The Show Must Go On

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Ambiguous title, right? The thumbnail doesn't even help! This could be one of the dozen popular songs of this title, the plays, the movies, the episodes from TV shows, just about anything!  Can you guess? This is about the song by Queen, and it's one of those that never cease to draw goosebumps from within my skin. While listening to this song, note that this is from Queen's twelfth, and last studio album with Freddie Mercury  Innuendo, in 1991, and still contains the anthem-like quality that they're most popularly known for, and have written since 1977, with the release of News of the World, which contained We Will Rock You, and We Are The Champions. This song is one of those that have an epic feel about it, and I'm talking about a real epic, an extended journey on the basis of overcoming some sort of oppression and following the righteous, honorable, and chivalrous life. When it comes to the subject of this song, Freddie was fighting AIDS at the time, and this was his way of living, show biz, putting on a mask and playing for audiences night after night. Freddie knew he couldn't win this one, and this was his acceptance song, his will. In a broader sense, I believe this song is about the never-ending, enduring, ever-present presence of rock and roll.

Living After Midnight

I just had to blog about this song, the classic hedonistic anthem, right? Now in case you've never been in a car with a classic anthem playing, it's epic! I actually have an entire playlist composed of these anthem songs, such as: You Give Love a Bad Name, Highway to Hell, I Wanna Rock, Rock And Roll All Nite, Pour Some Sugar on Me, Rock You Like a Hurricane, Paradise City, Nuthin' But a Good Time 867-5309/Jenny, etc, and I forgot, a few dozen Queen songs. Well anyways, this song was released by the British Heavy Metal band, Judas Priest, and was released on their 1980 album, British Steel. This was their first album that was certified gold in the US and sold 500,000 copies in the US alone. Take a listen, this song is the perfect example of eighties rebellion and rejection of the classic take on life. Now Judas Priest is know for their hedonistic and epicurean lifestyle, but this song is the pinnacle of that, blatantly bursting the boggled brains of the bodily bylaws in which we live by. What's your favourite anthem song? I'm always curious to know.

Lay it Down

What a surprise! Another ballad.  Have you heard this song? It's exquisitely empathetic, sincerely sagacious   and chalk-full of fantastic rhythm, rhyme, and heartfelt affection. Not really, that's how they want you to imagine it, but they're really just singin' 'bout sex. Many people do not consider this to be "Aerosmith", but it is, just not in a classic sense. I can understand why people might be upset with it, it's not the classic stuff that Aerosmith is known for, but hey, just because this song isn't tragically traditional doesn't mean it's a domestic downfall, I think it's quite pleasing.  Lay it Down was released on O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits, in July of 2002, and was one of two songs on the album to be radically raw, along with Girls of Summer. I've never been crazy about Aerosmith, don't get me wrong, I'm a fan, of course, but they've never been my favorite, but I'm lusciously lustful for this song, especially the first verse, just a vindication or vacation from voracious vain.

Dancing in the Street

Wow, what a complete game changer, I had no idea that this song wasn't written by David Bowie, Mick Jagger or Eddie Van Halen, all of which did a cover of this song. This is Dancing in the Street, by Martha and the Vandellas. This song was released as a single of theirs in 1965, but was originally written by William "Mickey" Stevenson and Marvin Gaye, who's version I was unable to locate. This song was apparently thought of when Mickey was watching children cool off in Detroit (Rock City) in an open fire hydrant, and to him, they seemed to be dancing, Dancing in the Street. Though the song was meant to be nothing more than an innocent dance anthem, many protesters for the civil rights movement took it as being written for them, to invoke change in the nation. Many radio stations actually banned the playing of this song because many civil rights' demonstrators were playing it to form the crowds into a cohesive entity. Martha Reeves, the lead for Martha and the Vandellas  was interviewed on the subject, and officially stated that it meant nothing of the sorts, but that didn't stop them. It's a tossup for which of these versions I like best, I love the vocal work in Bowie and Jagger's, but Eddie's guitar, what can I say.

The Boys Are Back in Town

Ah, take a listen, this song is so easygoing and heartwarming. I don't care how satanic or demonic you might think Rock and Roll is, this song is so simplistic and nostalgic, I can't even listen to it without the shadow of a grin sneaking up on me. You may scoff because this is their most mainstream song, but this is a fantastic song, and was awarded number four hundred ninety-nine in Rolling Stone's top five hundred rock songs of all time. The Boys Are Back in Town was released on the Irish band, Thin Lizzy's sixth album, Jailbreak in 1976. Jailbreak was their most popular album, and this was the that gave them their rise to fame, as well as the title song, Jailbreak. The song is most praised for its double lead guitar solo, which features Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson, and is simply marvelous. Most people believe this song is about The Boys returning from a military school, but to me, it seems broader. In my opinion, it's just about getting together with old friends, and hanging out reminiscing about the good times. I hope you enjoyed the song.