Over and over for about three decades folks have proclaimed the death of Rock and Roll, but I’m thoroughly convinced that good old-fashioned, guitar dominated rock and roll is in the midst of a golden age. I just watched the Bruce Springsteen, Live at Hyde Park DVD and it is amazing. I was at the actual concert in Hyde Park last year. At the age of 60 this man rocks! I’ve seen him play a few times over the decades and the show on that DVD is every bit as high energy, loud and exciting as those he did in the 90’s, 80’s and even the 70’s. You get wrapped up in a Springsteen concert like you might in a religious revival, and there are not at lot of artists who have been able to keep the intensity of a show at your favorite rock club, even as they began to play at bigger and bigger venues, right up stadiums and open air concerts in Hyde Park.
Not only are his live shows legendary, but each show is new and different. There is always a significant element of spontaneity and he never sticks to a preplanned setlist. He can keep it fresh because he’s constantly releasing new material. Indeed, in recent years he’s been releasing albums even more frequently, nearly every year since 2002. It’s surprising to notice the age range at his concerts, fans ranging from their 20s to their 60s! As long as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are playing three hour plus concerts and Bruce keeps that new material coming, we don’t need to worry about the death of Rock and Roll.
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Tag Archives: music videos
Google Doodles: Umm Kulthum, Jan Amos Komensky and Others You Never Saw.
Yesterday was the birthday of the great Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, at least as far as records in her home province indicate. The 30th of December is also cited sometimes, but Google took notice yesterday and marked the occasion with a Google Doodle on the Egyptian version of their site. Given her significance in Egyptian culture, indeed Arab culture as a whole, the tribute is appropriate. Indeed, she probably ranks among the best known and most loved singers the world has ever know.
I dare say, however, that few in America that are not of Arab descent have ever heard of Umm Kulthum. I certainly hadn’t until I was introduced to her by Middle Eastern television. To me that begs a question. Google Doodles are a learning opportunity, as the are accompanied by links to whatever the image represents. Of course Google wins points my honoring this great diva in Egypt and it also does its part in keeping her memory alive for a younger generation that, like young people all over the world, is becoming used to shorter pop songs, accompanied by slick video images.
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