Myths and Legands of Rock Music

Robert Johnson sells his soul to the devil:
According to the legend, Robert Johnson was a young black boy living in Mississippi. He had a burning passion to become a great blues musician. Johnson was instructed to bring his guitar to a crossroads at midnight. There he met a large black man, the devil, who took his guitar and tuned it. After tuning his guitar, the "devil" played a few songs then returned it back to Johnson, giving him mastery of the guitar. This was, "a deal with the devil", in exchange Robert Johnson was able to create the blues for which he became famous. People think that this legend is true because many of this songs had to do with the Devil and the darker side of life, like "Hellhound on My Trail". The legend is still unknown if Robert Johnson did or did not sell his soul to the Devil.

Ozzy Osbourne's taste for doves and bats:

Many Rock and Roll myths and legends are false, but some turnout to be the true. This is what the myth of Ozzy's taste for bats came to be. While touring for his second solo album, onstage, Ozzy would pelted his audience with 25 pounds of pig intestines and calves liver. Fans begin bringing meat and dead animals to throw back at Ozzy. Someone decided to throw a live bat onstage, stunned by the lights the bat lay motionless. Ozzy thought it was a rubber toy and bit into it's neck. He was rushed to the hospital to be tested for rabies. Also, there was a rumor that Ozzy once bit the head off a dove during a meeting with CBS Records, this has been confirmed as well.

Mythology surrounding the Abbey Road cover:

The myths behind the Beatles, Abbey Road cover is still a mystery. It is said that Paul McCartney had died in a car crash, the Beatles buried Paul and got a look-alike to take his place. They felt bad about replacing him, so they left clues in all their album covers. On the Abbey Road cover the license plate says 28IF, hitting that Paul would have been 28 if he survived the car crash. Crossing the road, John is dressed as a priest, Ringo paul bearer, the Paul look-alike a dead man, and George a grave digger. Paul isn't wearing shoes, a symbol of death in Greece. Paul's head looks to have a crack in it, symbolizing the crash. Also, there is a crack in the wall through "The Beatles" sign, symbolizing the breakup of the group. But, this is still felt to be a mystery.

Bob Dylan goes electric:

Being known as an acoustic folk singer, it was a huge controversy when Bob Dylan, at the Newport Folk Festival, played with an electric blues band in concert for the first time. Dylan became unpopular in some parts of the Folk community, aliening some fans. Bob Dylan going electric deeply affected both Folk music and Rock and Roll forever.

Gene Simmons had a tongue transplant from a cow:

Rumor has it that KISS band member, Gene Simmons, who is famous for wagging his very large tongue, had a cow's tongue surgically attached to his own. This is not true by any means. Simmons just has a abnormally large tongue and has learned ways to draw abnormal attention to it. In the 70's medical technology didn't extend to successfully attaching animal parts to humans, and a cows tongue looks nothing like Simmons.

Kenny Chesney: Big Star

She was aware of her insecurities as she took the stage

She was convinced if she got up there that she'd be discovered someday

So she belted it

She hit the high notes fearlessly

Oh she melted them

As she brought them to their feet

She was a big star at Banana Joe's bar

Where she sang karaoke every night

She said, "If you work hard to get where you are,

It feels good in the hot spotlight"

She was a big star

She made the local cable shows where the camera fell in love with her face

After a couple of weekends the groupies were crawlin' all over the place

She signed autographs like she was Garth Brooks in a skirt

And in the aftermath, that small time town was hers

She was a big star at Banana Joe's bar

Where she sang karaoke every night

She said, "If you work hard to get where you are,

It feels good in the hot spotlight"

She was a big star

She doesn't care anymore that her high school girlfriends cut her down

The only thought she entertains is where they are and where she is now

Her old neighbors swear they're certain she slept her way to the top

She knows you don't get where you're going

Unless you've got something they ain't got

So she sings tonight to twenty-thousand plus

And the young girls scream out loud,"Man that could be us"

