December 11, 2003
insist on knowing my bliss
12/11/03
In a headline skewed for maximize snarkiness, Salon.com ran the AP story that Hall and Oates have been deemed "Heroes of Music." Yes, cue groans and guffaws, but I think many of you have forgotten just how awesome Hall & Oates were back in their creative heyday of the early 80s. Forget about "Method of Modern Love" and the other songs from the mid-80s, when Darryl Hall's ego and mullet threatened to destroy American culture. Forget also the comparisons between John Oates and Andrew Ridgeley, the "other half of Wham!" - Oates was a great singer, had amazing backup vocal ideas, and played guitar, whereas Ridgeley just raced cars.
"Private Eyes" had some of the best vocal work on Top 40 radio; "Kiss on My List" had chords that my mom once called "fascinating" while we were driving to the store; "I Can't Go For That" is about the best groove since Stevie Wonder's "That Girl" – and there is just nothing on the radio as unique as the now-overplayed "Maneater" and the forgotten "Family Man." These dudes wrote great pop songs, none of which sounded like the other, and they did it for 12 years.
Perhaps much of the derision lies in John Oates' moustache, which is admittedly pretty terrible. And their album covers ranged from ghastly to horff-inspiring. But American music audiences always suffer from a severe case of What Have You Done for Me Lately, in that they judge every artist by their worst transgressions or recent failures.
As for me, I have the McCartney Rule. Simply stated, it means that the man who wrote "Blackbird," "Drive My Car," "Lady Madonna" and "Hey Jude" doesn't owe anything to anybody. He has done his job. If he puts out forty albums of absolute crap, I don't care, because he made my life infinitely better with his other work. The same goes for any other artist who has given me cause for joy – and for that, "I Can't Go For That" and "Kiss on My List" give Hall & Oates my permanent respect, and sure, why can't they be heroes?
.jpg)
Here, here. By the way, it looks like someone has picked up on your "Nerds" article this morning...not quite an exact ripoff, BUT...
http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,4120,1104848,00.html
Oh, man, I can *so* get behind this. Hall and Oates were amazing, and they didn't slide into obscurity, they actually quit making albums for a long stretch right after they had had about 12 number 1s in a row.
Their videos are horrible, but it's like Elvis. Had he lived, we wouldn't remember him bloated with sideburns, he'd have grown out of it as the fashion changed. H&O's videos are absolutely horrible, but they were made when "Wild Boys" was made,
Their band was amazing, their songwriting is smart and sophisticated, and they are the most successful pop duo in the history of modern music, of course they should be celebrated.
I saw them in the old Charlotte Coliseum on the "Big Bam Boom" tour, the first show I'd ever been to. They rocked, with an amazing band of studio/touring pros.
General Public was the opening band, and their handful of great songs was more electrifying than anything Hall & Oates had, but the headliners won the battle of the bands that night through sheer endurance, playing hit after hit after hit, all with great energy, showmanship--and incredible musicianship I hadn't expected.
They're truly one of the great all-time Rock & Roll acts, due mainly to the consistent quality of songwriting and Daryl Hall's voice.
I did enjoy the SNL fake news that John Oates and Andrew Ridgeley were forming a band, to be called Whatever!
And Hall pissed me off, when in a (1985?) Rolling Stone interview he said Hall & Oates were the "80s Beatles." Whatever.
Hall and Oates are probably still amazing, but I don't think they have their finger on the Zeitgeist the way they did in the early 80s.
Another outfit that is underappreciated after hitting it big on the singles charts: 10CC
Ian's blog is like a virtual coffehouse that "serves the best air." It's hard not to stop by and check out who made comments on what I-dawg has to say. Since I have never met Ian -- I am currently trying to decide what his voice must sound like...Kermit the Frog? Dan Rather? Jack Black? Anyhoo, glad to have learned FRIENDS is of FILM qualty. Though I don't think it's just the lure of the prettiest-purple-walls-ever on the screen that keeps me hooked. That sh*t CAN be (not always) laugh-out-loud funny-- and with a team of upteen writers it should be. Someone should rename Ian's bloghouse with a coffeehouse theme........ so I can visit my virtual friends.... reminds me of college!
I do not sound like Kermit the Frog, but I can do a DEVASTATING impersonation of both Kermit, Bert AND Ernie. Jon Vaden's pretty good at Bert too.
didn't they do that song "it's a bitch girl"? or something?
i think that's their best one - all down hill after that.
Block, you can be such a rube sometimes!
La-la-la-Lightbulb.