In the last post on this topic I discussed “Bombs Away” by the Police; in that song, we found a sobering and dark message embedded in a pert and bouncy melody, and touched on similar techniques of juxtaposition in pop art. This next song tackling a dark theme in a shockingly upbeat way is Elton John’s […]
Tag: Classic Rock
Ditties About Destruction, vol. 1: Bombs Away
Q: What do Don Draper and Homer Simpson have in common? A: Satire. The much-lauded Mad Men is a jaundiced commentary on an impression, a tainted recollection. By highlighting the excesses of marketing executives in a time of license, the show calls up the moral laxity tolerated among the upper crust. Similarly, The Simpsons was part of […]
Joe Walsh: Life’s Been Good
Some people remember where they were when JFK was shot; others know with certainty what they were doing when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. I remember where I was the first time I heard Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing” or “Down by the Seaside” by Led Zeppelin. I can also remember where I was […]