She's a big star and she eats caviar just before she performs every night

She says, "If you work hard to get where you are,

It feels good in the hot spotlight"

She's a big star

She's a big star

Billy Currington: People are Crazy

William Matthew (Billy) Currington, is a new star to hit the country countdowns. Once signing with Mercury Nashville Records in 2003, Currington has released three studio albums. These albums were his 2003's Billy Currington, 2005's Doin' Somethin' Right, and 2008's Little Bit of Everything. From these three albums Currington has had three Billboard Hot Country Songs, "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right", "Good Directions" and "People Are Crazy". From Currington’s ready success, listeners can tell country music is going to have a new countdown topper. Billy Currington’s new hit, “People are Crazy”, contains a number of poetic devices and has a cohesive narrative throughout the entire song.

The song”People are Crazy,” has a cohesive narrative because Billy Currington is telling a story, within his song. An example of this song being a cohesive narrative is in the first lines of the song, “This old man and me, were at the bar and we/Were having us some beers and swapping I don’t cares.” This example shows that within the first two lines of the song, the listener should know this song is going to be telling a story about the narrator and the old man he met at the bar. Another example of cohesive narrative is, “We talked about Gods grace and all the heck we raised/Then I heard the ol' man say; / God is great, beer is bad and People Are Crazy.” This is another example because the narrator is telling the listener about what he and the old man talked about, and the advice the old man gave him. To conclude, “Then one sunny day, I saw the old mans face/ Front page Obituary, he was a millionaree/ he left his fortune to some guy he barely knew, his kids were mad as heck/ But me, Im doing well,” this excerpt is telling the ending of the story. The old man has died, he was a millionaire. Instead of leaving his money to his family, he left it to the narrator and that he spent a night with in a bar talking about life. This adds some humor to the song as well as irony. This is because the listener never expected the old man to be a millionaire and leave the narrator all his money.

Billy Currington’s, “People are Crazy,” was a number on hit from the time in was on the radio. This was not because Billy Currington is a popular artist, it’s because the song tells the story we all love to hear. The average man, making small talk with a wise old man at a bar realizes the theory of life. “God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy.” We all wish life was as simple was this song makes it out to be. Also, I think the message that, everyone you meet and alter your life, is eluded in this song. The narrator never guessed that this conversation with an old man at the bar would make him a millionaire.

People are Crazy:

This old man and me, were at the bar and we

Were having us some beers and swaping I dont cares

Talking politics, blonde and red-head chicks

Old dogs and new tricks and habits we aint kicked

We talked about Gods grace and all the heck we raised

Then I heard the ol' man say;

God is great, beer is bad and People Are Crazy

He said "I fought two wars,

Been married and divorced

"What brings you to Ohio?

He said "Darned if I know"

We talked an hour or two about every girl we knew

What all we put them through

Like two old boys will do

We pondered life an death

He lit a cigarette

He said "These darn things will kill me yet;

But God is great, beer is bad and people are crazy"

Last call its 2am, I said goodbye to him I never talk to him again

Then one sunny day, I saw the old mans face

Front page Obituary, he was a millionareehe left his fortune to some guy he barely knew, his kids were mad as heck

But me, Im doing well And I drop by today, to just say thanks and pray, I left a six-pack right there on his grave and i said; God is great,beer is bad, and people are crazy.

God is great, beer is bad, and people are crazy.

God is great, beer is bad, and people are crazy.

Culture in popular music

Jay Z

Jason DeRulo Lady Gaga

Billboard Top 100

#6. Paparazzi: Lady Gaga

The song Paparazzi is about someone being a paparazzi. It also leads you to think that Lady Gaga is being a paparazzi to the person she loves, like being obsessed with them. Within the song I saw many examples of irony like, "I'm your biggest fan, Ill follow you until you love me/ Papa, paparazzi". I thought this was ironic because celebrities are known for hating the paparazzi, but she is being a paparazzi to her "love". I think that this is number six of the Billboard Top 100 because people like the beat of the song, not so much what she is saying. This shows that our country is somewhat obsessed with our celebrities. Everything is based upon what the celebrities are photographed doing.

