Maybe it’s the string of super hot days. Or maybe it was because I was wearing my Grumpy shirt feeling very much the curmudgeon (“short fused since 1937… the dude with the mood“). But I was knee deep in email exchanges with Zack and his chums… chums who love music, too… and I got to thinking that there were a number of artists, and musical groups from my era, whose popularity continue to this newer generation.
Now, this is a good thing; but before I get to the curmudgeon part, there is this…
Zack and Beth had just seen two Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young concerts back to back. If memory serves, this is a duplication of the same feat done while they were undergraduates.
Real good band… one of the “super groups”… an International super group. Each member of the band had come from an existing group of star quality status… Steve Stills and Neil Young from the Canadian band — Buffalo Springfield; David Crosby from the American band — the Byrds; Graham Nash from the English band — the Hollies.
Sandy and I caught them, too… last summer (minus Neil Young). Terrific concert; but we were disappointed in the acoustics of Mohegan Sun.
It made me feel pretty good to read Zack’s observations of the LA/Irvine concerts. To share in a common interest, and in this case, to actually enjoy the same flavour of music.
For the record… we also have both seen The Who.
Anyway… the other day cyberspace quickly filled with words about the concert and about other music related topics… The Band & the Last Waltz came up… as did Van Morrison. It was clear from the comments that the Band was a big favorite… and I returned that I thought their second album was very good. But in truth I am not a big fan of theirs.
And this is where the curmudgeon part comes in. I can think of half a dozen artists/groups whose critical acclaim and renown are beyond debate… whose skill and body of work is to be admired… and yet they don’t make it past second base for me.
It’s time for me to come out of the closet… to share my dark secret. I don’t like the Beatles. I don’t like Bob Dylan. Although there is music in their respective books that I do enjoy… and in Dylan’s case, there is music of his that I love when covered by other artists. But with artists the stature of Dylan and the Beatles to merely like a few of the tunes is hardly a ringing endorsement. To some, like Philip (Master of the Tonsorial Arts) and his brother Frank, this is musical heresy. But I am tired of pretending… of leading a double life.
I think it’s time to further clear the air. I don’t like Pink Floyd. Sorry Zack (give me points for honesty). I don’t like David Bowie.
It is clear from the email traffic on this and other occasions, that these artists are held in high regard by Zack’s crowd… and I realize that I risk their censure. So be it.
While we’re here… I think that The Band and Van Morrison are just OK… not great. Just OK.
Artists and groups that I have never (ever) liked, nor care who knows it… the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Boy George, the Village People, Archie Bell and the Drells (from Houston, Texas) and Wayne Newton. These latter artists are the eggplant of music. And if you don’t know how I feel about eggplant… guess, or ask your neighbor.
Perhaps this will weaken the impression that I love music… at least as much as I say I do… or maybe give someone reason to doubt the sincerity of my claim to love a wide variety of musical genres.
To which I say “pish tosh”. I can do what I want. I am wearing my Grumpy shirt again, and I feel empowered.
And besides, I don’t have time for you anymore, I want to listen to Here Comes the Sun, it always puts a smile on my face and makes me feel good about the world.