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A League of Our Own, Part 2: Influencers

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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.

“Fine. But you’ve never heard “Ooh, Baby, Baby” quite like this.”

Okay, here we go:

Songs Inspired by the Legends of the 70s:

  1. David Bowie 
  2. Bruce Springsteen
  3. The Delfonics
  4. Parliament
  5. Donna Summer
  6. The Stooges
  7. ABBA
  8. Big Star
  9. Patti Smith
  10. Kraftwerk

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Phylum of Alexandria

Committed music junkie. Recovering academic. Nerd for life.

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cappiethedog
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cappiethedog
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October 10, 2024 2:27 am
  1. Lady of the Ark- Kyle Craft
  2. Banks of the Hudson- Black 47
  3. Open-Rhye(damn you, Mike Milosh)
  4. Eye Know-Prince
  5. High Horse-Kacey Musgraves
  6. Not if You Were the Last Junkie on Earth- The Dandy Warhols
  7. O Superman-Laurie Anderson
  8. Half the Time- The Lemonheads
  9. Dreamtime- The Heart Throbs
  10. Your Silent Face- New Order
cappiethedog
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October 10, 2024 6:45 pm

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.

JJ Live At Leeds
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October 10, 2024 2:59 pm

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.

rollerboogie
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October 10, 2024 8:41 am

I tried. Some of these are a stretch.

  1. David Bowie-  Bowie- Flight of the Conchords (yeah, I know, disqualify me now)
  2. Bruce Springsteen- On the Dark Side- John McCafferty & The Beaver Brown Band
  3. The Delfonics- Leave the Door Open- Silk Sonic
  4. Parliament- I Can’t Wait- Nu Shooz (this one is a little more subtle)
  5. Donna Summer- People Hold On- Coldcut, Lisa Stansfield
  6. The Stooges- Blank Generation- Richard Hell
  7. ABBA– Cruel Summer- Bananarama
  8. Big Star- too many choices, but let’s go with a very obvious one- What You Do to Me- Teenage Fanclub
  9. Patti Smith- Down By the Water- PJ Harvey
  10. Kraftwerk- The Metro- Berlin
mt58
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mt58
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October 10, 2024 10:12 am
Reply to  rollerboogie

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…

rollerboogie
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October 10, 2024 11:43 am
Reply to  mt58

42

JJ Live At Leeds
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October 10, 2024 3:01 pm
Reply to  mt58

I had the same Teenage Fanclub track so in the interests of diversity subbed it out for a different one.

rollerboogie
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October 10, 2024 3:48 pm

Yeah, some bands hinted of the Big Star influence. That one seemed to wear it on their sleeve.

Virgindog
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October 10, 2024 10:41 am

This was harder than it should have been. Good game, though.

  1. David Bowie – The Smiths, How Soon Is Now
  2. Bruce Springsteen – Bill Chinnock, Something For Everyone
  3. The Delfonics – Bruno Mars/Anderson .Paak, Smokin’ Out The Window
  4. Parliament – Here Come the Mummies, Freak Flag
  5. Donna Summer – Crystal Waters, 100% Pure Love
  6. The Stooges – The Ramones, Judy Is A Punk
  7. ABBA – Ace Of Base, Beautiful Life
  8. Big Star – Gin Blossoms, Found Out About You
  9. Patti Smith – PJ Harvey, Down By The Water
  10. Kraftwerk – New Order, Blue Monday
mt58
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mt58
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October 10, 2024 11:00 am
Reply to  Virgindog

Way better than you would expect:
https://youtu.be/E5mYiIhzyos?si=4sYU__YLpI0lh0dB

Virgindog
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Virgindog
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October 10, 2024 11:14 am
Reply to  mt58

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.

Last edited 23 days ago by Bill Bois
rollerboogie
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October 10, 2024 11:46 am
Reply to  Virgindog

We had one in common.

JJ Live At Leeds
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October 10, 2024 2:13 pm

• 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

ThinkMusicPhilly
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October 10, 2024 3:04 pm

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

Virgindog
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Virgindog
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October 10, 2024 3:49 pm

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.

ThinkMusicPhilly
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October 10, 2024 7:30 pm
Reply to  Virgindog

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.

Zeusaphone
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October 11, 2024 10:43 pm

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

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