#4. Whatcha Say: Jason DeRulo

The song Whatcha Say is about someone cheating on their boyfriend/girlfriend and they regret it. This song showed little poetic devices, but I thought, in the verse, "Mmmm whatcha say/ Mmm that you only meant well?/Well of course you did", is humor because that is one person who's been cheating on response to the cheaters excuses. This song is number four on the Billboard Top 100 because, like Paparazzi, people like the beat of the song. Both, Paparazzi and Whatcha Say have very little poetic devices. This shows that music has become more of a image than actually creating good music.

#10. Empire State Of Mind: Jay-Z + Alicia Keys

The song Empire State of Mind is about someone moving out of the "hood" and moving to New York. The poetic device found is hyperbole, "In New York!!!!/Concrete jungle where dreams are made of/There's nothing you can’t do/Now you're in New York!!!/These streets will make you feel brand new". This is an example of a hyperbole because they are making New York sound like the place for all opportunities, and in some cases, it is not. I think this song is number ten on the Billboard Top 100 because Jay Z is one of the most well-known rappers. People are drawn to his music. Also, i think that most people in the US believe that New York is the land of opportunities.

Rascal Flatts: Skin(Sarabeth)

Rascal Flatts is known as one of the best American Country bands of it’s time. They have released six albums, and five of these albums have gone Multi-Platinum. Rascal Flatts is known for their pleasing harmony, Grammy-winning song craft and slick-sounding singles. Throughout Rascal Flatts’ song “Skin(Sarabeth)” shows their many uses of poetic devices. One of the many poetic devices used was consonance.

Consonance is a stylistic device characterized by the repetition of the same consonant two or more times in short succession. An example of consonance used in the song “Skin (Sarabeth)” is the line, “Sarabeth is scared to death”. This is an example of consonance because the use of Sarabeth and death. Another example of a consonance is “And she dreams shes dancin' around and around”. This is another example of a consonance because of the usage of the words dreams she dancing. The last example of consonant is “She hasn't been well, Since the day that she fell”. This is a consonant because of the words well and fell.

Throughout Rascal Flatts’ song, “Skin (Sarabeth)”, they show a use of consonance multiple times. They showed this use within almost every line of the song. This just shows the capability of Rascal Flatts’ songwriting. The song is also emotionally evocative and shows Rascal Flatts’ expansive range. Overall I think this is one of Rascal Flatts’ best songs written.



SaraBeth is scared to death

To hear what the doctor will say
She hasn't been well
Since the day that she fell
And the bruise it just wont go away

So she sits and she waits with her mother and dad
And flips through an old magazine
'Til the nurse with a smile stands at the door
And says "Will you please come with me?"

SaraBeth is scared to death
Cause the doctor just told her the news
Between the red cells and white
Something's not right
But we're gonna take care of you

Six chances in ten it wont come back again
With the therapy we're gonna try
It's just been approved it's the strongest there is
I think we caught it in timeSaraBeth closes her eyes
And she dreams she dancin' around and around
Without any cares
And her very first love
Is holding her close
And the soft wind is blowing her hair

SaraBeth is scared to death as she sits holding her mom
cause It would be a mistake
For someone to take
A girl with no hair to the prom

For just this morning right there on her pillow
Was the cruelest of any surprise
Yet She cried when she gathered it all in her hands
The proof that she couldn't deny
SaraBeth closes her eyes

And she dreams she dancin' around and around
With out any cares
And her very first love
Was holding her close
And the soft wind was blowing her hair

It's quarter to seven that boy's at the door
Her daddy ushers him inAnd when he takes off his cap they all start to cry
Cause this morning where his hair had been
Softly she touches just skin

They go dancin' around and around
Without any cares
And her very first true loveIs holding her close
And for a moment she isn't scared
Ohhhhhh.

