In the beginning:
There was a musician.
And that musician was listening to musicians who came before.
And the musician said:
“Let me write music that takes great ideas from these older musicians and combine them for something new and exciting.”
“And also:”
“Let me lay this music upon a sick beat.”
And the musician did so. And called this creation a new song. And it was good.
…Right?
We often talk about creativity as if it were the act of manifesting something from nothing. But the reality is that even the most daring and original artists out there took ideas from earlier influences.
One of the better designs for a Music League group was having one based on each member providing a song that was influenced in some way by the topic artist listed for each round.
For example:
If The Beatles were named as the topic artist of a round, then everyone would submit a song they think shows off the influence of the Fab Four.
You can pick whatever song you think is best. It can be a rather obvious and well-known pick…
Like this one.
Or a more obscure pick, like this one.
Or something that may leave others bewildered. Like this one.
Since the goal in Music League is to have everyone vote for your song: you should not simply pick something that you think bears the influence of the topic artist. You should also pick something you think will get others to agree with you once they hear it.
If the influence is a bit more subtle or specific, you should at least explain your reasoning in a comment.
I am currently in a league that is based on the influence of various legends from the 1970s.But I must say, the list of topic artists provided to us is a bit samey. And so each round produces a batch of some very similar submissions.
So I thought: why not do a similar take on the theme here, but with a more diverse roster of 70s artistsm.
For each artist named, select a song that you think clearly demonstrates the influence of said 70s legend.
And try to stick to the influencing artists’ legacy within the 70s. So if the topic artist were The Beatles, only choose songs that were inspired by the Let It Be album and nothing that came out in the 60s. If the topic artist were Smokey Robinson, don’t pick a song that was inspired by Gasms.
Much as you may want to, the rules are the rules.
Okay, here we go:
Songs Inspired by the Legends of the 70s:
- David Bowie
- Bruce Springsteen
- The Delfonics
- Parliament
- Donna Summer
- The Stooges
- ABBA
- Big Star
- Patti Smith
- Kraftwerk
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Some great picks. Do you really think “O Superman” has an ABBA influence? I hear Philip Glass more than anything.
I was stumped. It felt like cheating if I googled bands influenced by ABBA. When Tori Amos is asked who her musical heroes are, she names people that don’t sound anything like the music she makes. I just went with an old favorite that never gets old. Still startling.
Here are my own picks:
1. David Bowie. Ultravox: I Want to Be a Machine.
2. Bruce Springsteen. Tom Waits: Hang Your Head.
3. The Delfonics. D’Angelo: Cruisin.’
4. Parliament. Talking Heads: Pull Up the Roots.
5. Donna Summer. Sparks: The Number One Song in Heaven.
6. The Stooges. The Birthday Party: Junkyard.
7. ABBA. Lady Gaga: Venus.
8. Big Star. Toad the Wet Sprocket: Good Intentions.
9. Patti Smith. Sonic Youth: Secret Girl.
10. Kraftwerk. Cybotron: Clear.
Not quite a Proustian rush but mentions this week of Olivia Tremor Control and Toad the Wet Sprocket take me back. Two bands I haven’t thought about this century.
Think I know what will be on my playslist at work tomorrow.
Is it “Ullo John! Gotta New Motor?”
I tried. Some of these are a stretch.
DISQUALIFIED!
No, it counts. Because just because someone attempts to channel Bowie in a tribute doesn’t mean it’s gonna work. And theirs does.
I have deep concern with rollerboogie’s choices.
Not with the selections themselves, but with my fear that he has somehow used some kind of spooky and advanced technology to predict no less than FOUR of my choices.
Challenge is on. Thinking of a number between 1 and 25…
42
I had the same Teenage Fanclub track so in the interests of diversity subbed it out for a different one.
Yeah, some bands hinted of the Big Star influence. That one seemed to wear it on their sleeve.
Here’s some more based on my league:
1. Lou Reed. The Feelies: Original Love.
2. Black Sabbath. Swans: Half Life.
3. Pink Floyd. Modest Mouse: The Cold Part.
4. Led Zeppelin. White Stripes: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground.
5. Neil Young: Dinosaur Jr – No Bones
6. Queen. My Chemical Romance: Welcome to the Black Parade
7. T.Rex: Andi Sexgang. 7 Ways to Kill a Man
8. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Wilco – Shouldn’t Be Ashamed
9. The Cars. The Rentals – Please Let That be You
10. Cheap Trick. The Smithereens – A Girl Like You
11. Ramones. The Misfits – Ghouls Night Out
12. Runaways. L7 – Shitlist
13. Gang of Four: Minutemen – The Glory of Man
14. Pere Ubu. Joy Division – No Love Lost
15. Roxy Music. Ultravox – Frozen Ones
16. King Crimson. Genesis – Cinema Show
17. Talking Heads. Kaputt: Accordian
This was harder than it should have been. Good game, though.
Way better than you would expect:
https://youtu.be/E5mYiIhzyos?si=4sYU__YLpI0lh0dB
Rumor has it that they’re Nashville pros who are under contracts so they keep their identities hidden. If so, it’s no wonder they’re so good. I saw them several years ago and it was a super fun time.
We had one in common.
• David Bowie – Blur: For Tomorrow
• Bruce Springsteen – Sam Fender : Seventeen Going Under
• The Delfonics – Swing Out Sister: La La (Means I Love You)
I’m not that familiar with The Delfonics so cheating with a straight cover
• Parliament – Deee-Lite: Groove Is In The Heart
• Donna Summer – L’il Louis: French Kiss
• The Stooges – Joy Division: Dead Souls
• ABBA – Brotherhood Of Man: Save Your Kisses For Me
• Big Star – Teenage Fanclub: Ain’t That Enough
• Patti Smith – PJ Harvey: 50ft Queenie
• Kraftwerk – David Bowie: V2 Schneider
This is why I like Music League. I get a little time with the category before having to pick. I am less than stellar with on-the-fly picks, but I will try.
• David Bowie
Placebo – Nancy Boy
• Bruce Springsteen
The Gaslight Anthem – Red At Night
• Parliament
Ozomatli – Cumbia De Los Muertos
• Donna Summer
The Gossip – Heavy Cross
• The Stooges
Fucked Up – Magic Word
• ABBA
Cardigans – Lovefool
• Big Star
Wednesday – Chosen To Deserve
• Patti Smith
Carina Round – Mother’s Pride
Carina Round. I haven’t heard that name in a long time and I’m not familiar with “Mother’s Pride” but I saw her at SXSW 20+ years ago. She was really good, but I’ve lost track of her.
Mother’s Pride is from her last album, Tigermending, which is from 2012. She hasn’t put anything out since, but she’s been in Maynard’s Puscifer band for a while now. I would love more of her solo stuff, but it’s nice that she seems to be living a good life as a professional musician. She just played some solo shows for the first time in ages, celebrating 20 years of The Disconnection.
Bowie: “Young Love & Saturday Nights” – Chris Young
Springsteen: “Copperhead Road” – Steve Earle
Delfonics: “I’m So Glad I Found You, Baby” – Thee Sacred Souls
Parliament: “Crosseyed and Painless” – Talking Heads
Donna Summer: “Holiday” – Madonna
Stooges: “Sandusky” – Uncle Tupelo
ABBA: “Waking Up Dreaming” – Shania Twain
Big Star: “Love Theme From Kiss” – KISS
Patti Smith: “Dead of Night” – Orville Peck
Kraftwerk: “Funkytown” – Lipps Inc