Amazon discontinued the ability to create images using their SiteStripe feature and in their infinite wisdom broke all previously created images on 12/31/23. Many blogs used this feature, including this one. Expect my archives to be a hot mess of broken book cover images until I can slowly comb through 20 years of archives to make corrections.

Friday, November 20, 2009

RocknRolla

I don't know about you all, but I'm just about full-up on the Harlequin Horizons brouhaha. Not that I don't think it's an important topic to beat half to death (I have devoted two blog posts to it!), but I'm reaching the saturation point where I want to start smacking people. Which means it's time for me to take a step back and steer the Bat Cave back towards a completely frothy topic that nobody gives a flying fig about. Heh.

During my morning commute, one of the radio stations I rarely listen to in the mornings (DJs = blah, blah, blah) was promoting their upcoming Thanksgiving week programming where they're going to play the Top 1000 Rock Songs as voted on by their listeners. The DJs were discussing their own personal Top 10 lists. I thought this sounded like fun (I'm a massive list ho) plus the Big Sis (the metal chick) hasn't commented on my blog in ages (some nonsense about finishing nursing school, working, being a wife and mother - like those are excuses!), so I thought I'd do my own personal Top 10 Songs Wendy Rocks Out To list. Here it goes:

(Song title links will take you to YouTube)

1) Helter Skelter by The Beatles - Paul McCartney tends to take a lot of shit for his "silly love songs," while John Lennon is touted as "the genius." Well kids - arguably the hardest rockin' song The Beatles ever recorded was written, wait for it, by pretty boy Paul. Yeah. You can shut up now.

2) Welcome To The Jungle by Guns n' Roses - Could be the greatest hard rock song ever recorded. Period. Every time it's on the radio I crank it up to about 50,000 decibels. Sheer awesome.

3) Back In Black by AC/DC - I can take or leave AC/DC, but I love this song. One of the all-time great guitar riffs.

4) Panama by Van Halen - It's hard to pick one Van Halen track (the Bat Cave likes to pretend Van Hagar never happened), but this one edges out Hot For Teacher because not only is Eddie's guitar amazing, but Alex's drumming sounds like pure sex.

5) Barracuda by Heart - I lurve old skool Heart. Ann Wilson is my choice for greatest female rock vocalist ever. And her voice still sounds fan-frackin'-tastic to this day.

6) Tush by ZZ Top - It was hard to choose between this one and La Grange, but Tush wins out because again, it sounds like sex. Dirty, Texas honky-tonk, whiskey-shootin' sex.

7) Sex Type Thing by Stone Temple Pilots - Hands down, some of the most misogynistic lyrics ever set to music. I should feel dirty for loving it - but I don't.

8) Enter Sandman by Metallica - Hard core Metallica fans consider this the band's sell-out point, but damn this song rocks. It barrels down on you like a freight train, and that bass line? That bass line is hot!

9) Head Like A Hole by Nine Inch Nails - I can't help it. I'm a Gen-Xer. Which means I have to like one band that panders to whiny, disenfranchised slackers. NIN works for me because Trent Reznor took electronic music and gave it a damn melody. This entire album (Pretty Hate Machine) rocks my socks.

10) She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult - A gothic-punk hybrid, I love this song because of how melodic it is. Oh and the guitar. I'm a sucker for that guitar.

So that's my fly by the seat of my pants list. Honestly, I'm leaving off a ton of stuff. There's no mention of The Who, Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Ozzy, Cream - geez. Tons.

Add your favorite rock songs in the comments section. And happy Friday!

22 comments:

KT Grant said...

I was going to do a post on the Harlequin drama, but am sticking to everything New Moon.

Wendy, you've done great posts on this! I bow down to you.

Under Pressure by David Bowie and Freddie Mercury gets my blood up and running. I can play that song over and over and it never gets old.

Cathy in AK said...

Dirty Deeds by AC/DC or Joan Jett (plus, just about anything by Joan Jett)

Who Are You and Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who

White Wedding and Dancing with Myself by Billy Idol

Heartbreaker and Hit Me with Your Best Shot and a bunch of others by Pat Benatar

Wendy said...

