Here at Village 14 it takes a really noteworthy issue to stray beyond Newton-related topics. But, this one feels worthy: How should we advise State Sen. Creem and Sate Reps. Balser, Khan and Lawn to vote on the matter of the state’s official rock song?
Should it be Roadrunner or Dream On?
[polldaddy poll=”6925309″]
I’m pretty sure I’m the only Village 14 regular who has actually worked with these artists, having promoted both the Modern Lovers, and many shows with Aerosmith. From that vantage point, this is no contest at all, Dream On wins hands-down.
More importantly though… You’ve got to be kidding me. THIS is the kind of crap these legislators are working on??? No wonder our State Government is so screwed up.
@Mike: I’ve interviewed and written about both Jonathan Richman and Aerosmith, does that count as “having worked with these artists”?
Either way, my vote is with the Modern Lovers. No contest. “Dream On” is a nice enough song but it has nothing to do with our state.
I’m pretty sure there’s no actual state dollars involved in this but marketing and promoting our state’s cultural heritage does have a significant economic benefit. This bill has been written about from coast to coast and abroad.
I think Roadrunner is overstated as a song about Massachusetts. There are 4 references to Ma (128, stop & shop, Massachusetts, turnpike) but also It’s nothing like Dirty Water. I know Dirty Water paints a seedy picture of Boston but the sentiment is love for Boston.
How about ‘Massachusetts’ by the Bee Gees?
@Kim: ‘Massachusetts’ by the Bee Gees is not a ROCK song. In fact, it’s an anti-rock song.
“Dirty Water” would be a great official rock song for Boston but not Massachusetts.
Dirty Water was written as an anti- Boston song
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Water
My vote goes to “The State of Massachusetts” by the Dropkick Murphys.
I have loved Aerosmith ever since I first saw them play a gig at Franklin High School in the early 1970s. But lots of their early songs are better than “Dream On,” particularly “Train Kept a Rollin’,” “Mama Kin,” and some other songs that my garage band used to cover. An Aerosmith concert at the old Boston Garden is also one of the main reasons I have a serious case of tinnitus. My hearing had justed started to improve when I went to see the Joe Perry Project at the Paradise a few years later, and now the damage is pretty much permanent.
After our new taxes in Massachusetts, I propose two songs by AC/DC….
1. Back in Black
2. Highway to Hell