The Heartbreakers

Tom Petty

• Known as Thomas Earl Petty, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.


• Born and raised in Gainesville, Florida.


• Had a difficult relationship with his father, who couldn't accept him. He verbally and physically abused him on a regular basis.


• Petty was very close with his mother and his brother Bruce.


• Became interested in Rock and Roll when he met Elvis Presley. Before becoming a star.


• Petty worked briefly on the grounds crew for the University of Florida, but never attended as a student.


• Early bands he was a part of where The Sundowners, The Epics, and Mudcrutch.


• First album, titled Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, gained quick popularity among the American audiences, but had more success in Britain.


• In 2007, a four-hour film titled Runnin' down a Dream was released, documenting the career of Tom Petty and his band, the Heartbreakers.


• Petty has been married four times and from these four marriages, he has had two daughters.

Timeline:
October 20, 1950: Thomas Earl Petty was born.

1970: Tom Petty forms Mudcrutch in Gainesville, Florida. Guitarist Mike Campbell joins the same year and keyboardist Benmont Tench signs on in 1973.

1974: Mudcrutch is signed to Shelter Records and records a single, “Depot Street.”

November 22, 1976: The self-titled debut album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is released. It contains “Breakdown”, their first Top Forty hit.

May 9, 1978: ‘You’re Gonna Get It!,’ Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ second album, is released.

May 28, 1979: Tom Petty files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
February 27, 1982: ‘Damn the Torpedoes’ is Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ first album to be certified platinum.

November 2, 1982: ‘Long After Dark,’ by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is released. It spawns the hits “You Got Lucky” and “Change of Heart”.

April 30, 1985: ‘Southern Accents,’ Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers sixth album. The #13 hit “Don’t Come Around Here No More.”

January 5, 1986: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers back up Bob Dylan on the first date of a world tour. The successful pairing will continue into the next year.

April 20, 1987: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ ‘Let Me Up (I’ve Had Enough)’ is released. It includes “Jammin’ Me”.

April 24, 1989: ‘Full Moon Fever,’ Tom Petty’s first solo album, is released. It sells 3 million copies and yields the hit singles “I Won’t Back Down” , “Runnin’ Down a Dream”, “Free Fallin’” and “A Face in the Crowd”.

February 28, 1996: Tom Petty wins the “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” Grammy for “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” from ‘Wildflowers.’

October 5, 2000: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ ‘Greatest Hits’ album receives its ninth platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), signifying sales of nine million copies.

March 18, 2002: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the seventeenth annual induction dinner. Bob Dylan is their presenter.
February 24, 2003: Howie Epstein of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers passes away.

Song Analysis:

Tom Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Petty was not on his own, he and his band the Heartbreakers, had great fame and success.
One song the put Petty at the top was “Free Fallin”. Tom Petty’s song, “Free Fallin”, contains many poetic devices showing Petty’s spectacular songwriting abilities.
One of the more prominent poetic devices that are used is the hyperbole. An example of the hyperbole used in the song is, “I wanna free fall out into nothin', Gonna leave this world for awhile”. This is an example of a hyperbole because Petty is making an exaggeration about what he is going to do now that he broke up with someone he really loved, and has now moved on. Another poetic device used through out the song is alliteration. An example of this is, “Free Fallin”, “She’s a good girl”, and “I’m a bad boy”. These are examples of alliteration because they are words in the same line that has repeating of the same consonant sound.
For more than 30 years, singer-songwriter Tom Petty has been one of the most known artists in classic rock. He has released significant albums throughout all four decades. He is one of the only artists of his time who has gone to various limits to achieve greatness. Throughout Tom Petty”s well-known song, “Free Fallin”, he shows his strong writing abilities.


Contributions:

Tom Petty has made various contributions to classic rock. He is one of the few musician accepted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Petty set the standards for other musician, like John Mayor. Tom Petty has had nine albums go platinum and has sold millions of albums in his life time. Tom Petty will always be a legend in the rock world