By Clarence Yu
Contributor
THE Rolling Stones simply defy categorization. They have played and recorded songs in every imaginable genre, be it jazz, blues, reggae, disco, rock and roll, hard rock, and pop.
This is probably why they have such a short supply of Stones fans in Manila, and why they never pervaded our culture, even after existing as a fully functioning band for the last 46 years.
While the rest of the world has celebrated its “Greatest Rock N’ Roll Band” throughout the years, the Philippines has yet to follow suit. How many Filipinos can name at least three songs of the Stones? The normal answer I get is “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” their 1965 worldwide hit. Outside my musical circle of friends, no one can give me any other two songs. And in my opinion, it is a crying shame.
The Rolling Stones were cool before cool was cool. They were the Metallica to the Bon Jovi, the Sex Pistols to the Osmond Family, and indeed, the dark, inverted persona contrasted to the mop-topped Beatles.
Perhaps not many people know that the Rolling Stones were actually marketed as the anti-Beatles, and that the Stones and Beatles, throughout the ‘60’s, actually existed together in cooperation: every time the Stones or the Beatles had a potential new single for release, each would call the other to see how the other band’s current singles were doing. If the Beatles were on top of the charts at the time, they would give sufficient way for the Stones to release theirs, and vice-versa, thus ensuring a virtual lock on the charts for both bands.
Many Filipinos still remember the 1966 concerts that the Beatles performed here, and the subsequent back story of the band being mauled and physically abused by henchmen of the former President Marcos. The Internet is abundant with accounts of these stories. Indeed, even my mother-in-law saw them perform. With enthusiastic glee uncharacteristic of me, I asked her if she remembers anything about the Rolling Stones: I get a glare and a short, “No.”
What is it about the Stones that Manila didn’t like in the ‘60’s? My take is that they didn’t write pop songs that were “poppy” enough for our tastes. We just didn’t get their darkness, their rebelliousness, and most of all, the quality of their music, which is kind of weird because we Filipinos are normally discriminating when it comes to music. The Lennon/McCartney songwriting team was far more popular than the Jagger/Richards partnership, though much higher output can be credited to the latter.
The Rolling Stones started out with a mission to “educate” the masses with the Blues and Rhythm and Blues music. Thus, they started out recording cover songs of black artists, respectfully giving a nod to their forbearers, such as Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry and Robert Johnson.
The story then goes that their manager at the time, Andrew Loog Oldham, locked Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in a kitchen and told them not to come out without writing an original song, because the belief at the time was that the band could not continue existing playing and recording cover songs. Jagger and Richards emerged with “The Last Time,” a vaguely prophetic song of things to come, considering that throughout the next 40 or so years, the band would be frequently asked if this record or tour would be “the last time.” Output during these years also included the ballad “As Tears Go By,” the controversial “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” and the doom song “Paint It Black,” which my generation was familiarized with via the 1980’s TV series “Tour of Duty.” Everyone thought it was a new song.
Perhaps the Stones didn’t have an “All You Need Is Love” type psychedelia attached to them? Well, those looking for it just have to direct their attention to 1967’s “Their Satanic Majesties’ Request,” the Stones’ only experiment in psychedelia, considered a big blunder by many hard core fans and the band itself, but still, an oddity with a gem of a song in “2000 Light Years From Home.” The Stones toyed with old Beelzebub long before Led Zepellin, Ozzy Osbourne ever did.
With the First Quarter Storm anti-government movement in the late ‘60’s and the onset of Martial Law in 1972, the Stones’ music would have been perfect for the times (“Gimme Shelter” in particular, from the 1968 album “Beggars Banquet,” comes to mind.)
Of course, with the Beatles, the rest is history. After breaking up in 1969, the most significant things to happen were Lennon getting shot, and George Harrison passing away. In between, solo records, the Wings, Yoko Ono, rumors of McCartney’s death and guest spots.
The Stones just kept playing, touring, recording, and defining a whole new era of music to the world, while the rest of us sat during the Martial Law years, cursed to listening to apolitical disco music (which the Stones also partially defined, albeit in rock parlance, with the 1978 hit, “Miss You” off the album “Some Girls.”) pop/rock music from the Eagles and Steely Dan, or hard rock like Nazareth and Led Zepellin for those who could afford the imported albums. We still missed out on the Stones for some reason.
