By Aaron Levy (CIVL Station Manager) – Email
Print Edition: March 18, 2015
CIVL Station Manager Aaron Levy likes how much The Cascade’s Anthony Biondi loves Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his stellar acting career. Here are some rock songs.
Simon and Garfunkel
“I am a Rock”
From their 1966 folk-pop-rock classic, Sounds of Silence, S & G tell us all about loneliness, sorrow, and loss in two-part harmony. Metaphorical and rhetorical in a clinical way, setting the standard for singer-songwriters from Joni Mitchell to Sufjan Stevens to emulate and ape for years to come.
Rolling Stones
“It’s Only Rock and Roll But I Like It”
To be honest, I’m more a fan of the roll. These days, rock means Theory of a Nickelfault, as we used to refer to their ilk here in the early aughts (similar to the Vinstrohives), whereas roll always reminds me of those pristine Stones, if only circa 1974.
Elvis Presley
“Jailhouse Rock”
Attack of Lieber and Stoller. Also known as the Brill Building think tank. If your favourite song emanates from the mid-late ‘50s, it was likely either written by one of these young American Yids, or at least at 1619 Broadway. See also songs “Yakkity Yak” and “Leader of the Pack.”
Shawn Mullins
“Rockabye”
I’ll be honest, this generic, soothing, sickly seductive piece of tween-bait is, next to Train’s “Drops of Jupiter” and “New Beginning” by Stir, possibly one of my favourite ‘90s era pop-rock songs. He name-checks Bob Seger and Sonny and Cher, and has sweet soliloquies throughout. Be all right.
Frank Ocean
“Crack Rock”
Frank Ocean – Crack Rock from Moscito on Vimeo.
One of the only members of infamous hip-hop crew Odd Future to not offend anyone with a progressive ideology in mind right off the bat, he is openly gay, super talented, and sings this song about smoking the cheap, highly addictive and dangerous incarnation of the coca plant drug.
