I had an idea for a topic today, as I was listening to music...
What are your favorite parts of a song? Not so much for the lyrics, as for the music itself. And not even necessarily your favorite song, but any that has a certain portion you love to hear - the most common reason would probably be because of a great solo, but also think of cool transitions, like a shift in tempo, a new instrument coming in, etc. Kind of like the part that you look forward to, when you're listening. I know I'm doing a poor job of setting this up, so let me just share some of mine:
Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter - 3:00 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYIUgdD9gj8 I found this piece of trivia from the Songfacts site: At about the 3:04 mark, when Merry Clayton sings the high note on "Murder," you can hear Mick Jagger in the background saying "Whoo!" - after reading this and noticing it, I now always listen for it in the song!
I'm sure I can think of more, which I'll add... What about you?
Well, I'm old school, so two oldies off the top of my head.
I LOVE the sitar (sp) part in George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord." It was such a new sound at the time, but that's my favorite part of that song. I wish he would have used it more.
Also, I love the guitar solo at the end of "Hotel California." I saw the Eagles live about 10 years ago, and they played the newer version with a regular guitar. I love the song, but it wasn't the same as the original without the electric guitar.
TIS
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
Good one SC. I like that part too. It is so dramatic fitting in with the entire theme of the song. Powerful stuff!
TIS
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
Jimi Hendrix guitar solo in the middle of "All Along the Watchtower" - cool how the sound goes from one channel to the other.
Joe Cocker's scream in "With a Little Help From My Friends"
Van Morrison - Live, "Caravan" from "The Last Waltz" - end of of song ..."Turn It Up Now!" and he keeps it going with, "gimme one more time" about 10 times.
From the musical "Les Miserables", Colm Wilkinson's last note on "Bring Him Home"......"Bring....Him...Hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmme"
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, whoever humbles himself will be exalted - Matthew 23:12
Re: Favorite Parts of Songs
[Re: MaryCas]
#568487 03/05/1001:55 PM03/05/1001:55 PM
Speaking of Hendrix, can't forget The Star Spangled Banner. Awesome stuff.
Oh, and the instrumental part of Layla. How can you not crank up the sound? Beautiful!!!
TIS
Last edited by The Italian Stallionette; 03/05/1003:40 PM.
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
From Simon & Garfunkle's, "I Am A Rock". I could pick many songs by S&G because there lyrics are always so poetic.
I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died. If I never loved I never would have cried.
Oh, and although not my favorite S&G song, "The Boxer"....."Li di di, li di di di di di di, li di di" You get get my drift. I like that part very much.
TIS
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
With Simon & Garfunkel and Billy Joel in mind, I am reminded of how, when hearing of a hometown or beloved area is mentioned in a song, the effect that mention has on the crowd listening to it.
Two particular songs come to mind:
Billy Joel's "Miami 2017" mentions many of New York's areas, and one "live" version of the song was on an album. It was chilling to hear the crowd roar in appreciation as the loved areas were mentioned....
"We held a concert out in Brooklyn" (the crowd roars)....
"They sent a carrier out from Norfolk, And picked the Yankees up for free" (again, at just the mention of the Yankees, the crowd roars)
"They said that Queens could stay, They blew the Bronx away, And sank Manhattan out to sea". (the crowd goes ballistic).
And then, in "America" by Simon & Garfunkel, the mere mention of the New Jersey Turnpike brought a tremendous wave of cheering (from their free concert in Central Park about 1982). Imagine hearing 200,000 voices rising in loud unison at the mention of a parkway!!
This type of good-natured cheering always gives me goosebumps when hearing it.
.
Re: Favorite Parts of Songs
[Re: SC]
#568501 03/05/1009:21 PM03/05/1009:21 PM
I know what you mean SC. As far as that same S&G song, "America", these lyrics, are sentimental to me.
Michigan seems like a dream to me now" It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw
I think I saw the concert in Central Park on tv some years back.
TIS
Last edited by The Italian Stallionette; 03/05/1009:24 PM.