The year 1981, the end of Martial Law, marked a great chance for us to get acquainted with them via the excellent riff-renaissance rocker, “Start Me Up,” off the album Tattoo You, but close, no cigar. MTV came out, and of course, as it really happened, video killed the radio star and paved the way for the invention of the modern rock star—with more than a few cues from the Rolling Stones.
Take any bad, naughty band existing today. Chances are, the charismatic lead singer learned more than a few moves from Sir Mick Jagger or his descendants. The would-be bad boy guitarist with cigarette in mouth and seemingly deliberate nonchalance probably studied Keith Richards’ profile more than once. Movie star Johnny Depp decidedly did so, mirroring Richards’ stance, gait, look and drunken accent in his Captain Jack Sparrow Pirates of the Caribbean movie role. The cool, detached and well dressed drummer will always have Charlie Watts as his model.
What we got from MTV were either the New Wave crew (Tears for Fears, Duran Duran, etc.) or the resulting new bad boys of Heavy metal/Hard rock — Motley Crue, The Black Crowes, Guns N’ Roses, The White Stripes, to name a few. While excellent bands in their own right and more than a few serving as front acts during several Rolling Stones tours, not many saw the parallels in the bad boy images that these bands projected, with the originals (of course, the Rolling Stones), which, in my opinion, is just plain unfair, and again, another crying shame. Most of us never got the point, which was all but stepped upon with the onset of Seattle grunge in the 1990’s. All these “I hate myself and I want to die” themed songs were just overkill.
With more than 150 million albums sold worldwide, a 46-year career spanning five decades with more than 25 studio albums recorded, chart breaking tour grosses (they still hold the world record for the highest grossing tour in history from their 1995 “Voodoo Lounge” tour, bettering themselves subsequently with their 2002 “Licks” Tour and their 2005 “A Bigger Bang” Tour), the Rolling Stones has been vital, relevant, and surviving, serving as the prototypical bad boy band, and writing the blueprints for the modern rock song.
Most importantly, they are still as bad as they were, and even more active than ever. Count on them to play the hell out of “Satisfaction” anytime. For those who watch NFL football, they did, during the 2005 halftime show.
For us locals, the Eraserheads were smart enough to capitalize on the poppy songwriting of the Beatles. The 70’s era Juan De La Cruz band took on the mantle of Cream, with Wally Gonzales’ Claptonesque inspired guitar work (though Mr. Joey “Pepe” Smith soon turned himself into a Filipino Keith Richards). The modern day rockers Wolfgang and Razorback took their cues mostly from AC/DC and the 80’s sensation Skid Row, who were all, in the first place, heavily influenced by the Rolling Stones to begin with. I have yet to see a local band who has taken on the Rolling Stones’ music and carried it on.
With the Martin Scorcese directed “Shine A Light” documentary movie on the band (was supposed to be released in September 2007 but was actually premiered February 2008), I have high hopes that many of us will get to see the band as they are now and reach back on the heaping of musical history that the band has created over the years, and finally give the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band the credit they deserve.
The Rolling Stones are:
Mick Jagger – lead singer and knight of the British Empire
Keith Richards – guitar and the human riff
Charlie Watts – jazz drummer in the World’s greatest rock and roll band
Ron Wood – the confederate lead guitarist
Former members:
Brian Jones (deceased, founding member) – guitar and the original Kurt Cobain
Mick Taylor – lead guitar, blues extraordinaire, currently still asking himself why he left
Bill Wyman – bass, and original stone face, now a restaurateur
Ian “Stu” Stewart (deceased, founding member) – boogie woogie pianist who hated minor chords
50 Feedbacks on "Reconsider the Rolling Stones, Please!"
Reconsider the Rolling Stones, Please! - Inquirer.net @ Rock Band Videos
[...] Reconsider the Rolling Stones, Please!Inquirer.net, Philippines - 18 minutes agoWhile the rest of the world has celebrated its “Greatest Rock N’ Roll Band” throughout the years, the Philippines has yet to follow suit. … [...]
anonymous
STONE is a has-been or maybe a never was…
BeATLES=LEGEND…
maxtandanjr
THANK U VERY MUCH FOR WRITING ABOUT ROLLING STONES, I’M 53 & MAD ABOUT R.S.
