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IAN 6/19/25, Retro Music Retreat - Alternative Rock for happier times [1]
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Date: 2025-06-18
Today is just some light Rock ‘n Roll nostalgia, Alternative/Progressive. More diaries later on individual women composers like Jewel Kirchner or Joni Mitchell, and on other genres like Jazz or Blues. And on great Classics of Rock and Jazz. And we won’t leave out fine Classical women composers like Clara Schumann, friend and mentor to the great Brahms. Or the amazing prodigy, pianist and French composer Nadia Boulanger, who taught every great composer of the recent century it seems, both sides of the pond, from Britten to Bernstein. But for now a Pop/Rock sampler...
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A few diaries back, AAZ mentioned her daughter learned the words to “Walk Like an Egyptian” and it was cute and stuck with us. We vaguely recalled the girl band The Bangles from the 80s/90s; we were mostly out of the country working with USAID then but remember the song as silly fun. We have been in Egypt and Sudan as well as Morocco and Tunisia, so we dismissed it at the time as just American pop culture. But because of AAZ we listened to them again and realized, hey they were pretty darned good, along with some other Alternative Rock girl bands or Alternative bands led by women, or with women composers. We present a few here for your viewing pleasure.
The Bangles' Going Down to Liverpool with Leonard Nimoy (as the taxi driver), 1984. They weren’t a cutting-edge Progressive band, but weren’t trying to be, more fitting into the Alternative Rock groove and doing some rather witty covers. And pushing back on the cliche of girlie bands from the 60s that were supposed to be “pretty but not pushy.” Well these gals broke the mold! All strong characters in their own right and very talented musicians: Debbi & Vicki Peterson, Susanna Hoffs, and Michael (Miki) Steele. Started in LA in the Paisley Underground, an Alternative Rock counterculture movement at the time. This particular song isn’t musically profound (nice chorus, though), but it is a tribute to The Beatles (who were from Liverpool) and it’s got Leonard Nimoy! Just pure fun! (Fans Note, a “UB40” is a British unemployment card.) Kind of the girls' version of Waiting for Godot:
A trip back in time through the Tardis!
This one started our time travel research. Back on one of Youff’s diaries about the British Museum, Egypt, and other fun and sundry topics, AAZ mentioned her daughter learned this song: “Oo, wee, oo, wee-oo, walk like a sheepshin” (Lil’ Zen’s quote when she was small, just adorable!) Walk Like an Egyptian:
Pretty nice piece. Chorus uses basic Blues scale with avoid notes (minor 3rds) skipping the 2nd and 6th, and a flat 7th tone so it’s technically Rock fusion, not trying to be complex but still very nicely done. Witty lyrics too, and fun. Chorus scale statement modulates to the IV so that's a Blues touch. Lest this seem like just silly appropriation, it’s worth noting the US has had deep and lasting ties with Egypt since 1870, when we supported their right to the Suez Canal (bigfooting Great Britain which was still our rival back then). Cleopatra’s Needle (obelisk) in NY was a gift from the grateful Khedive. In 1956 President Eisenhower reaffirmed that support during the Suez Crisis. In a deeper sense, it also speaks to our diversity as a melting pot for all cultures. The Statue of Liberty’s face was inspired by an Egyptian woman from the Sinai; the French sculptor Bartholdy was impressed with her strength of character.
A Hazy Shade of Winter: If we may, we like this cover even more than Simon and Garfunkel’s original. S&G are geniuses of folk rock, but here the ladies do a hard rock version with a more driving rhythm. A powerful electric guitar line provides the Chaconne (ground bass repeating melody), and the voices harmonizing above it are really quite good counterpoint. Sophisticated, definitely Alt or Prog. Here The Bangles came into their own as a Rock girl band with musical muscle. This one kicks some!
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When you borrow, you’re supposed to give back with interest (call it Brahms’ Rule — e.g. Variations on a Theme by Haydn, that wasn’t hidin’!) Nice work, ladies!
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Natalie Merchant leading 10,000 Maniacs in a total re-write of the ol’ Patty Smith song — Because The Night. Awesome composing, this has interest compounded! Way different and more complex than the original, nice root movement by 3rds with rock counterpoint and a cool Ostinato by the piano; good string parts too, it's a whole Octet backup! (blurs lines of Rock & Classical):
Natalie Merchant is brilliant!
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R.E.M. Shiny Happy People with Kate Pierson from the B-52’s. Nothing but fun here:
Some nicely done vocal counterpoint & harmonies. And goofy set design!
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Jefferson Airplane White Rabbit by Grace Slick; an inspired early piece of Prog Rock. Lovely N6 chord progressions and good backup by the guys. Live at Woodstock!
We are all through the looking-glass... 🐇🐇🐇🐇
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