(Untitled)

[hannibalv]

So bdar hit me with a challenge today.

This question came up on an acquaintance's blog, and it would be right up your alley: A hundred years from now, say you're teaching a class on music of the twentieth century. Name the top eight BANDS (he excluded solo artists at this time) that make your course syllabus.

OK.

Comments

[911939]

I won't pretend to be any kind of expert on pop music, but I like your take on this. I like how the bands that you choose are the bands that popularized their particular brand of music. The obscure, influential bands are important, but the bands that popularize are the bands that are remembered. Of course, quite a few of your choices were innovators and influences as well. Even the more obscure choices, The Wailers and the Velvet Underground, did their work to popularize their genre. I can't imagine anyone who popularized "World" music more than Marley, and that music found its way into rock music via bands like The Clash. And I think everyone has at least heard of the Velvet Underground, and the acts they spawned certainly changed music. I'm also with you on the choice of Sabbath over Zeppelin, especially after I've discovered how much of Zeppelin's music is converted old blues tunes. Not that that's bad or anything, it's just not exactly "metal".

[loosestrudel]

Led Zeppelin can go fuck themselves.

Now be nice...

But seriously, good selections given the limit of choosing bands and the limit of 20th century music. Considering the latter restriction, I'm not sure where The NBC Orchestra fits in. That is, I'm not sure where classical music fits in to the 20th century story. If you really want an orchestra, might I suggest The Boston Pops or the London Symphony Orchestra for their dual contributions to film scores--a highly appropriate 20th century orchestral music form?

More thoughts when I think 'em...here's some loose ones:

The Beatles, if not overrated, are certainly overplayed. And fine, yeah, I admit to thinking they're overrated too. But they're appropriate curriculum as probably the most popular band of all time.

Thinking about it more, I'd drop the orchestra and teach the Stones. It's pretty much unforgivable not to teach the Stones. Talk about influence.

I might step back from Zeppelin and Sabbath to The Who. Tough to pick 8. Tough to not talk about Pete Townshend. I consider him

[arettber]

"Thinking about it more, I'd drop the orchestra and teach the Stones. It's pretty much unforgivable not to teach the Stones. Talk about influence."

Plus, they have the advantage of still going strong after nearly a century.

[hannibalv]

And hell, I could bring in the immortal/undead Keith Richards as a guest lecturer.

[loosestrudel]

"Class, please welcome Professor Emeritus and Posthumous Richards."

: )