A White Music Education: Part I - Laying the Foundation

Perfect has not been exposed to enough quality white people music. In his words: "If its got drums and a guitar I stayed clear!". While I can understand the rationality behind the fear of big hair, skinny jeaned rockers, I believe that Perfect has missed out on a wide range of musical offerings by the palest of the races. So I offer, for his, and your benefit a multi-part series: A White Music Education. Shake Rattle and Roll - Elvis Presley Best to start with the beginnings of modern white people music... The great Elvis Presley. I don't want to give the impression that Perfect some how got to adulthood without hearing of the King of Rock & Roll. He certainly knows of Elvis Presley, but he lacks an appreciation of the great contributions from The King. Bringing the rhythm and melodies of the African American music of the time to the North American masses, Elvis fused the sounds of rockabilly, rhythm & blues, country, & gospel into a very new and unique sound that changed the landscape of music forever. Below is the video of Elvis Presley's first performance on TV, on The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show on January 28th 1956. From the times when metaphors had to be used to say the dirty things that was on everyone's minds. I'm like a one eyed cat peeping in a seafood store. Well I can look at you tell you ain't no child no more ... Shake, rattle and roll Yikes! No wonder Elvis was always getting in trouble! Enjoy:

I Am the Walrus - The Beatles Perfect is definitely aware of the Fab Four Four as well. They're contribution to modern music is undeniable. Ranging from the well dressed, clean cut, accessible pop of the early days in the 50's, to the greasy, politically driven, drug induced creative gems of the later days. The Beatles ran the full gambit. The later era is my favorite, complete with technicolor petticoats! The song "I am the Walrus" is beautifully strange and creative; well orchestrated strings combine with the musical offerings of John, Paul, George and Ringo, with Lennon's strange vocals professing to the world that he is the Walrus. Yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye. Crabalocker fishwife, pornographic priestess, Boy, you been a naughty girl and you let your knickers down. I am the eggman (woo), they are the eggmen (woo), I am the walrus, Coo coo, kachoo. What does does it mean?!?! Apparently, the song, written by Lennon, was a combination of 3 separate song ideas. One of which was some nonsense to throw off his old grade school teacher, who, he had heard, was getting his students to analyze Beatles lyrics for class. The Video for "I am the Walrus" that dates back to 1967 (They made music videos back then?) is posted below for your enjoyment.

Troubled Under Foot - Led Zepplin Physical Grafitti (1975) The influence of Led Zepplin will be felt for many years through the great chain that grows as emerging bands show the influence of their influencers' influences. Led Zepplin certainly did their part to bring the long-haired, skinny jean rocker image into popularity, but they backed it up with pure talent and skill, recording dozens of master pieces through their 11 year reign. Another song ripe with dirty metaphors, "Trampled Under Foot" comes from Led Zepplin's double album release in 1975, Physical Grafitti. I recall dancing to this track at a small family gathering in honour of my turning of age. One of my sisters turned to me and said: "Imagine, they released this record when we were your age". How amazing it must have been! The thick rhythms kept by the late John Bonham chase the catchy keyboard melodies of John Paul Jones around this track, with the accompaniment of Jimmy Page's masterful guitar playing and Robert Plant's enticingly filthy lyrics: Come to me for service every hundred miles Baby, let me check your valves, fix your overdrive Yikes... this post is getting a little too steamy!