MY FAVORITE SONGS: when the whip comes down, jumpin jack flash,happy (by keith richards), you can’t always get what you want (i sing it when depressed), sympathy for the devil (the lyrics “…the devil is u & me..” i agree), it’s all over now, honky tonk woman, get off of my cloud, etc. AND MY FAVORITE - some girls, i memorize it, and my wife and the girls who hears it, would kill me.
Bookay
What a rockin’ great article! The Rolling Stones rarely get recognized for all they have done over the past 4+ decades for rock-n-roll! Long live Keef and the boys!
Cho
What do you mean ‘reconsider’? The Stones have always been there. Any true believer in rock will hold them in high esteem.
You’ve probably been asking the wrong people.
And I just think it’s just juvenile to compare bands and band members. You sound too much like a fanboi to be taken seriously. Jeez.
Clarence Yu
Dear Maxtandanjr.,
Thank you for your comment, it is quite a pleasure for me to have written something meaningful for you. I am personally happy that you have chosen to respond. I too share many of the favorites you have, notably “Happy” and “Honky Tonk Woman.”
Here’s hoping that more Stones fans will chime in with their experiences, if only for the purpose of making us happy for a while in the midst of all the problems in our society.
Best Regards
Clarence Yu
Steve Portigal
As someone who grew up in Canada, it’s fascinating to read about the Rolling Stones through the lens of another culture. Or, really what was interesting to me was to read about another culture through the lens of the Rolling Stones!
Thanks!
Tony Maghirang
Good article brod.. Am a late bloomer myself to the Stones canon though I lived half my young life during their best years. I started listening to them after I got blown away sometime in the mid-‘80s (duh!) by the sheer power of what’s now one of my top three greatest rock anthems of all time, “Time Waits for No One”. After that, I attempted to assemble my own Stones greatest hits with one of the best Pinoy Stones fan you can ever meet—the late Leslie David of the late sorely missed A2Z Records.
Really if you want to listen to local Stones freaks, check out the occasional gigs when Jun Lopito goes electric joined by his blues loving friends. The last time I heard a whole gaggle of fans do some Stones was in a tribute to the late Howlin’ Dave hosted by the Bob “The Blues” Magoo. And well there were the rare blues concerts at the Music Museum put together by cono kids where “Satisfaction” “Hearts of Stone” and the like got treated to the whole reworking shebang from hard rock to psychedelica. And the last time I heard a band play a whole set with nothing but the Stones was when Brown Sugar wasted them visiting GIs in Angeles City in the early ‘80s.
Btw even the old Jingle Mag never paid proper tribute to the Stones. Like, the alternative read of my generation hardly placed them in the same totem pole as the Beatles or the Led Zeppelin or the Eagles (Jeez).
Keith
A very informative and enlightening read. Keep on rocking Clare.
– The “other” Keith
jovie
My batch grew up in the 60’s, finished shool in the 70’s, and we never outgrew our love for the Stones. At our high school reunions, our band gets together to whip up our anthem, “Jumping Jack Flash.” Really, there can’t be a better tribute to the Rolling Stones.
Obviously you did not grow up with the Stones thus your views are too technical and lacking in depth. But thanks for your article anyways.
I have a question for you, “How many vinyl records of the Rolling Stones do you have?”
Clarence Yu
Hi Steve,
It is quite interesting, isn’t it? And I appreciate your perspective. The Stones can open up doors to many cultures in so many ways unimaginable!
Thank you for reading.
Best Regards
Clarence
Clarence Yu
Hi Brod Tony,
Thank you for reading. One of the other bands that pay tribute to the Stones time and time again are the Jerks with Chikoy Pura. I used to see them open their sets with Jumping Jack Flash in the 80’s.
Thanks for the tips as well, and see you on the mailing list.
Best Regards
Clarence
Clarence Yu
Dear Cho,
Yes, I am a fan boy. Why else would I write about the Stones?
Your opinions are well taken, though I don’t necessarily agree with you. You’re probably a member of the rock elite, and a “true believer” at that. I apologize if my article didn’t satisfy you.
Best Regards
Clarence Yu
bing dariano
im a ‘beatles’ addict, but i love rs too. y ddnt u mention ‘ruby tuesday’?