Katie: And that's why it was evil when Vanilla Ice hit it big. You'd hear that riff on the radio, think you were getting Queen & David Bowie and instead....you got Vanilla Ice. Blergh.

Cathy: Almost put Bad Reputation by Joan Jett on the list. Also wanted to include Won't Get Fooled Again, if only for the scream (one of the great all-time rock screams) - but The Cult edged them out.

I also limited myself to one Beatles tune. Otherwise I would have put Revolution on here (the B-side of Hey Jude, not the slow White Album version).

Cathy in AK said...

Wendy, I'm with you on the Under Pressure/Vanilla Ice bait-and-switch back in the day. You'd hear the riff and think, "Cool, Bowie and Mercury," then get hit by VI. *shudder* I learned to curb my enthusiasm until a few more bars were played.

Bad Reputation and Revolution--definitely need to be on there! And a slew of Aerosmith, some Pink...and and and....

Gosh, maybe you needed to make this your Top 20 or 50 list : )

SandyH said...

Love the post. My age is going to show. Just love Somebody to Love by Jefferson Airplane, Whole Lot of Love Led Zeppelin, Tommy The Who, Hendrix just anything, The Doors. I have to argue with you about Ann Wilson. What about Grace Slick and Janis Joplin - Janis is the Queen.

Wendy said...

OMG - just shoot me! I left off Hendrix! Gah! Although I have no clue which one I would have chosen. All Along The Watch Tower? Maybe? Although I really dig Foxy Lady.

Sandy: Oh don't worry. If Big Sis swings by she'll properly chastise me for omitting Janis and Grace. My sister is a massive Janis fan. Massive.

BookObsessedGrl said...

OMG Wendy! You have stolen my heart with your picks! I love almost all of them...but I prefer the U2 version of Helter Skelter - I know its practically sacrilegious to say that...but I do.

Katie Mack said...

Enter Sandman is a guilty pleasure of mine, and Back in Black is my cell phone ringtone.

Ah, The Cult. I totally rock out to Fire Woman.

Then's there's the classic rock:

I'm all over Whole Lotta Love, Immigrant Song, and You Shook Me by Zeppelin.

For Cream Layla is at the top, and Bobby McGee by Joplin is awesome.

For Hendrix my favorite is probably Voodoo Child, with All Along the Watchtower as a close second.

Dream On is probably my favorite classic Aerosmith, followed by Sweet Emotion. None of that new Aerosmith crap.

jmc said...

Love most of your picks.

I'm waiting for the owners/producers of Supernatural to eventually release a soundtrack to the show -- will they? I don't know but I hope so, because the music is all 70s and 80s rock and heavy metal. No Metallica because the band won't let them use it (despite the fact that fandom has nicknamed the characters' car Metallicar), but lots of other classics, including Back in Black and Wayward Son. Love it.

Wendy said...

I'm reading everybody's comments and realizing how many gross oversights I made. JMC's comment about Wayward Son made me realize that I left off Fortunate Son by CCR. I knew I was overlooking Zeppelin - but man, I love Immigrant Song. Not on my list.

Maybe I just need to do one of these posts every couple of months and keep adding. Sticking with only 10 is HARD!

sula said...

I love the U2 cover of Helter Skelter. then again, I adore pretty much the entire U2 catalog.

The HQ drama is interesting to follow but tiring. I haven't commented on it because everyone else has said what's on my mind in one shape or form. Purely from the standpoint of a recent MBA grad, I think the brand dilution is a head-smackingly stupid thing on HQ's part though.

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Your musical taste reminds me why I like you.

(btw, it's a bass guitar in Sandman. A base belongs in baseball and makes odd, plastic sounds. If it's made of plastic.)

lynneconnolly said...

