32
votes
Accepted
Why does rap music belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
It's probably worth mentioning what "rock and roll" actually is. There are two definitions of "rock and roll".
The first definition is a genre popular of music that originated in ...
- 4,315
17
votes
Accepted
What is "25 or 6 to 4"?
"Speculation that the song's lyrics are drug related has been largely dismissed. Lamm himself says that the title is "just a reference to the time of day" and that "the song is about writing a song. ...
- 381
12
votes
Accepted
Weird piano chord on Police's Roxanne
I found out it was unintended and a fun fact.
In 2000, Vic Gabarini published in interview with the band, on Revolver Magazine. Here is an extract :
Revolver: On Roxanne, the band's first big hit, ...
- 7,311
11
votes
Accepted
What is the name of the drum type that sounds like a tin can?
It sounds like a cowbell to me. The "Cowbells in popular music" section of the "Cowbell (instrument)" Wikipedia page notes that Guns N' Roses have often used the cowbell, notably in "Nightrain," "...
- 126
11
votes
Photograph of two (possibly) glam rock artists, one holding a guitar - can anyone please identify these musicians?
These two guys are Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn, members of the band T. Rex.
Marc Bolan
Mickey Finn
I also found a fan work based on this photograph, by Paolo-Art:
- 7,311
10
votes
Accepted
What is the actual meaning of the the song Astronomy Domine by Pink Floyd?
It's about space, plain and simple. It's literally just a description of space - its colors, planets, stars, supernovas scaring Dan Dare.
It's typical Barrett - something very, very simple wrapped ...
- 852
10
votes
Anyone know why the riff at the start of 'Eye of the Tiger' has weird timing?
According to this page, Jim Peterik, one of the songwriters, said:
I [...] started slashing those chords to the punches we saw on the screen.
So, apparently, they were trying to synchronize the ...
- 201
9
votes
Accepted
What is Meaning of "Aerials" by System of a Down song and music video?
Genius has a cool feature which lets users interpret song meanings cooperatively. It also allows you annotate the meaning of smaller blocks of the lyrics.
As it happens, Aerials has been interpreted ...
- 1,143
9
votes
What is "25 or 6 to 4"?
25 Or 6 To 4
should be interpreted as:
Twenty five or [twenty] six [minutes until] four [o'clock, AM]
9
votes
Accepted
NOFX's song "Linoleum" - what's the meaning of this song?
As always, genius is a good source for analyzing of song meanings. This particular song has been extensively analyzed by multiple users. Having said this, most of the time a song's meaning is subject ...
- 1,143
8
votes
Accepted
Rock song with lyric "walking in your shoes", gruff voice singer like Linkin Park
You might be thinking of another Linkin Park song, "Numb". Looking at the lyrics, it has a few lines very close to the ones you remembered from it (emphasis mine), but it's missing "something I am not ...
- 4,315
7
votes
Why does rap music belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame covers a multitude of "popular" music that is legendary and groundbreaking. Their inductees range from Jelly Roll Morton to Metallica. The Hall seeks to induct artists ...
- 7,109
7
votes
Accepted
“Love Beach” by Emerson, Lake & Palmer: considered as serious release?
The album was not satire. It was a contractual obligation to manufacture a radio-friendly collection of songs. The band individually have said as much. Here is a pretty good "Reader's Digest" ...
- 7,109
7
votes
Who was there before The Doors?
Densmore told Billboard:
What were the influences that shaped the Doors' sound and what does
each member of the band bring to the table?
John Densmore: Ray grew up in Chicago so he had the ...
- 2,835
7
votes
Photograph of two (possibly) glam rock artists, one holding a guitar - can anyone please identify these musicians?
Bebs has already got the ident nailed, but I thought I'd add a little more info...
The picture is post-Woodstock, btw.
1970 - after Tyrannosaurus Rex but before the full-blown glam of T.Rex. The ...
- 7,665
7
votes
Accepted
Can a band (i.e. Linkin Park) survive the loss of a core member?
This is going to be a bit of a "list question" which isn't great for the SE format, but just for starters [& with no refs, just straight off the top of my head]...
Deaths...
The Beatles survived ...
- 7,665
7
votes
Accepted
What is the 70s/80s rock song that ends with this extended Mixolydian-based vamp?
Layla - Derek and the Dominoes
6
votes
What's a head banging rock song?
Humans have a natural tendency to bob their heads to a beat. This occurs in many types of music, but "headbanging" is when this is taken to a much more intense level. The performer or listener throws ...
- 1,636
6
votes
Accepted
Does Blur's song MyTerracotta Heart signal another Blur breakdown?
The song is about the past, explained Coxon to NME:
In his track by track guide to 'The Magic Whip' for NME, Coxon
explained that the track 'My Terracotta Heart' was about his
relationship with ...
- 2,835
6
votes
Rock songs with intensity crescendos
I've a feeling this might get closed as a "list request" so I'm only starting up half an answer here, I'll put more effort in if it stays open ;-)
Ones I can think of immediately are :-
Mountain - ...
- 7,665
6
votes
Accepted
First rock band ever?
If we are talking about 'Rock' distinct from 'Rock n' Roll', then it should have these features:
Power chords, or at least aggressive chords on guitar, featuring the minor pentatonic scale
Guitars ...
5
votes
Amateur's History of Rock and Roll
There's a book called 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die that has a fairly good and wide selection of albums arranged chronologically, dating back to the 50's and last updated in 2008. It's not ...
- 15.3k
5
votes
Why do [usually] musicians have long hair?
Hair length on men is generational and cyclical. In 40's and 50's America, short hair was culturally enforced. Hair length increased to a peak in the 70's, then reduced in the 80's, 90's and 2000's.
...
- 15.3k
5
votes
Why do [usually] musicians have long hair?
As both answers have noted, the long hair tends to go against social norms. Musicians have something to say, and one way to get noticed is to keep your hair long. Also, let's face it; chicks dig it. ...
- 7,109
5
votes
Accepted
Steve Vai logo meaning
Literally, it reads "V. A. Eye". Steve has been somewhat elusive on the whole meaning, but he did submit this answer to a question asked on his website:
“If you research metaphysics you will find ...
- 7,109
5
votes
Accepted
Anyone have lyrics to "Ich schenk dir mein Herz" by Peter Reusch?
I didn't quite get one word/phrase, but might be good enough for the shower ;)
enjoy
Halt dich fest, wir werden fliegen
Träume siegen irgendwann einmal
dein kleines Herz kannte nur Lügen
du, ich bin ...
- 66
5
votes
Song from the 60s-80s-ish?
Are you sure it's exactly I'm movin on multiple times?
If not I think you mean Catch Me Daddy, by either Janis Joplin solo (1982) or originally Big Brother and The holding Company (1968). That song ...
- 51
5
votes
Accepted
How well-known are the Manic Street Preachers in the US?
In U.S.A., Manic Street Preachers have put on some live tours in different years, so they can't be completely unknown.
But there's no trace of them in the list of Golden Record and other RIAA prizes.
...
- 219
5
votes
Accepted
Why is a lot of Rock music focused on stuff like demons and Satan?
Rock was originally created as a way of expression of youth, rebellion and protest, denial and revision of the moral and material values of the world.
Throughout its history, rock has shown the ...
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible