’s not very difficult to name that tune, and everyone knows these lyrics. This song is one of the most widely known songs in the world and is known by the youngest children to the oldest adults. With teenagers able to quickly name these lyrics and even finish the song, some people (people who don’t listen to music or have lived under a rock for the past 30 years) would think that Lyndar Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” is a newly popularized song. In actuality, the song was originally featured on the band’s debut album in 1973. The song was then re-released as a single in 1974 and it hasn’t died ever since. Junior Zach Zeaser loves the song. “I learned Free Bird when I was really young because of my family and of course, Forrest Gump.”
“Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd is a classic song and has lasted so many generations. This song, and a small collection of others made my lists of songs that you and your grandma can sing along to.
Stairway to Heaven-Led Zeppelin
“There’s a lady who’s sure All that glitters is gold And she’s buying a stairway to heaven”
“Stairway to Heaven” is one of the most recognizable songs and is known to be a song that guitar players strive to learn. The song was originally put out in 1971and became a most requested songs of the 70’s. Parker Boyd, a senior, knows the song well, “I can play ‘Stairway to Heaven’ on the guitar, I think everyone can.”
Hey Baby-Bruce Channel (an thousands of high school bands)
“Hey, hey hey baby! I want to know if you’ll be my girl”
This song gained its popularity from the amount of times high schoolers hear it on a typical football Friday night. This song is on the list of top band songs in America and as the band plays, everyone sings along. The mass knowledge of the song may also be attributed to our state. Hey Baby is an infamous shag song and shag is our state dance. The dance to Hey Baby is wildly popular in the shag capitol of Charleston, South Carolina.
My Girl-The Temptations
“Well, I guess you’ll say What can make me feel this way? My girl. (My girl, my girl) Talkin’ ’bout my girl. (My girl)”
Your grandma danced to it in 1964 and you know every word. That’s weird to think about. The popularity of the songs could be caused by the song used in a Little Debbie commercial, or maybe even by the popular movie The Temptations, (now seen on a loop on VH1). Regardless of how the young adults learned the lyrics, its quite obvious that this song will last for even more years.
Don’t Stop Believing-Journey
“Just a small town girl Livin’ in a lonely world She took the midnight train Goin’ anywhere Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train Goin’ anywhere”
“Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey was released in 1981 as a single from their album, Escape. The ballad is known by just about everyone for its easy-to-sing lyrics and amazing keyboard riff. The beginning lyrics and the opening piano are some of the most recognizable in the world of music. The pitch of Steve Perry’s voice when he hits the high notes puts artists and fans in a frenzy. The song has recently gained popularity due to being used on the season finale of “The Sopranos” and being featured on the game, Rock Band. The song has remained popular since the 80’s because of its appeal to the generations. People love to sing it, and try to keep up with the high notes. Parents often pass on the tradition of listening to Journey to their children. Sophomore Caroline Foss thinks Journey brings back memories, “Journey songs will always remind me of hanging out together during the summer. ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ is a great road trip song.”
We are the Champions/We Will Rock You-Queen
“We are the champions – my friends And we’ll keep on fighting – till the end – We are the champions – We are the champions” “We will we will rock you (Sing it!) We will we will rock you (Everybody)”
Hockey games, football games, baseball games, soccer games, virtually any sporting events will play “We are the Champions” and/ or “We Will Rock You” by Queen. Any sports movie will play “We are the Champions” at the end of the game, when the team wins that last, important title, while the athletes cry in that final scene. The song is easy to sing, with the same lyrics repeated multiple times.
Beat It-Michael Jackson
“Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right Just beat it, beat it”
With the death of pop icon Michael Jackson, the song has become popular again. Many bands have covered the song and done remixes to the classic MJ tune. The original was released in 1982, hitting the charts at number 1. The song, along with “Thriller” put Michael’s career as a solo artist into the lime-light. Everyone has heard the song; heard it on the radio, maybe in a guitar game, on the tv, in a movie. No matter where it’s heard, it is immediately recognized. A little known fact about “Beat It”? Eddie Van Halen played the guitar solo. Cool huh?