Pi Laveda
This article is written by someone who obviously knows the Stones and has loved, adored, and appreciated them for most of his life. Which is why maybe he shouldn’t have written it. It is hard to write about something too close to one. It’s a music journalist’s version of cheese/mush. A little distance from the subject always makes for a good descriptive article. This one sounded like he was describing a family member — and we know by default you cannot sell the talent of your child, brother, daughter or dad. You will always sound off and pushy and biased.
I like the Stones, no doubt–all three songs whose titles I don’t know. But the writer is correct in saying that we know the Beatles more (with no shame, I do know the Beatles more….) and the Stones are certainly worth re-visiting, re-exploring. I just think a cool Stones fan will not final edit his piece with the title “Reconsider the Stones, Please!”
Maybe with a title that’s a bit more cool (if the Stones were really “…cool before cool was cool.”)
Like, “Stones Reconsidered” or something like that. The title sounds too whiny to be considered sound.
But this is just me being trivial and picky because I envy the writer’s expertise and deft in navigating the music and history of the Rolling Stones. I envy his thorough knowledge of a shadow era that seemed to escape us all.
All right then, Stones Reconsidered. I am now off to Tower or Amoeba.
jun
the rolling stones has been trying to imitate the beatles for so long to no avail…yes the beatles wrote poppy songs but they were darn good poppy songs where as the stones wrote a million songs more with only a very few brilliant ones…though they are still relevant in their concert tours selling out huge venues their new albums are pretty irrelevant.
Nanker Phelge
First off: Fu*k the Beatles!
The first time I ever heard the Stones was during their Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle tour in 1989/90. My brother–bless him–dragged me to LA Memorial Coliseum, I thought these were a bunch of old guys but it turned out as the greatest live event I have witnessed (well save for seeing the Pope, but that’s for another story). The finest rock music, the industrial decay-themed stage, the inflated bobbing women when they play Honky Tonk Women, Mick’s antics and of course…KEITH!
But going to your article, yeah, I too have thought about why in the world did the Stones didn’t make such a big impact here. I believe that at the time when they came out in ‘63, their sound was too rough, too hard and too sexual vis-a-vis the Beatles. I mean the Liverpool quartet was clean cut, potty-trained and imaged managed while the Stones simply didnt give a fu*k, they are unkempt, experimented with drugs, women and the law. Beatles were poppish-sounding, Stones were bluesy from the get go (I mean listed to their early covers when they were cutting it London: its all Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Solomon Burke, Fred McDowell, Howlin’ Wolf, etc.). Im sure Lennon/McCarthy was exposed to the same things but then they wrote its more pop than blues but towards the end I like some of the Beatles’ output since they ditched the studio-certified crap and wrote songs and even one or two albums that are some of rock’s finest, I have to admit.
I actually asked the friends of my nephew (who just started college) to listen to Stray Cat Blues (live, from Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out album) followed by Sway (from Sticky Fingers) and asked them to tell me if they can name the year these songs were recorded. Though not the staple Stones songs you would expect, these guys were just blown away thinking a new band they haven’t heard. Seriously!. When I told them that its from the sixties they said its simply impossible for some thing 40 years ago to sound that good. Ever since I heard the Stones, pop/new wave/light jazz/Barry Manilow/ABBA/Air Supply sucked big time…not that there’s anything wrong with that, but that’s just me.
Personally listening to the Rolling Stones is also an education. I mean its because of them I got to know and love Led Zepplin, The Who, the blues masters (Robert Johnson is simply wicked), Janis Joplin, The Ramones, Solomon Burke, Muddy Waters, Son House, Memphis Slim, Jefferson Airplane, Motown, Aretha’s gospel recording in the late 50’s, Bob Marley, I even am now a fan of country music especially Gram Parsons, even Elvis.
As for personal favorites: Sympathy for the Devil (live version from Flashpoint album), Can’t Hear Me Knocking, Hey Negrita, Far Away Eyes, Star Star, Stay Cat Blues (live), Sway, Let It Bleed.
Oh yeah, you forgot that the Rolling Stones also have songs in country (Far Away Eyes, Country Honk, Dead Flowers, Let It Bleed, Sweet Virginia, Factory Girl), gospel (Sweet Black Angel, Shine A Light), punk (She’s So Cold) and raggae-punk (Hey Negrita).
zebulon
Hi all,
thanks for this good read.
