Springsteen

On the opposite pole from funk is stuff like this: where the lyrics do in fact matter a lot. Do they make literal sense the first time you hear them? Do they ever make literal sense? That depends on the song. But still. Me, I like it. These are songs that tend to tell a story that one day you discover you accidentally memorized entirely.

Bruce Springsteen (later with The E Street Band) really became well known around 1973. Also the year I was born. So, you know, a while ago. This is the first song on the first album:
"Blinded By the Light" (1973)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Iaca30QbOo

"Wild Billy's Circus Story" (Same year, different album)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAPdaUjfMIg

"Thunder Road" (1975)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMB3M43AEpc

"Hungry Heart" (1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQSn26zCXYQ

All of these are over 30 years old - he put out his most recent album this summer. But I figure this is a start...I'm going to see him in concert in November.

Bald Man With a Cowlick.

Metalachi

I don't know why I think you need to know this, but there's also currently a mariachi band in L.A. that only does old metal songs. They may be geniuses. Here's "Crazy Train":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUJw8JFPrpE

Here's their medley of "The Final Countdown" and "Ace of Spades," which you may or may not know that you know. They're tough songs to avoid, especially since dudes who graduated high school with me and your mother sold out and went into advertising and starting turning all the songs they loved into car commercials:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsDgKk-iBDY&feature=related

Anyway. I feel better having informed you of this.

Bald Man With a Cowlick

Overpowered By Funk

...which is a song by The Clash, which clearly you probably don't know, so I don't know why I thought it would be a good post title. Anyway.

Funk. Before your crazy hippity-hop dance classes, there was the magic of funk. I don't know how to begin with something like this - there's too much of it. (And disco doesn't count. There will be no disco on this blog except for occasional comic purposes.)

The definition technically has to do with the groove. Melody isn't the point. Lyrics DEFINITELY aren't the point. It's what the bass & drums are doing and how the voice and the other instruments (especially horns, in my favorite examples, but guitars & keyboards, too) punctuate it. It makes more sense to listen.

James Brown & His Famous Flames started it all. Also, Darth Potato, watch this man's feet. Unstoppable. Go on a YouTube frenzy for more. Search "James Brown Live." This is the preacher from the Blues Brothers of whom you guys asked, "Is that a man, or...?" Hair in the late 70s/early 80s was not his strength. Funkiness was.

"Out of Sight" (1964)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGdmY0N1qZA

That's not exactly funk, but it's opening up the box that funk came out of. So by 1969, you get things like
"Ain't It Funky Now." I dare you not to move.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRGj8Nq87b4

And, that same year, "Mother Popcorn." (And if your mother mentions this one, YES, Aerosmith did a version in the 70s. It wasn't bad. But even they would say this is better.) Don't ask what it means. It doesn't.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eoSXpNZD9o

Then you start to get things like:
"Express Yourself" by Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_0wL3Nqflg

Another personal favorite - though uncharacteristically mellow - by Funkadelic. George Clinton (who started this and 400 other bands) will get his own post later, though.
"Can You Get to That" (1971) from the beautifully titled "Maggot Brain" album:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rrOdcnFbAY

I'm starving, so I'll have to stop here. Enjoy!

Bald Man With a Cowlick