Forum Home Forum Home > Progressive Music Lounges > Prog Music Lounge
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - "Odes" to the Industry
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic Closed"Odes" to the Industry
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
maani View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Founding Moderator

Joined: January 30 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2632 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: "Odes" to the Industry
    Posted: September 13 2004 at 13:01

It occurs to me that quite a few bands have written songs about the music industry (management, labels, general).  And - surprise! - few of them are "positive."  Here is a short list of those I can think of off the top of my head.  I'd love to hear of others...

Caravan - Revenge

Gentle Giant - Interview

Pink Floyd - Have a Cigar

Queen - Death of Two Legs

XTC - Funk Pop a Roll
Back to Top
Dick Heath View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Jazz-Rock Specialist

Joined: April 19 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 12818 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 13:14

And more specifically about being a rock star too, e.g. Byrds (So You Want To Be A Rock'n'Roll Star), Joe Walsh (and course he did Life's Been Good again with the Eagles), Bad Company (Shooting Star) - does Ace's How Long (Has This Been Going On) count , when the tune  is actually  about another rock group trying to poach their bass player?  And so on.

Back to Top
arcer View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: September 01 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1239 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 13:34

If we're going with Have a Cigar, let's include all of The Wall!

and more songs about rock stardom

Elton John's Holiday Inn

David Bowie/John Lennon - Fame

and there's a Robbie Williams song about his former manager which is pretty savage but I can't remember the name

Back to Top
James Lee View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: June 05 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 3525 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 14:14

Sex Pistols' "EMI" comes to mind.

 
Back to Top
James Lee View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: June 05 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 3525 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 14:15
ugh, what about "Jukebox Hero"?
Back to Top
arcer View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: September 01 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1239 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 14:36

It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock n Roll)  and

Ain't No Fun (Waitin' Round to be a Millionaire)

by the mighty and parenthetically -minded (is that a word?) AC/DC!!
Back to Top
Certif1ed View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: April 08 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 7559 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 14:51

AC/DC produced another great about the biz, entitled "Showbusiness" - but that's only on the Australian version of "High Voltage", and "Let There Be Rock" pays homage to all of Rock and Roll.

Motorhead's "We Are The Road Crew" talks about an oft-forgotten but all-important gang of thugs (there's a positive one for you!!!),

and Marillion's "Assassing" covers the intrigues and sniping that goes on when a band member is sacked.

 

 



Edited by Certif1ed
Back to Top
gdub411 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: August 24 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3484 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 14:56

If you're going to mention Have a Cigar you have to mention Welcome to the Machine
Back to Top
arcer View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: September 01 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1239 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 16:08
Tea for One - Led Zeppelin - great song about loneliness of being on the road
Back to Top
James Lee View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: June 05 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 3525 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 16:11
Nobody captures the weirdness of road life like Zappa- he's even dedicated entire albums to depicting the antics of the travelling life...
Back to Top
emdiar View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 05 2004
Location: Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 890 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 16:23

Queen: "Sleepin' On The Sidewalk".

Hawkwind: "Days Of The Underground".

Rush: "Spirit Of Radio".

Roy Harper: "One Man Rock And Roll Band".

Dire Straits: "Money For Nothing". (utter yawn!)



Edited by emdiar
Perception is truth, ergo opinion is fact.
Back to Top
Peter View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: January 31 2004
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 9669 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 16:30

Neil Young - Payola Blues (corruption, Alan Freed: fun!)Smile

Bad Company - Shooting Star (the fearsome toll of the R&R lifestyle: powerful, & Paul Rodgers is a strong singer!)Cry

Mott the Hoople - All the Way from Memphis (Just a great song -- love the piano!)Cool

Bowie - Star (The lust for fame -- a great song from a great album!)Thumbs Up

Stones - Starf**ker (self-explanatory!)Embarrassed

Byrds - So You Want to be a Rock and Roll Star (one of the all-time cynical classics!)Big smile

oh, and King Crimson - Ladies of the Road Tongue



Edited by Peter Rideout
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
Back to Top
arcer View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: September 01 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1239 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 16:36
mmmm supertramp - gone hollywood? does that count or have i just shot myself in the foot by mention prog lite (even if do think they're great)
Back to Top
arcer View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: September 01 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1239 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 16:40
oh forgot neil young - this note's for you
Back to Top
AngelRat View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member


Joined: July 14 2004
Location: Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 1014 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 17:18

Originally posted by James Lee James Lee wrote:

Nobody captures the weirdness of road life like Zappa- he's even dedicated entire albums to depicting the antics of the travelling life...

Like '200 Motels'...

He had a great tune about the positivities of road life called "Road Ladies".
Back to Top
Dick Heath View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Jazz-Rock Specialist

Joined: April 19 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 12818 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 19:45
Originally posted by James Lee James Lee wrote:

ugh, what about "Jukebox Hero"?


Have to remember a former member of King Crimson formed that band ................... and  were former member sof the Anglo-American band Spooky Tooth involved tooLOL
Back to Top
Paco Fox View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 10 2004
Location: Spain
Status: Offline
Points: 500 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2004 at 03:22

One more:

Folk-rock-almost-prog gruop Decameron made one anti-industry song, but I can't remember the title. Anyone?
Back to Top
James Lee View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: June 05 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 3525 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2004 at 07:42

Originally posted by Dick Heath Dick Heath wrote:

Originally posted by James Lee James Lee wrote:

ugh, what about "Jukebox Hero"?


Have to remember a former member of King Crimson formed that band ................... and  were former member sof the Anglo-American band Spooky Tooth involved tooLOL

Good point DH...Ian has touched so much greatness...he should write a book

 

 
Back to Top
Velvetclown View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 13 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 8548 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2004 at 12:37
Zappa, the song " Tinseltown Rebellion " says it all.

XTC, " I Bought Myself A Liarbird "


Edited by Velvetclown
Back to Top
maani View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Founding Moderator

Joined: January 30 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2632 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 15 2004 at 00:21

Velvetclown:

Leave it to you to come up with XTC's (other) brilliant paean to the music industry!  That is a great addition to my list!  I'm actually thinking of burning a disc with only these songs.  Got any ideas for an album title?

Peace.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.188 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.