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
I think I saw the concert in Central Park on tv some years back.
I was at the concert, TIS. I'm not joking when I say that one of the biggest ovations from the entire concert was at the mention of hearing the term, "New Jersey Turnpike".
What a wonderful song that is!
.
Re: Favorite Parts of Songs
[Re: SC]
#568503 03/05/1009:40 PM03/05/1009:40 PM
Here's the most famous rendition of Billy Joel's wonderful song "Miami 2017" showcasing the cheering I was talking about:
There's a later rendition, done after September 11th, that is eerily symbolic. You can find that on YouTube, but I warn you it is VERY difficult to watch now.
.
Re: Favorite Parts of Songs
[Re: SC]
#568504 03/05/1009:55 PM03/05/1009:55 PM
That is very nice SC. To be honest, that's one BJ tune I can't say I am real familiar with but I do like it. Hearing the song and the audience reaction makes me want to see BJ in concert someday. I can imagine how exciting it was for you to actually be there.
TIS
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
"War is over, if you want it" - John Lennon
Re: Favorite Parts of Songs
[Re: SC]
#568505 03/05/1009:55 PM03/05/1009:55 PM
Also, I love the guitar solo at the end of "Hotel California." I saw the Eagles live about 10 years ago, and they played the newer version with a regular guitar. I love the song, but it wasn't the same as the original without the electric guitar.
Oh, absolutely, love that part!! I got my friend into classic rock and told her to look up this song, but she came across what you've mentioned, with acoustic guitar - and I told her she had to hear it on electric. Thanks, TIS, now I've gotta go listen to it again.
Hotel California is one of the greatest, and one of my favorite songs ever. But if I had to name a favorite guitar solo, it would have to be Freebird. Freebird just has so many great memories for me, mostly hanging out in a bar with my college buddies, probably fairly drunk, lighter held high, part of a crowd loudly requesting "Freebird!" of the cover band on the stage.
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
Hendrix could fill up my entire list. He specialized in big finishes. Among his best big finishes: "Bold as Love" (Axis Bold as Love). "Johnny B. Goode" (Hendrix in the West). "Killing Floor" (video clip from R&R Hall of Fame). "Purple Haze" (Stages). "Lover Man" (Hendrix in the West).
Plus: the sax/rhythm break in "Funky Broadway"; the mellotron part in the Moodies' "Legend of a Mind," the end of "Heat Wave,"...
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
Re: Favorite Parts of Songs
[Re: Turnbull]
#568545 03/06/1003:14 PM03/06/1003:14 PM
The last Glory, Glory Hallelujah of Elvis's "American Trilogy."
The final verse of "My Way," For what is a man, what has he got . . . Elvis's cover in the Aloha from Hawaii concert might be even better than Sinatra's.
God, a million others.
"I got news for you. If it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books." --- George Costanza.
Re: Favorite Parts of Songs
[Re: pizzaboy]
#569619 03/13/1005:39 PM03/13/1005:39 PM
Just heard one today. Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry", along with the chorus of course "Kick 'em when there up, kick 'em when they're down." Great song!!
Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet? You know, the boys in the newsroom got a running bet Get the widow on the set! We need dirty laundry
TIS
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
Hearing The Four Tops belt out that first chorus of "Baaaaby I Neeeeed Your Lovin'..." is sheer musical bliss; the way they combine sounds with the female backup group The Andantes (especially on the "Got" and "Neeeeed") is Heavenly...
Re: Favorite Parts of Songs
[Re: Ice]
#569688 03/14/1007:16 PM03/14/1007:16 PM
Speaking of the Four Tops, I just heard I Can't Help Myself today (one of my favorites). So fun to sing along to "Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch"
TIS
Last edited by The Italian Stallionette; 03/14/1007:16 PM.
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
Stevie Wonder's vocal solo on "As" in which he copies Howling Wolf's vocal style before transitioning smoothly back to his own natural tenor. Starts around 3:50 and goes back to his normal voice around 4:25.
"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives." Winter is Coming Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and as true as the sky; And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back; For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.