Walk This Way-Aerosmith/Run DMC
“walk this way, walk this way just gimme a kiss like this!”
The original “Walk this Way was released by Aerosmith on their 1975 album, Toys in the Attic. In 1986, Run DMC covered the song on their album, Raising Hell. The song was already well-known. Your parents probably are more familiar with the original Steve Tyler edition, but none-the-less, they know the song. In this generation, we are more attuned to Run DMC’s hiphop magic on the classic jam. The mix of hard rock and hiphop gelled perfectly and turned into a masterpiece for the ages.
Welcome To the Jungle-Guns N’ Roses
“In the jungle Welcome to the jungle Watch it bring you to your shun n,n,n,n,,n,n,,n,n,n,,n,n,,n knees, knees I wanna watch you bleed”
Slash on the guitar, Axl Rose screamin’ lyrics, Guns and Roses burst onto the scene in 1987 with “Welcome to the Jungle.” Along with “Sweet Child of Mine”, and “It’s So Easy,” Appetite for Destruction became one of the biggest albums of alltime. “Welcome to the Jungle” was voted number 1 in hard rock songs in 2009 by VH1. The range of listeners of GN’R and “Welcome to the Jungle” is way-wide. Elders in nursing homes probably can sing the song, and teenagers who’ve played Grand Theft Auto can mouth every word. Junior Cullen Grady loves the song, “Back in the day when i used to be into GN’R, ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ was my go-to hardcore song.” The hardcore and tough lyrics combined with the amazing Slash guitar rifts give the song its appeal.
Come Together-Beatles
“He wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football He got monkey finger he shoot coca-cola He say “I know you, you know me” One thing I can tell you is you got to be free Come together right now over me”
The Beatles are more popular among our parents, but they are still widely known among us. Many self-proclaimed Indie Rock lovers collect Beatles Albums and cherish the classic songs. Some of the Beatles’ popularity also stems from the movie, “Across the Universe”. Junior Molly Gibbs loves this movie. “The movie is so fun to watch and the songs are fun to sing along to…and I’m going to marry Jim Sturgess.” ‘Across the Universe’ made me like the Beatles’ music more.”
“Come Together” is a very recognizable song with the break in the chorus before the “over me” at the end. The song has been used in so many commercials and advertisements. With the amount of tv our generation watches, it is highly likely that “Come Together” gained popularity through this medium.
Pour Some Sugar on Me- Def Leppard
“Pour some sugar on me Ooh, in the name of love Pour some sugar on me C’mon fire me up”
Off of Def Leppard’s 1987 album, Hysteria, the hard rock song rocked America. It reached number 2 on the Hot 100 charts in 1987 and became one of the most recognizable songs in rock history. The song has appeal to teenagers because of the obscene lyrics and extreme innuendo. The song has appeal to adults for the same reason, (even though they won’t admit it), as well as taking them back to the “good ole days.” The song has been featured on many commercials and in many movies. A signature scene in Coyote Ugly uses “Pour Some Sugar on Me” as a background tune for bar dancing. The song has become Def Leppard’s signature song and will live on to the next generation of dirty-minded teengagers.
Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hound Dog-Elvis Presley
“You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog Cryin’ all the time Well, you ain’t never caught a rabbit And you ain’t no friend of mine”
Nobody wants to admit it, but everyone knows the lines to this song. Like “Free Bird,” you might have learned it from watching Forrest Gump, or maybe your sweet old granny taught you the words, it’s even featured in the movie Grease. The song is classic Elvis oldie and has become his most recognizable songs. What people don’t know is that Elvis’ version was a remake. In 1956, Elvis re-made the song that was originally played by Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton. Elvis got the acclaim for the jive song. The song climbed to number 19 on Rolling Stone’s list 0f The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. You can deny it all you want, but we all know the words to the “Hound Dog” song.
