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Will classic rock last for all eternity?
Oak Lawn (IL) Reporter ^ | 4/17/03 | Michael M. Bates

Posted on 04/15/2003 4:46:52 PM PDT by mikeb704

Eva Narcissus Boyd was buried in North Carolina earlier this week. The name may not be familiar, but her music certainly is.

Under the name "Little Eva," she recorded "The Locomotion." The song was a giant hit in 1962.

Forty years is a very long time, even if Baby Boomers recall the era as though it were last week. I thought of Little Eva a few of months ago while driving. Her hit was playing on the radio and I wondered how many times I’d heard it over the decades. Surely hundreds of times. Maybe even thousands.

I began conjecturing if "The Locomotion" will still be listened to in yet another 40 years. Given how pervasive 60s music is today, I think there’s a possibility of that happening.

It’s not just on oldies stations. Turn on the TV and chances are you’ll hear 60s music in commercials.

Donovan, the Sunshine Superman, sings "Colours" in a Kohl’s commercial. A Gap ad uses his "Mellow Yellow." The same company features another commercial with The Troggs’ "Love Is All Around." What, you thought "Wild Thing" was their only groovy ditty?

Admittedly, some of the music in TV ads emanated from one hit wonders. Flowers.com runs a spot with "Concrete and Clay," a 1965 hit for the legendary Unit Four + Two. GMC’s Yukon included "Our Day Will Come." The first song released by Ruby and the Romantics, it was also the only one for which the group is remembered. Old Navy used "California Sun," a hit by the Rivieras. The band made the Golden State sound like heaven, which was quite an accomplishment for some Indiana boys who’d never personally been out there a’havin’ fun in that warm California sun.

It’s surprising to me that, given their sheer number and popularity, more Beatles tunes aren’t incorporated in advertising. Possibly it’s because of legal impediments. Michael Jackson has owned the rights to over 200 Beatles songs. Of course, Michael is always busy with either not getting plastic surgery or being named in multimillion-dollar lawsuits, so perhaps he just hasn’t had the time necessary to exploit his ownership.

Another consideration is that some Boomers consider Beatles music sacrosanct. These folks feel disgust with what’s perceived as tawdry commercialization of their heroes’ works. They must have not paid much attention when the group cranked out barkers like "Dig A Pony" just to fill up an album.

The mid-80s marked the first use of a Beatles song in an ad. Lincoln-Mercury had a sound-alike group singing "Help." A couple of years later, Nike featured "Revolution" performed by the Beatles and the company credited it with increased sales. Apple Records sued Nike, but until the case was settled kept employing it.

In the late 90s, Nortel Networks licensed "Come Together" for a new marketing campaign. H&R Block latched on to "Taxman" for commercials last year. Around the same time, an Allstate Insurance ad included "When I’m 64." Julian Lennon performed the tune, which added a nice touch of irony I thought.

Car companies especially look back to the golden age of rock. Steppenwolf does a heavily mixed version of "Magic Carpet Ride" for Dodge Viper. "Unchained Melody" was a 60s hit for the Righteous Brothers and Mercedes Benz incorporated it in a commercial last year. The Kinks’ "You Really Got Me" has been used in other ads for Mercedes Benz.

A song I’ve heard in several commercials is the great "Time Has Come Today" by the Chambers Brothers. It’s pitched beer, cars, and even an investment company.

One advertisement highlights "It’s A Beautiful Morning," a hit for the Young Rascals. The product being sold is Vioxx, an arthritis pill purchased by many Boomers, possibly even the not so young anymore Rascals.

When most of my generation finally leave this vale of tears – if they ever do – maybe then the 60s music will fade away. But what will take its place? The Insane Clown Posse, Eminem, Twisted Sister?

You know, The Locomotion keeps getting better with age.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: beatles; commercials; littleeva; locomotion; rock
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To: Burr5
Jim Morrison and the Doors were overrated (not bad, just overrated).

