The Sex Pistols, God Save the Queen

Posted in The Sex Pistols, Youtube Favs on November 17th, 2011 by Willie

At last we get to see Sid Vicious performing with the band.  In my last Sex Pistols post, it was Glen Matlock in the promo vid for “Anarchy in the UK.”  It’s probably not Sid playing bass on the actual track, but its cool to see the icon of the group thrashing about in this historic clip.  I’ve been staying in Australia for the last few weeks, and I recently got a coin in my change honoring the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton.  It was kind of horrifying that such a thing is stamped on the official currency, so I had to put up “God Save the Queen,” in honor of such a revolting display of unearned honor.  The song itself is fairly revolutionary, released in 1977, the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee.  Johnny Rotten claimed the song was written out of love for the English people’s working class, deriding the monarchy as fascist, and proclaiming that England has no future.  It’s actually a complex idea about class warfare presented in the awesome straightforward punk rock format.  The song is filled with delicious riffs, and a perfect acid tipped vocal delivery from Rotten.  A true classic, enjoy.

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The Sex Pistols, Anarchy in the UK

Posted in The Sex Pistols, Youtube Favs on May 26th, 2011 by Willie

I’m in a punky mood, so for part 73 of my youtube countdown, I have the Sex Pistols with their 1976 classic, “Anarchy in the UK” from their seminal LP Never Mind the Bollocks. There is not much I can say about this record that the video doesn’t give you.  Oh, its Glen Matlock on bass not Sid Vicious, (he must have been MIA.)  I like how Johnny Rotten is staged behind the drummer, you never see that in a band’s stage presentation.  I like this song for its musicality.  It’s got a sludgy almost phasered electric guitar sound, and Johnny Rotten’s vocal delivery has just the right amount of that classic English bite.  Lyrically, the song is genius, with the idea of the song right up front, no metaphor, no bullshit, and its FUNNY!  Most people like to associate danger and violence with the Sex Pistols, but I always associate humor.  They were funny in interviews, their lyrics were clever and sharp, and they were media pranksters.  Pretty cool.

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Paul McCartney, For No One

Posted in Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Youtube Favs on April 4th, 2011 by Willie

In part 28 of my youtube countdown, I present a 40 something Paul McCartney playing his Beatle classic, For No One, from the Revolver album.  There are so many things I love about this performance.  First of all, he’s playing one of his most gorgeous piano ballads on acoustic guitar, and its brilliant.  I love how he musically clears his throat in the first 5 seconds when he starts singing.  There is something very real and charming about that.  I love how he starts his French Horn solo, announces it midway through, and jibbers his way through it.  And lastly, I love every other second of this.  He sings the song absolutely beautifully, providing wonderful little melodic twists not found in the original, and he sings the song with total soul.  This is just one his greatest breakup songs.  A universal anthem for guys who find themselves in the moment when they realize their girlfriends don’t love them anymore.  I’m sure the song has other layered meanings for girls, but for me, I take it quite literally. Ladies, feel free to let me know how you interpret this song. Enjoy.

 

 

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