And it’s a true joy that the Stones and their music (and their musical roots) are recognized all over this little planet.
I personally can’t believe the strenghth they still have - but here it goes again:
strong roots = strong life!
Anyway: these guys love what they do and they will and should keep on doing it as long as they can!
Who cares about age???
At least if you are a musician!
The Stones are like their childhood heroes: they’ll go on and on until they drop offstage. Let there be many years to come until this finally happens…
cheers,
zebulon
http://stonesnews.com
franxiz
nice one bro! m happy to know that there are serious Stones’ fans in the Philippines.
World Popuularity For the Stones
[...] Get No) Satisfaction,” but are lacking in a database of other Stones songs. The other in this article believes that this truly is a shame, the Rolling Stones are, after all….cooler than [...]
Robert Carmona
Im a big Stones fan since I was in my teens in the early 70’s and finally saw them live in Anaheim stadium in 2005. Dang, Its the best thing that ever happened to me, ( not to count B.B. King, playing all his hits in a mini theater Pechanga in San Diego).
ShuXin
I hope their documentary movie is good…They deserve nothing less! Rolling Stones rocks! You really know your rock bands! Very insightful!
StoneRocks
Hey Mr. Anonymous…
where is your Beatles now??? Rolling Stones is still kicking great concerts up to this day! Long live the ONE and ONLY rock and roll band LEGEND!!!!
Mojo
Stones didn’t do well inthe Phil was due to the fact their record distributor Super (Decca) didn’t really promote them. Dyna (distributor for EMI - Beatles record label) dominated airplays. Mareco artists (CBS, Elektra, etc) got airplays because of the Villar’s radio stations (DZBM & DZLM). Note too - the Stones first single was a Beatle song - I wanna be your man. I think the Who are better live band. They really rock. Daltry is far better than Mick - voice wise & showmanship.
Just my two cent take.
Cousin Hoagy
16 August 2008
Hey Clarence!
Yup! I saw the Beatles at Rizal Memorial that day in July, 1966!
I also saw the ROLLING STONE Billboards in Cubao! Which were taken down after we gave the Beatles a unfortunate Marcos snub sendoff at the MIA!
Would you want to play Manila after that?
Oh well!
Here’s a tip. Around mid September I will play the band intro and songs from the NEW “Shine A Light” concert from the Scorsese film in 2007 at the Beacon Theater in NYC!
You ask how? Give me a line and let’s get the Stones played some more! Captain Eddie at The Crossroads surely will help you out. Give him a call! Tuesdays at 9pm on NU107
Sincerely,
Cousin Hoagy
Cousin Hoagy
Ooops. I forgot.
I wrote an article in an old JINGLE on the song SHATTERED by the STONES.
CH Pardo
Kenzo
The problem with Stones is they played too long for people to miss them. The element of nostalgia or the mystique got lost throughout the years.
Now, people just see them as a circus act (as the world’s oldest active band).
They spread themselves too thin in terms of quality materials (albums or songs). When was the last time they played a killer riff much more a hit single?
Lastly, though they were great technical instrumentalists, they are definitely notches below the Beatles in terms of songwriting.
After all when we grow old, nobody remembers a killer riff only melodies and killer lines as “words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup…”
Now that is a line that lives forever.
Andrew
Smashing Article … I nearly wrote ‘fab’ read!
The Stones are (and always have been) destined to be outside the mainstream - of popular culture. Despite them being a huge draw it’s only people with good taste rally that wanna see them.
Smash
Great article. The Stones has always been and will always be here. Anyone who doesn’t know about the Stones would never know how good old rock and roll blues came about. And the Stones gave us that and they will always be a part of rock and roll history. Lucky are we who witnessed that, and anyone who says otherwise, well, it’s your loss. Keep on rockin’.
Jan Villa
how dare you line up Von Jobi with the osmonds et.al. have you heard of the song These Days? it can trump even Sympathy for the Devil….
Jan Villa
i suspect you are just a rock fashionista, not a real rock fan. how can you say we missed out on the Stones? they defined me and my generation’s life, even surreptitiously and even if it was out of fashion from guys like you…get real eh?
