alkeiper
Welcoming our new insect overlords
I'm making good use of social distancing and my Spotify subscription to listen to a playlist of Billboard Number One songs. 69 hours worth of music, I don't know how far I'll carry through. But it's an activity and I need someplace to post my random thoughts.
Even in 1960 open racism against african americans would not fly. But you could get away with native american racism. 1960 saw such hits as "Running Bear" and "Mr. Custer," the latter which is pretty bad both in terms of sensitivity and that it's not a very good song at all.
In 1960 there's sleepy oldie music. Then there's Elvis Presley. I'm not a big Elvis fan as far as his music. But he is far and away better than his contemporaries on the list. Not that there weren't better musicians at the time, but none of them were hitting #1.
"Runaway" by Del Shannon is one of those songs that sticks out as far as quality and clearly something advancing music in it's time. Then after four weeks it is usurped by "Mother-In-Law" by Ernie K-Doe. Next time someone complains about modern music point out that song was a #1 hit.
1961 you're getting some more modern pioneers of rock like Roy Orbison. Then a Pat Boone song ("Moody River") takes over.
1963 has more bad than good. But "Little" Stevie Wonder playing Fingertips is an absolute marvel of energy for the time.
Last four weeks of 1963 sees Dominique by the Singing Nuns as the #1 song. It's a nice song, but the most popular song in the country for a month? Early 1960s pop music was weird.
Into 1964 and no wonder the Beatles exploded. The previous eight weeks before "I Want To Hold Your Hand" was "Dominique" and another Bobby Vinton song.
Even in 1960 open racism against african americans would not fly. But you could get away with native american racism. 1960 saw such hits as "Running Bear" and "Mr. Custer," the latter which is pretty bad both in terms of sensitivity and that it's not a very good song at all.
In 1960 there's sleepy oldie music. Then there's Elvis Presley. I'm not a big Elvis fan as far as his music. But he is far and away better than his contemporaries on the list. Not that there weren't better musicians at the time, but none of them were hitting #1.
"Runaway" by Del Shannon is one of those songs that sticks out as far as quality and clearly something advancing music in it's time. Then after four weeks it is usurped by "Mother-In-Law" by Ernie K-Doe. Next time someone complains about modern music point out that song was a #1 hit.
1961 you're getting some more modern pioneers of rock like Roy Orbison. Then a Pat Boone song ("Moody River") takes over.
1963 has more bad than good. But "Little" Stevie Wonder playing Fingertips is an absolute marvel of energy for the time.
Last four weeks of 1963 sees Dominique by the Singing Nuns as the #1 song. It's a nice song, but the most popular song in the country for a month? Early 1960s pop music was weird.
Into 1964 and no wonder the Beatles exploded. The previous eight weeks before "I Want To Hold Your Hand" was "Dominique" and another Bobby Vinton song.