Sisters under the skin, Wendy, both with the HQN Ho stuff and the music. WTG.
A few suggestions from a Brit, that you might not have discovered:
1. Robbie Williams' "Rock DJ." I like his new one, "Bodies" as well. Huge everywhere but the US. Check the version for his Knebworth concert. Tell you what, I'll do it for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joKGILnXlXI
(And you get the gorgeous Scottish kilted drummer as well).
2. Madness, "One Step Beyond." Might be for Madness purists but everyone in the UK, from granny to toddler knows how to respond to "Hey you, don't watch that-" Also the only band to cause an earthquake measured on the Richter scale.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ1WkgjXuq0
3. Led Zeppelin - "Since I've Been Loving You." Symbiotic, I tell you.
http://tinyurl.com/ddgy5v

4. The Sex Pistols, "Anarchy in the UK." I was there. I was astounded.
http://tinyurl.com/b2erwm

5. Basement Jaxx - "Raindrops." Anything done by the Jaxx will get you dancing around the kitchen units.
http://tinyurl.com/yh48b8r

6. Bowie "Heroes." Just - well, Bowie.
http://tinyurl.com/b56z3d

8. Muse. Difficult to pick just one, but maybe "Plug In Baby."
http://tinyurl.com/3zuj2h

Plus What You Said. Absolutely.
Gosh, that was fun!

Wendy said...

Susan: My brain melted about 12 hours ago. I'm blaming the HHz fiasco. Although maybe I typed base because I've been dithering about all the rumors flying around about my Detroit Tigers. Trade Granderson? Really?!?! Why? Why would we want to do that?

Anyway, it's fixed. And thanks! I like you too!

Sula: U2 love all around!

Wendy said...

Lynne: Now I've got One Step Beyond stuck in my head. Thanks :)

Yeah, no Bowie. Although I probably would have gone with Fame. Heroes is nothing to sneeze at though.

And I didn't really go with any punk did I? I have a brother-in-law who will probably consider my oversight of The Clash unforgivable.

Off to check out the links. Thanks girlie!

Leslie said...

You’ve got some of my favorites: GnR, AC/DC, Metallica, NIN and The Cult. Not much of a Beatles fan *ducks head* so I’d pick Mötley Crüe’s version. And love Heart – saw them in concert, twice, many, many years ago. I’d have to pass on the ZZ Top and instead add Pearl Jam or Godsmack. And Boston. Love cranking up Boston.

I’d add ~

Pearl Jam ~ Alive
GnR ~ Nightrain and Paradise City
Heart’s Crazy On You, Straight On and Heartless
Godsmack ~ Shine Down, Awake and No Rest for the Wicked
Boston ~ Smokin’ and Rock & Roll Band

I'm sure there's more I'm missing, REO Speedwagon, Journey, Judas Priest...

Fun post Wendy - makes me want to burn some CDs.

Tara Marie said...

Musically I was going to say we were seperated at birth, then I saw SandyH comment... What about Grace Slick and Janis Joplin - Janis is the Queen. YES

Leslee said...

I agree with Katie Mack on Fire Woman by the Cult. Also I would include Beautiful People by Marilyn Manson (he is scary but that song is awesome!!!), the entire Pump album by Aerosmith, the first album by Audioslave, Hotel California and Life in the Fast Lane by the Eagles, Radar Love by Golden Earring, Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard, and Crazy Train and Iron Man by Ozzy/Black Sabbath.

Renee said...

Awesome, Wendy! I'm so with you on the 70's Heart. OK, you've inspired me:

Here's my Top 10 list.

Wendy said...

Leslie: Oooooh, Boston! So should have picked some Boston.

TM: Janis Joplin has always fascinated me. So powerful on stage, but very insecure when it came to her personal life.

Leslee: My BFF and I both used to work at the local mall. We used to play this game where we'd listen to the piped in muzak and try to identify the strangest song(s). She ended up winning. One day she heard the muzak version of Radar Love. LOLOLOLOLOL! That's so wrong, and on so many levels.

Renee: I saw your list. Loved it! Left a comment.

mslizalou said...

Welcome to the Jungle has remained one of my favorite songs since it came out. I too turn the volume up so everyone in hearing distance can rock out. I love every song you picked on your top 10 list. My brain is still fried this morning so I can't think of any one song. Always been a huge fan of Depeche Mode. Luckily my brother is too so he keeps me in their cd's.

Cece Writer said...

I've been dl'ing a lot of "classics" from iTunes lately!

Second Boston, and Welcome to the Jungle and Paradise City...adding Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. And some Peter Frampton :D