- Recently I've been listening to K-Rock, and I've noticed that in the last six or seven times that I've tuned in, the Run DMC version of "Walk This Way" has been on the air. I have no idea why this is making the playlist in such a heavy way, or why the Aerosmith version of the song isn't. For a while K-Rock was playing a pretty large dollop of rap, but they seem to have reverted to a more "retro" playlist. I thought and continue to think that the rap version of "Walk This Way" is a fun piece of music, but I'm not convinced it beats the original.
- I've also noticed that a lot of "glam rock" from the late 80's/early 90's is starting to make it onto the K-Rock playlist. Ratt's "Round and Round", Motley Crue's "Dr. Feelgood"...you get the idea. I've never been a huge fan of this genre of rock, as I found it to be a bit "dumbed down" and kind of appealed to the lowest common denominator, but fifteen years hence, it is kind of refreshing to hear. I will say this about a number of those bands: they had musicianship. Though their lyrics were the epitome if idiotic ("She's my cherry pie/cool drink of water/such a sweet surprise/tastes so good/brings a tear to your eye/sweet cherry pie!!!"), they always seem to have a hot sh*t guitar player who could really burn it up. Guitar solos seem to have gone terribly out of style the last decade, brought on in no small measure by the grunge movement (particularly Nirvana, where Kurt Cobain couldn't play a burning solo if he tried) and other neo-punk acts like Green Day. Mind you, this isn't a dig on either band, both of whom kick (or in the case of Nirvana, kicked) ass. But a good, raucous guitar solo in today's music seems to be non-existent. I'm sure times will change and they'll be back in style, and hopefully some new players will exhibit some originality, as opposed to the "glam" players back in the late 80's who all seemed to be copping Edward Van Halen licks, but without half as much verve or pinache, great though they were.
- In a similar vein, there seems to be a great deal of cultural regurgitation going on these days. From the remake of "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" (renamed "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"), to the "Dukes of Hazzard" movie, to Broadway remakes of movies like "Steel Magnolias" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", I'm starting to wonder if there is either a dearth of originality or whether it is that the venture capitalists of the entertainment industry are more apt to back a proven concept, as opposed to a fresh, original play or movie. Being a money man (or woman) in the entertainment industry, be it on Broadway or in Hollywood, is a pretty risky proposition, so it is understandable that the venture capitalists behind these projects would want to bank on something with already proven appeal. However, we the ticket buying public are going to have to get used to seeing the same things over and over again. Culture is feeding on itself...yuck.
Anyway...that's it for the random thoughts.
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