Afternoon Snack: Randy Hansen’s Machine Gun, “All Along the Watchtower”

I guess this piece goes back to the determining the difference between what is good, art/music wise, as opposed to what we like.

To a degree, I will buy into Steve’s notion that once the “Average Joe’s” are hep to a band or performer, I am usually done with them.

That said, his comment on the Rubettes piece, that Dave Evans could not pick up a Jimmy Page lick is kind of specious to me.

I did think of the great Jimi Hendrix in this sense, for though he was indeed a tremendous and innovative player, as much of his performance was rooted in the volume and feedback he employed. And, I don’t mean that as a slam. I LOVE Hendrix, and was lucky enough to see him four times.

But, if you doubt this, check out Randy Hansen, who does his Hendrix tribute.

I actually saw Hansen in action, maybe 35 years ago, and no question he had the Hendrix chops and sound down as you can see. Does that mean it is good? Does that mean Bono sucks because he cannot sing Come on Feel the Noise a la Noddy?

Does it mean Hendrix sucks because Dylan wrote All Along the Watchtower? Or that Joan Jett sucks because she made a hit out of Bad Reputation, even though Freedy Johnson wrote it? Despite the fact that both deconstructed the songs and essentially made them their own?

Does it mean the the movie Clueless sucks because it is based upon Jane Austen’s Emma, which was given a truer representation to the original with Gwyneth Paltrow?

Is there a difference between “this sucks,” and, “I don’t like it?”

 

10 thoughts on “Afternoon Snack: Randy Hansen’s Machine Gun, “All Along the Watchtower”

  1. I actually saw Hansen in action, maybe 35 years ago, and no question he had the Hendrix chops and sound down as you can see. Does that mean it is good?

    Yes, for what it is. No one is saying Hansen is one of the greatest rock stars ever. Except mmmbop fans.

    Does that mean Bono sucks because he cannot sing Come on Feel the Noise a la Noddy?

    No, he sucks for a plethora of other reasons.

    Does it mean Hendrix sucks because Dylan wrote All Along the Watchtower?

    No.

    Or that Joan Jett sucks because she made a hit out of Bad Reputation, even though Freedy Johnson wrote it?

    No, Joan Jett sucks because she’s made a career out of dressing in black leather and playing covers. There are a million poor souls out there dressing in black leather and playing covers. Why should she be famous? Plus she has a monotone voice and she isn’t a very good guitar player.

    Despite the fact that both deconstructed the songs and essentially made them their own?

    Most of Jett’s songs aren’t deconstructed, they’re just copied.

    Does it mean the the movie Clueless sucks because it is based upon Jane Austen’s Emma, which was given a truer representation to the original with Gwyneth Paltrow?

    Who would even care about this besides 14-year-old girl Vampire Weekend fans?

    Is there a difference between “this sucks,” and, “I don’t like it?”

    Depends who you ask.

  2. One or two corrections here boys: Joan Jett is listed as a songwriter on her song Bad Reputation, which is a different song than the song called Bad Reputation written by Freedy Johnson.

  3. Thanks for the clarification, Peter. (and, the Wiki I got said it was Freedy’s: i had assumed it was her song, but then looked it up just to make sure, and was so anal i shot myself in the foot).

    That said, Steve, if copying is bad, then Randy Hansen’s Watchtower cover is bad, right? Cos it is pretty much note for note. Or Green Day’s doing Tired of Waiting, note for note as an homage to the Kinks?

  4. I said doing nothing but copying is bad.

    I don’t know Randy Hansen, really. If he does other stuff, fine. If his whole schtick is imitating Hendrix, that’s fine too, because no one really cares about Randy Hansen. Wiki tells me he’s a tribute act. That’s a whole other category. A tribute act would be pretty damn stupid without copying.

    If you’re gonna tell me “Bad Reputation” justifies Joan Jett’s originality, go ahead – it’s a song that could be written by a three-year-old.

    Green Day? Yeah, keep dragging more shit bands into the conversation. Green Day pinpoints when punk jumped the shark.

  5. If Bad Reputation could be written by a three year old, how come you didn’t write it? That is so sad: like people looking at a Picasso line drawing and saying then could do that. Well, then fucking do it. Show me just how easy it is.

    It reminds me of Diane’s overweight (like 400 pounds) friend, Leslie, who also smokes, and went to the Dr. The Doc suggested she exercise, watch her diet, and quit smoking, and Leslie dismissed the doc by saying, “i am twice as old as he is, what does he know?”

    Green Day is way more pop than punk. And, punk jumped the shark when Pat Boone did that leather collar disc. Or when Billy Joel did Glass Houses.

    So, tribute copying, which to me is the ultimate stupidity, is ok, but just copying a la Green Day is salacious?

    Sigh. All this from a guy who likes KISS?

    Help me Rhonda.

  6. All along my reputation
    I fought the forces of gestation
    They said I was too poppy
    All I did was copy
    I took off my leather pants
    In search of fine romance
    By ice and fire I was tested
    Until I got arrested
    Oh no oh no oh no
    Bono Bono Bono
    Two riders were approaching
    And the wind began to howl about my reputation
    Now I wanna be somebody else’s dog
    Crimson and Clover
    Over and over

    I call it “I Derive From You”

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