What's Wrong With "Flute Rock"?
In the past few months since I've starting listening to 96Rock again, I have enjoyed listening to real rock from artists who were, for the most part, truly talented... as opposed to the "Britney-Backstreet" rubbish that pollutes our airways on Top 40 stations. Even the country stations have been infected with their own "down home" version, but that's another story for another time.
At least once per week on 96Rock, "Southside Steve" Rickman has at least a minor tirade about so-called "flute rock". With due respect to "Southside Steve", here is my letter to him regarding the official LouieWilliamsJr.com stand on this musical issue:
Dear "Southside Steve",
While I respect your opinion regarding "flute rock" and your freedom to express those views as a fellow American, I beg to differ with you.
The flute, which may not have exactly in and of itself ushered in the rock era, does have its place in classic rock.
Rock and Roll is one of the world's great musical genres because of individuals and groups who were willing to "think outside the box" and experiment with flutes and other "non-rock" instruments, including, but not limited to, violins, cellos, and accordions. During the 50's, Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino helped bring the piano into rock and roll. Could you imagine "Great Balls of Fire" and "Blueberry Hill" without their piano playing? For that matter, what if Lynyrd Skynyrd didn't have Billy Powell playing piano on "What's Your Name"?
Granted that flutes would not go with "AC/DC" songs, but could you imagine "Stairway To Heaven" without a flute playing in the background? It wouldn't be the same.
Finally, Steve, please consider this... the artists who did use flutes are among the most talented and have earned their places in classic rock as true honest-to-goodness musicians. You can't say that about Britney, the Backstreet Boys, or today's so-called "country singers" that pollute our airwaves on those other stations.
All in all, I think that you and Rhodes are a great team and sometimes, when I've had a crappy day, your antics just cause me to "bust a gut" laughing my butt off. (One of the best was when y'all started playing "Hell's Bells" and Satan was talking to you about going to Hell.)
While I cannot force you to reconsider your position on "flute rock", I just thought I'd share mine.
Well folks, that's all for now. Thanks for visiting and please come again!
At least once per week on 96Rock, "Southside Steve" Rickman has at least a minor tirade about so-called "flute rock". With due respect to "Southside Steve", here is my letter to him regarding the official LouieWilliamsJr.com stand on this musical issue:
Dear "Southside Steve",
While I respect your opinion regarding "flute rock" and your freedom to express those views as a fellow American, I beg to differ with you.
The flute, which may not have exactly in and of itself ushered in the rock era, does have its place in classic rock.
Rock and Roll is one of the world's great musical genres because of individuals and groups who were willing to "think outside the box" and experiment with flutes and other "non-rock" instruments, including, but not limited to, violins, cellos, and accordions. During the 50's, Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino helped bring the piano into rock and roll. Could you imagine "Great Balls of Fire" and "Blueberry Hill" without their piano playing? For that matter, what if Lynyrd Skynyrd didn't have Billy Powell playing piano on "What's Your Name"?
Granted that flutes would not go with "AC/DC" songs, but could you imagine "Stairway To Heaven" without a flute playing in the background? It wouldn't be the same.
Finally, Steve, please consider this... the artists who did use flutes are among the most talented and have earned their places in classic rock as true honest-to-goodness musicians. You can't say that about Britney, the Backstreet Boys, or today's so-called "country singers" that pollute our airwaves on those other stations.
All in all, I think that you and Rhodes are a great team and sometimes, when I've had a crappy day, your antics just cause me to "bust a gut" laughing my butt off. (One of the best was when y'all started playing "Hell's Bells" and Satan was talking to you about going to Hell.)
While I cannot force you to reconsider your position on "flute rock", I just thought I'd share mine.
Well folks, that's all for now. Thanks for visiting and please come again!
posted by Georgia Road Geek at
5:24 AM
