In the world of rock music, we were given unforgettable guitar riffs, stage presence, and the ability to persevere in music production. What goes deeper than that is the poetic lyricism that is found within the sound we hear.
Over time, some of rock's best poetic moments were the songs can be recited as if they were a novel. Whether the story portrays moments of emotional vulnerability, delivering the joys in which we all experience, or possibly, something so comical you cannot believe it was made in musical form.
The list is truly ongoing and will probably have no end. I've composed a five-song lineup of my personal favorite stories in rock music. Down to the delivery and pure talent of the music, the list serves justice for its purpose.
1. "Joe's Garage" (1979), Frank Zappa
If I'm doing a lineup, of course, Frank Zappa is brought into the conversation. My favorite storyline comes from his album, Joe's Garage, released in 1979 during the rise of music censorship and the political climate changing on a global scale.
The album starts with a narrator known as "The Central Scrutinizer," whose job is to enforce the laws of music that began to take place in a hypothetical America. As the narration continues into the second track titled "Joe's Garage," where it follows garage band player, Joe, who lives in a dystopian society where music is completely outlawed by the government.
As the song progresses, it uncovers how musicians, at that time, were under social criticism/pressure as lyrics became a commodity of what is considered safe for listening and what was not. It's the platform of Zappa that brought a cautionary tale to music.
While offering a satirical approach to his positions regarding music censorship, he shows his deep affection for music. He shares his love with anyone who cares to listen and encourages those who have not to listen.
Throughout the song, he does not just uncover the scrutiny around music censorship; he also discusses perceptions of anti-drugs and how the media portrayed rock stars in a bad light, causing backlash on their talent as performers. The talent of Zappa is also to recognize his humorous approach to discuss societal standards that do more harm than good, in the form of a catchy rock song.
2. "Dirty Laundry" (1982), Don Henley
The founding member of the successful rock group, the Eagles, also steps forward with a solo hit, "Dirty Laundry," with a catchy riff breaking through 20 seconds in, giving a breakthrough to the early '80s.
However, what sets this hit apart from the others is that Henley expresses his disdain for the media as a form of "dirty laundry." Insisting that the media cares too much about people's personal lives and how it kicks them down, whether they are good, bad, or indifferent. Focusing more on how the media thrives off scandals, gossip, and embarrassing stories that should not be publicized.
Though he may not have fictional characters portraying his positions on the world, he delivers them in a way that is simple, concise, and strictly to the point about how he feels. Sometimes, that's all an audience needs: quick and simple lyrics that can be relatable regardless of whatever experience it may be.
Henley expresses that in the news media, it is about having the most eye-grabbing attention-seeking story, even if it is at the cost of someone else. He exposes that the deregulation of news and the way it's spread leads to the idea of "dirty laundry."
Though it may not be as poetic as one might think, it's more about how Henley keeps his lyrics simple, yet the meaning is so much deeper, revealing the cost of fame and fortune, even if it involves "dirty laundry" in the making.
3. "Light My Fire" (1967), The Doors
Known as having the frontman, the Doors were notorious for their poetic masterpieces. Since, on his own accord, Jim Morrison often found himself reading and writing poetry. The Lizard King himself often had a flair for charismatic lyrics accompanied by his charming voice, paired with that majestic sound we all know to be the Doors.
What sets this charm aside from the rest is that it is the perfect time capsule of the 1960s summer of love, coming in with a notorious intro given by yours truly, keyboard player, Ray Manzarek. Following with lyrics surrounding intense passion and using the term "light my fire" as a way to ignite romance and liberation for listeners.
Though the song's story about simple love and romance wasn't all that was perceived, especially by the news media's perceptions of particular lyric choices that they believed to be drug references. Specifically, the line "Girl, we couldn't get much higher" was a line that was notoriously banned on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1967.
Obviously, this did not go over well for the Doors as Morrison deliberately sang it anyway, which led the band to be banned from the show altogether. Ironically, it ties into the notion Frank Zappa had on censoring lyrics, oddly enough.
When your frontman is Jim Morrison, liberation is your middle name, and music is just a byproduct of that story.
What is forever magical about this song is that no matter where, anyone can recognize the introduction along with the lyrics of love, that it a timeless masterpiece.
4. "Alive" (1991), Pearl Jam
While in the limelight of rock comes grunge, and with grunge comes Pearl Jam. With Pearl Jam comes Eddie Vedder, and along with that is an autobiographical song dealing with his life's circumstances.
Vedder uses his life story, dealing with the notion that the man he knew as his father was not, and the man who is his father passed before they could meet. Using his vulnerability lyrically, he shares his story from the perception a teenage boy discovering a family secret that later shatters his life.
Once a negative experience for Vedder turned into a positive affirmation for himself and many others dealing with similar circumstances, with the chorus "I'm still alive." A lyrical masterpiece that lies within the creation of Pearl Jam is to understand just how pure and vulnerable Eddie Vedder becomes during his stage presence.
This grunge idol often shares his life in a way that is relatable and reflects the trials and errors of growing up into an adult and the luggage or "dirty laundry" we carry with ourselves along the journey. It is an expression that even the darkest areas of life carry positive affirmations to bring us all out of the dark.
5. "Blue Sky" (1972), Allman Brothers Band
A band that radiates positive vibrations and optimism forever and onward goes to the Allman Brothers. The Allman Brothers Band has everything and more. The look of simple talent, while also having such a powerful song that it's impossible not to appreciate.
Their track "Blue Sky" is perfect for a summer's day while still appreciating the beauty of life and what surrounds us all. Though this song does not have any particular characters throughout its course, its poetic approach expressing a devout admiration for someone in your eye is enough to be charming to the ear.
Followed by a beautiful guitar solo, this song follows Dicky Betts' girlfriend, Sandy Wabegijig, as he simply admires her presence in his life. While also representing better days of happiness, optimism, and a simple bright sky to resemble peace in which he feels around her.
A beautiful tale of loving your life and the people that are in it is sometimes the best story a song could share. At the end of the day, that's all it's all about, really. The simplistic views the Allman Brothers share with the world are a novel we all aim to read and enjoy.
Admiring a story for its content is the same way one can admire a song. Even more so, when the song shares a story we can all feel we relate to in some way. Musicians have a way to capture emotions that we as listeners are not capable of feeling, regardless of whether it deals with societal standards or just loving the people who are around you is enough to change our emotions. Even more so, how we as people perceive the world.