Jan Villa
The Stones themselves would not welcome your patronizing article. They were so cool to the point of not giving a damn whether people liked them or not. That’s the raison detre of Jumpin Jack Flash, for one…
Jan Villa
read your response that you liked happy and honky tonk woman. if you were a real stones fan, maybe something like wild horses would have crossed your mind, that soulful guitar and great vocals. you are really just a fashionista, jeeeeeezzzzz.
Jan Villa
and i agree completely with the comments of Cho and Jovie!
Clarence Yu
Erratum:
To all readers,
The song “Gimme Shelter” was off the 1969 album Let It Bleed, not Beggar’s Banquet as written above. Apologies.
Thank you to Mr. Axel Schumacher and Undercover for pointing this out.
Best Regards
Clarence Yu
Clarence Yu
Hi Pi Laveda,
I actually was considering (pardon the pun) Stones Reconsidered, but that sounded too formal. I was reading a book entitled “Lincoln Reconsidered” and wanted to apply the title to a Stones article. This is, after all, a web blog post, and not a definitive article on the Stones.
Anyhow my main objective was really just to write about my sentiments, particularly on why the Stones have not been given that much attention by music fans past and present. I may have sounded too enthusiastic, but hey, this is not investigative journalism, so I need not be detached from my subject matter.
Thanks for your comments however, I understand them to be all constructive in nature.
Best Regards
Clarence Yu
Jose Mari
Reconsider? Its like asking me to listen to a ‘boyband’!
The Stones have been there ever since I could remember. I was a Beatle fan for most of my life and The Rolling Stones came into my perspective when I tasted blues in my early 30’s. I love the Rolling Stones! Wild Horses is my favorite. I believe you have to be appreciative of the wide music spectrum and not just blues, rock, or metal in order to love these guys.
Clarence Yu
Dear Jan Villa,
I take your comments with a big grain of salt.
My perception is that you have a bit of an elitist complex. I grew up with the music of the Rolling Stones. It was Keef Richards’ guitar work that inspired me to pick up the guitar and learn it day in and out. My Fender Telecaster of 15 years is due to the influence of Keith Richards. To say the least, a major part of my life will always revolve around the Stones. I’ve traveled and disrupted work schedules just to see them, to buy whatever new release they had, be it a book, an album, a CD, or a bootleg.
And by the way, I like Bon Jovi too. The problem with opinions like yours, as Mr. Richards was wont to say, are that they are like a**holes. Everybody has one. And I respect that.
Best Regards
Clarence Yu
ruben
Go see the Jerks at Bistro 70’s at fridays, I go there because they play a lot of stones songs.
Rix
The Stones are the best in the world and proberly will always be,, this day’s only one day fly’s ,, make it so now and then.
I saw the stones 3x and it was a real experience,, public off all ages, singing along whit them, never saw anything like it.I realy wonder why they never visited the philippines,, where music is very populiar, and the people very musical minded.Nevermind about the lirics,,the atmosphere on a concert from them is unbelieveble!!
Rix(expat)
fred estrada
the problem is that they are all still around. If they had died the they would probably be appreciated more. when keith croaks from lugging all that louis vutton or if one of mick’s cricket players stabs him in the heart and dies…… ah then the stones will truly be immortal.
later,
fred
Jan Villa
I would have let you go but since music is my passion (and not just fashion), here’s my rejoinder to you.
You called me elitist then afterwards you bragged about having a Fender. I don’t have a Fender and probably never will ( I have a ukelele, huhu). But what I do have is attitude, the attitude that makes music, and ROCK especially, rocks. It seems to me that given yours, even a Stradivarius won’t do you much good.
Here’s why—in elevating the Stones to the position you think they deserved, you trampled a lot of musicians in getting there. These musicians (even the “uncool” ones) you flippantly dismissed are artists I (along with thousands of others) listen to intently, depending on particular moods. Hell, I even have a Yoyoy Villame collection to go along my Cheech and Chong, and I would go into a wordfight with anybody who will trample on their music. They’re artists, man, and as been said, the critic could go to hell.
You also messed up with Rolling Stones diehards like me and the guys who earlier wrote their comments. My hair stood on reading your title. “Reconsidered?” “Please?” Maybe it would have been better if you attached a disclaimer—“This article is not for the thousands of Filipino Stones diehards who swear, and live, by their music, among others.” That way, you would have preached to the heathen. As it happened, you preached to the choir. And your explanation on the title was just too lame to cut it. Thus, the flak you got (including mine’s) is I think well-deserved and just.
