Irreverant Covers/Deconstructions
 

Ok, I am an avid fan of rock deconstructionists. It's not so much the fact that I hate rock music, but absolutely despise the way that the media portrays it, it's ridiculous mythology, and it's dominance. I feel since it's dawn that one of it's biggest plagues is the fact people actually choose to talk rock seriously.

That's why, when I hear a good reverberant cover or deconstruction of a 'classic' song it makes me smile. Suppose it's the Residents fanboy in me, I don't know.

Anyway:



Sun City Girls, "Tell me Something Good".



Frank Zappa "Ring Of Fire"



John Oswald "The Great Pretender"



The Residents "Hit the Road, Jack"

Why not talk about rock seriously?

Anyways... I think Third Reich 'N' Roll (1976) is the epitome of rock deconstructionist albums. It makes fun of the popular music of its time... and it's also hilarious, complex, creative, and very innovative. Strangely enough, I was listening to it this morning. :)

Take, not talk. was a typo.

In some ways for some genres, yeah. But, I'm not speaking of the music, but the attitude, and mythology.

Yes. I'm also speaking of the concept of taking what most 'rockstars' are(IE. Childish druggie prima donnas), and hyping them as superheroes to be put on your wall. Of course, these types exist in all genres, but rock seems to attract the concept of worshiping musicians for all the wrong reason.

Compounding that most rock lyrics, and attitude seems quite juvenile. It's fun stuff, rather tongue-in-cheek, but we really don't have a culture that can grasp properly how to correctly take it. I think people need to be reminded 'it's just music, folks' sometimes rather than creating idols of people who make good music, and are not really worship in other ways. Or, even worse, promoting inferior musicians because they fake sentiment better.

It's why I like partaking in a good juvenile, amatuerish, destruction of a popular song. Anyone can do it, yes. But, it really gives a chance to expose th some feelings of the people doing so.

Especially since ever since Frank Zappa, those who attempt to deconstruct the rock mythos, often tend to be the most eloquent, self reflective, studied, inventive, and even often virtuoso of the music world. Which I think serves the greater purpose of destroying the commercial aesthetic, and exposing music for all it is: sound that manipulates emotion. In essence telling the listener "Listen for yourself, think what you want to. Appreciation is welcome, but you can check your blind worship, and personality imitation at the door."

In that sense, I think rock deconstructions(And all others) serve just as much a purpose as the songs they destroy.