Death was Jim's best career move.
181 posted on 04/16/2003 7:38:05 AM PDT by contributor
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To: headsonpikes
Only in the condos and cabanas overlooking the Lake of Fire.

Condos and cabanas? Really? And here I thought that, at best, Lake Of Fire souls would be treated to a Carville-esque trailer park filled with Demos and other big time sinners.

182 posted on 04/16/2003 7:40:22 AM PDT by mikeb704
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To: dfwgator
"Won't Get Fooled Again" is the perfect rock song."

Nah, last year VH-1 had the top 100 countdown and I gotta tell you, in the classic sense, I gotta go with their number one pick, "Satisfaction". Pure rock.

183 posted on 04/16/2003 7:52:02 AM PDT by Hatteras (The Thundering Herd Of Turtles ROCK!)
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To: Burr5
You don't need Tony and Vinnie when you've got Yngwie.
184 posted on 04/16/2003 7:56:44 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: mikeb704
Well, sure, it's a trailer-park, but marketing likes 'condos', 'cabanas', 'ranchos', and 'estates'..

What The Big Red Guy says, goes, eh?
185 posted on 04/16/2003 8:18:50 AM PDT by headsonpikes (Help me decide: Is the Left morally corrupt and intellectually bankrupt, or vice versa?)
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To: familyofman
Who's got the money for that brand new car? The people who bought the classic rock albums when they were new 30 and 40 years ago. BIG RADIO apparently have data showing those same people want to hear the same hits every day for the rest of their lives.

I'm 36 and I used to love such songs as "Behind Blue Eyes", "Sweet Home Alabama" and "More Than a Feeling" but the joy was played out of those songs years ago. Its like eating the same dish each and everyday.
186 posted on 04/16/2003 8:33:38 AM PDT by okiesap
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To: Billthedrill
Good grief, so that's what happened to Sam...something about that is just so doggone cool...thanks!

Betcha him and the guys don't wear their old outfits through airports nowdays....


187 posted on 04/16/2003 8:40:49 AM PDT by archy (Keep in mind that the milk of human kindness comes from a beast that is both cannibal and a vampire.)
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To: Hank Rearden
Nils Lofgren heads up the list of truly amazing musicians/ songwriters whom no one knows. You, me, Niel Young and Bruce Springsteen I think are the only people that have ever heard of him.
188 posted on 04/16/2003 8:46:26 AM PDT by discostu (I have not yet begun to drink)
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To: Tribune7
Led Zepplin is classic in the sense of the AMC Pacer.

Party on, Wayne! Party on, Garth:

http://pacer.members.easyspace.com/Limo.jpg

189 posted on 04/16/2003 8:57:35 AM PDT by archy (Keep in mind that the milk of human kindness comes from a beast that is both cannibal and a vampire.)
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To: Captiva
Joe Satriani
Tony MacAlpine
Vinnie Moore
Yngwie Malmsteen
John Petrucci

Ahhhhhhh!! Rock Guitar snob alert!!!

Shawn Lane
Buddy Guy
Marc Ribot
Robert Quine
Steve Morse
Steve Cropper

190 posted on 04/16/2003 9:02:29 AM PDT by archy (Keep in mind that the milk of human kindness comes from a beast that is both cannibal and a vampire.)
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To: discostu
Nils Lofgren heads up the list of truly amazing musicians/ songwriters whom no one knows. You, me, Niel Young and Bruce Springsteen I think are the only people that have ever heard of him.

And anybody that ever heard the group *Grin* back in the late '60's- early '70s.

-archy-/-


191 posted on 04/16/2003 9:06:30 AM PDT by archy (Keep in mind that the milk of human kindness comes from a beast that is both cannibal and a vampire.)
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To: Hatteras; spatzie
Nah, last year VH-1 had the top 100 countdown and I gotta tell you, in the classic sense, I gotta go with their number one pick, "Satisfaction". Pure rock.

