Wednesday, August 07, 2002
Swing, Baby, Swing
And for all those Idol watchers who asked what does "Big Band music have to do with American Idol?"
David Lee Roth's solo hit "I'm Just a Gigolo" is based on the 1920's hit "I Ain't Got Nobody".
lt'n'Pepa covered "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" on one of their albums.
Bette Midler has often covered 1940's songs throughout her career.
Stray Cats "Rock this Town" and "Stray Cat Strut" reintroduced swing in the 80s and were big hits. Ditto for "Zoot Suit Riot" and "Jive and Wail" in the 90's. And Ricky Martin's "Vida Loca" is definitely influenced by the Big Band sound of Ricky Ricardo.
And have any of you ever listened to the soundtrack for the "Mask"? Most of its music is based on big band music of the 40's, and it is AMAZING.
If an artist does not have appreciation of musical heritage, their music will become real old, real fast.
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