IYNSHO

[ericcoleman]

What is the perfect rock and roll song? For me, it's Johnny B Goode.

Comments

[mle292.livejournal.com]

Bohemian Rhapsody

There are other Queen songs I like better, but I think that one sums up the entire genre.

[fleetfootmike.livejournal.com]

I'll save him saying it: Within the (fairly) tight genre that's "rock and roll", that's not a rock and roll song :D

However , it's a classic.

For me? Johnny B. Goode or Great Balls of Fire.

[ericcoleman]

I'm just wondering what genre it defines.

[mle292.livejournal.com]

And I'm wondering what the definition of "Rock and Roll" is.

[ericcoleman]

Rock And Roll

There is also Rock

[mle292.livejournal.com]

Now I'm more confused, because the same source says "Queen are a British rock band that formed in 1970."

Are you saying that "Rock and Roll" is different than "Rock"?

[ericcoleman]

Rock and Roll is a fairly narrow definition, Rock is a wider one. Read the first link first, it defines Rock and Roll, the second defines Rock. Bohemian Rhapsody is a brilliant Rock song, but bears no resemblance to Rock And Roll at all.

[phillip2637.livejournal.com]

Since being analytical about a rock and roll question would be wrong, I'll give you what started playing in my head when I read the question.

"Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo"

[ericcoleman]

Rick Derringer has been involved in a couple of the greatest rock songs ever ... this and Hang On Sloopy

[fredhuggins.livejournal.com]

Not to mention Eat It.

[erik]

Rock And Roll Music beats Johnny B Goode in my opinion.

[ericcoleman]

Either can make it for me (with a lot of other Chuck songs in there as well), but Johnny B Goode goes to the essence of what it is to make rock and roll.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

A self-referential song about a rock star is certainly one definition of "perfect". A great song to play air guitar to. And have sex to (or so I hear.) Both are paramount. Chuck Berry is primal, almost feral.

Still, I think I'll stick with "Horses" by Patty Smith. Sex and death and high school and inner turmoil while encapsulating much of rock history.

[ericcoleman]

I'm assuming that you meant Land: Horses ... I hadn't listened to it in way too long. I'd forgotten how good it was.

[erikvolson.livejournal.com]

Badge.

[ericcoleman]

That may be my favorite Cream song ... but it's not really Rock And Roll.

Johnny B Goode

[sexybass.livejournal.com]

Has to be Johnny B Goode. One of the first I learned along with Louie Louie ;-)

[mplsfish.livejournal.com]

Ignoring your links to genre identification, "Come On Ileane".

[ericcoleman]

That's practically ignoring the question.

[fredhuggins.livejournal.com]

I couldn't begin to tell you THE perfect rock and roll song - there's too many to choose from. But some of my favorites include Roll Over Beethoven, Back In the USA, Great Balls Of Fire, Jailhouse Rock, Good Golly Miss Molly and Rip It Up. All flawless.

[lemmozine.livejournal.com]

Back In the USSR. Working In a Coal Mine. I Like It Like That. Hound Dog. A Little Bit of Soap. Bobby's Girl. Leader of the Pack. ABC Boogie. Tutti Frutti (I once used T.F. O'Rudy as a fake name to join a record club), Shake Rattle and Roll, Peggy Sue, That'll Be the Day

So many . . .

If I had to pick just one, "I Like It Like That." The one by Chris Kenner, of course.

[valydiarosada.livejournal.com]

[Looks round furtively]

Surfin' USA

[Grins, ducks and runs, pursued by legions of Chuck Berry fans, Jerry Lee Lewis fans and a bear]

[ericcoleman]

The Beach Boys shamelessly ripped off Chuck ... of course he shamelessly ripped off Louis Jordan ... it's still a great song.

[petdance.livejournal.com]

I thought it had already been declared to be "You Never Even Call Me By My Name."

Oh wait, perfect rock and roll song. Never mind.