We managed to give a local minister a near stroke when he heard and recognized the opening chords for House of the Rising Sun coming from his church's mighty Wurlitzer at a wedding ceremony he was performing. His sigh of relief when the vocalist acompanied it with the lyrics to Amazing Grace was visible, but he still had the look of a pole-axed steer.

-archy-/-

192 posted on 04/16/2003 9:11:20 AM PDT by archy (Keep in mind that the milk of human kindness comes from a beast that is both cannibal and a vampire.)
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To: billorites
Yes! Paul Rodgers is the best British voaclist ever!
193 posted on 04/16/2003 9:16:35 AM PDT by VANHALEN2002
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To: Reaganwuzthebest; Valin
There's something out there WORSE than rap.

Knowing how rebellious kids can be (I sure was), you might be right, something worse is coming. It'll probably be a combination of disco and rap. What a sound... we can call it discrap.

The sad thing about rap is that it's essentially disposable music from throwaway performers. You don't hear rap oldies very often, certainly not on the rap video channels.

But I've come across examples of it being shoehorned into other music as a fill or bridge where it doesn't work too bad. Check this Olga Tanon offering out.

-archy-/-

194 posted on 04/16/2003 9:21:19 AM PDT by archy (Keep in mind that the milk of human kindness comes from a beast that is both cannibal and a vampire.)
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To: VANHALEN2002
Paul Rodgers is the best British voaclist ever!

What do you think of Jon Anderson of Yes? I always thought his voice was one of the best too, very easy to listen to.

195 posted on 04/16/2003 9:24:30 AM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: archy
What the heck is goin' on here.
Stevie Ray Vaughn and ZZ Topp(America)
Django and Grapelli and the Beatles(Old Europe)

Liberty :o)
196 posted on 04/16/2003 9:28:38 AM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep our Soldiers in your prayers.)
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To: archy
We managed to give a local minister a near stroke when he heard and recognized the opening chords for House of the Rising Sun coming from his church's mighty Wurlitzer at a wedding ceremony he was performing. His sigh of relief when the vocalist acompanied it with the lyrics to Amazing Grace was visible, but he still had the look of a pole-axed steer.

Dammit, archy, it's tough to stifle laughter here in the office. Gives me a runny nose every time! (*sniff*) ;-)

197 posted on 04/16/2003 9:29:32 AM PDT by Charles Martel
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To: Reaganwuzthebest
Interestingly, Bono is good friends with Jesse Helms, too.
198 posted on 04/16/2003 9:31:44 AM PDT by Future Snake Eater
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To: archy
Cool, thanks for the tip. I love Nils and am always looking for more.
199 posted on 04/16/2003 9:32:39 AM PDT by discostu (I have not yet begun to drink)
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To: Pravious
Finally - where's Elvis in all of this? It's not that I'm a raging Elvis fan or anything, but did you notice that references to Elvis pop up in your life nearly every day? So if you're talking about living forever.... I think the guy's already there, as he's the icon of our times.

He's immortalized, don'tchaknow. A lil' girl wrote a song about him, and it did okay on the charts itself. So long as people sing that song about him and those songs he did, he'll never fade away.

Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell
Jimmy Rogers on the Victrola up high
Mama's dancin', there's a baby on her shoulder
The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
The boy could sing, knew how to move, everything
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for

Black velvet in that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring you to your knees
Black velvet, if you please

Up in Memphis the music's like a heat wave
White lightening, bound to drive you wild
Mama's baby's in the heart of every schoolgirl
"Love me tender" leaves them cryin' in the aisles
The way he moved, it was a song, so sweet and true
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for

Black velvet in that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring you to your knees
Black velvet, if you please
Every word of every song he sang was for you
In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon
What could you do?

Black velvet in that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring you to your knees
Black velvet, if you please

200 posted on 04/16/2003 9:33:30 AM PDT by archy (Keep in mind that the milk of human kindness comes from a beast that is both cannibal and a vampire.)
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