The person who wrote about your juvenile attitude got it right. When I was a teen-ager, it was a habit among the barkada to upstage one another with rock bands. They’re into Pink Floyd and Deep Purple? Nah, were into Uriah Heep and UFO. Ahh, Led Zeppelin or Neil Young? Well, we’re into Cream and Jackson Browne. It was all in serious fun and part of growing up. Once grown up, however, one begins to appreciate that even the Osmond Family, Toto and His Children, the Madonnas and the Mariah Careys have their rightful places in the musical universe. One simply outgrows the juvenile attitude of pitting one artist against the other as you have done.
The Rolling Stones? Perhaps not the greatest (will there ever be one?) but they’re indeed one of the elites across space and time. And you’re absolutely correct, I am an elitist in this respect.
jun
i like the rolling stones, they are a very good band but they’re just not that great for people to just go crazy over…the 60’s is owned by the beatles…they may have been equalled by other bands but never surpassed…as rolling stones magazine said in 1968….the stones never had an album of mind blowing proportions like st. pepper or nevermind that somewhat just change the playing field for everyone…
sorry rolling stones fan…you are just a michael buble compared to frank sinatra
Clarence Yu
Dear Mr. Villa,
Whatever you desire. It seems that there is no pleasing you.
I don’t think I ever sought out to, or did, trample upon any other artists. All I asked as the main intent of my article, was for the mainstream to “reconsider” the Stones in light of their relative unpopularity here compared to other big name artists. No offense meant, nor none taken.
Hey, go to any club nowadays, and you’ll find many a player holding more than just my old crummy Fender. It wasn’t bragging, rather just a personal anecdote in order for me to relate my personal experience more.
Perhaps a personal meeting would sort things out. Music is as much of a passion to me as it is to you. And hey, there’s nothing better than singing Rey Valera tunes in a karaoke in the wee hours of the morning.
It’s a bit bent to talk about a person you hardly know, isn’t it? Do you have some vexation towards me? Again, let’s meet for a drink if you’d like.
Best Regards
Clarence Yu
Jan Villa
Hey Clarence, and to all readers who may have followed this thread, peace! I offer my apologies for whatever untoward feelings my passionate posts generated.
Actually, several times after re-reading these posts I had to drink a glass of water and ask myself this question: what is really in music that makes one feel so passionate about? I may have imputed juvenalia on you but in doing so, I reverted back to being a juvenile myself. haha!
Music, whether by Sinatra or the Stones, simply has a way of sharpening one’s senses and sensibilities back to their elemental forms. And I guess we are all kindred in that sense. After all has been said and done, please take comfort in the fact that my rantings might actually have been right-handed compliments.
Peace! And Rey Valera at wee hours in the morning isn’t really so bad indeed…
franxiz
ok guyz after the Rolling Stones, lets watch and listen to Cheech and Chong ok? Daves not here man!
Clarence Yu
Dear Mr. Villa,
I guess that’s the “problem” with music…it polarizes a lot of people, but at the same time, when all is said and done, we’re all for the wiser together as common fans.
Thanks for your “right-handed” compliments…:) they probably did more good than I realized!
Best Regards
Clarence
tonyvalenzuela
The self proclaimed greatest rock n roll band is a legend man..listen to their slow rollers its the best really…
1.as tears go by
2.ruby tuesday
3.Daddy your a fool to cry
4.wild horses
5.you can’t always get what you want
6.Angie..to name a few they are all classics…not to mention their signature songs.satisfaction ,jumping jack flash and start me up…
Sir Mick although controversial once labeled as Lucifer of rock due to his controversial rendition of a song “sympathy for the devil..while a fan is slowly being killed by a hell angel..that incident is one of the black mark of the great rock n roll band but no doubt about it..they are one of the best..
Fantauzzi
I was wondering the same thing.
Shane Cauley Wyoming
Shane Cauley Cheyenne
franxiz
The Rolling Stones, a CIRCUS ACT?! whata$#@&! Are you serious KENZO? Sorry late reaction LOL
Kenzo Says:
August 17th, 2008 at 1:27 am
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