Classics, quantity vs quality

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

Over in the 25 yrs thread, Paul said

quote:
What they have in common which
is the only thing that determines a classic song is that they were hits that sold to multitudes which is music for quantity.
Upon hearing the above mentioned songs those folks are instantly taken back to the time when they purchased those
records. They have become A classic song for that classic time period.
Every major artist has their classic songs that become standards yesterday and today. With only a few exceptions all
songs that sell millions become standards, not songs we dictate as being a well written classic country song. If that
were true "Cold War" would be at the top of the list as one of Price's classic songs IMO. The true fact no matter how
much I love that song, only a die hard Price fan would know the song therefor cancelling it out as a classic standard to a
typical country fan.

There are other songs that become classics, not because they were great songs, 'In the Mood', or 'Rock Around the Clock', or 'For What It's Worth', but because they seem to represent an era. I played 'Louie Louie' hundreds of times for frat parties or later, 'Gloria', we played a frat party where that was the only thing they wanted to hear, 3 sets of 'Gloria'.

There are the personal classics, 'I Only Have Eyes For You' that immediately transport me back to fond memories on the back seat of a '52 Chevy. "Our song classics", when I was living with my last ex, affectionately known as the Great White Bitch, "our song" was 'Shark Attack' by the Surf Punks, fortunately for me, that one doesn't doesn't get a lot of airplay. There are the ones, like the one that gets played at weddings, I can't think of the name of it at the moment, that are adopted because they articulate what we want to say.

Then there are songs like 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon', a song I truly dislike, that appear to start life as a bit of 'pop fluff' and then become a phenomenon and a standard for personal and public loss.

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

White Rabbit
The Times are a Changing
Hey Good Lookin
Sweet Home Alabama

All ~three chords, simple, and Classic.

Generations of songwriters will try to figure out what was the magic that made them classics.

I suspect the writters of these tunes were not trying to write classics.

One thing I'm sure of, b0b will move this thread to "MUSIC" real soon.

------------------

-j0e-

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

P Gleespen · From: Toledo, OH USA

Shark Attack! You have just taken me back to high school. I'd forgotten all about that song. Thanks! (sort of...

)

...although I've got to say, that's one heck of an odd number to have as an "our song" song!

Brandin · From: Newport Beach CA. USA

Anything by 'THE SHAGS' or 'THE MONKS'.

John Steele (deceased) · From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

Re: Sweet Home Alabama
That made me laugh.
I recently did a stretch in a pickup band backing a single. We had to do 4 tunes before she came on, and this resulted in much discussion as to what songs were appropriate.

Before the last gig, the bass player/band leader admonishes us all with "OK, lads, I know it's a lameoid tune, but when I call "sweet home alabama" tonight, I don't want to see a bunch of eye-rolling from you guys!! It's a good hook, and people like it. " So, after a brief discussion of the depth of it's lameness, we hit the stand.
Second set, 2nd tune in, dance floor empty, the bass man calls the tune. No eye rolling on the stand.. everyone is trying to keep a poker face and suppress a grin.
The guitar player hits the opening hook...
the air is split by a deafening roar as 200 screaming teenagers (!?) knock over chairs to clamber onto the dance floor.
The band could hardly keep going, we were laughing so hard. I laughed all the way home... i'm still laughing now.
-John
p.s. Are McDonald's hamburgers a "classic" ?

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

One thing that makes a song a classic (that hasn't been mentioned yet) is being different than most of its competition...i.e., other songs on the market at the same time. Case in point---"Old Rivers" by Walter Brennan. I'm sure almost nobody would have guessed it would be a hit. But, at that specific time, what else could you compare it to? It was different! Same thing for "Tiptoe Through The Tulips". These weren't "new song ideas", similar songs had been done before. But, it had been awhile, and the people were ready for "that sound" again. "Old Rivers" was probably born out of "Old Shep", "Tiptoe" was probably born out of "Winchester Cathedral". I'm sure you can think of many more of the same type of "derivitives"...songs that bring back an older sound.

Also, remember that style often sells better than talent. Songs that debut a new style often become instant classics. The falsetto voices of people like Lou Christie and Frankie Valli were a new style (for white guys, at least!) and that became their key to "classicdom". Johnny Nash's debut of the Reggae style to American rock n' roll with "I Can See Clearly Now" brought him enduring fame. As in most everything, an introduction of a new style (in music) can bring lasting recognition.

More often than not, quantity is success, and quality has very little to do with it.

nick allen · From: France

Just being picky, but I don't think Tiptoe Through The Tulips was "born out of" Winchester Cathedral - without going and checking right now, I think it dates from (at least) the 1920s, whereas Winchester Cathedral WAS a 196?whatever-it-was song...
Nick

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

quote:

...although I've got to say, that's one heck of an odd number to have as an "our song" song!

If you ever met her, it would make perfect sense. We didn't have or need a tv, it was never dull.

John Steele (deceased) · From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

One of the only things that sustain my tattered sanity is the realization that you must draw a line in the sand when it comes to Pop Culture. If it's over that line, don't expect it ever to be explainable, or even make much sense... and don't take it personally.
I mean, "Who let the dogs out, woof woof" ?? Someone care to try to explain that gazillion dollar hit away ?
Several generations ago, publisher Fred Rose made a $20 bet that he could make any song in his book a chart hit, regardless of how bad it was... all on the strength of how it was marketed, and how much the Cult Of Personality could be figured in...
His colleague took the bet, and perused the book. He chose "Too Old To Cut The Mustard". After some thought, Rose hired Rosemary Clooney to duet with Marlena Deitrich, who reputedly couldn't sing her own name.
Within a month, it was on the charts, and Rose collected his $20.
Woof Woof.
-John

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

'Barroom Buddies" Merle Haggard and Clint Eastwood

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