The Stones versus the Beatles

First of all, before I even begin reading this article, I would like to say that we are comparing royalty, here. As a huge fan of both bands, I feel injustice afoot! The Beatles are just that… The Beatles, but the Rolling Stones… I mean, come on! It’s Mick and Keith! As a fan of both bands, I am hard-pressed to delve into this article, although as soon as I read its title I was hooked. One minute into reading, I find the word “feminism,” and I know I’m about to have a great time reading this article.

I must say that at first glance I was preparing myself to have to defend the Stones to the death in this blog. But even as I lean hard towards my man Mick Jagger, I believe that this article is a bit harsh against my other man John Lennon. Although I do agree with many of its points, I do tend to favor the Stones as the writer does, I don’t think The Beatles were as simply put as she made them. I think they were genius, and the Stones definitely mirrored their music with more vigor and sex appeal, but John Lennon and Paul McCartney were absolute poets, and amazing ones at that. To criticize their work can often be like pulling apart perfection, just for critical reasons. I can say that I like one more than I like the other, but I would never go as far as saying one was better than the other. If that makes any sense at all.

No Town Like Motown

Something that I find very important about this article is Berry Gordy’s first discussion about jazz. Jazz, I believe, is such an important part of music, not only because it is amazing, but because it’s the backbone of a lot of Soul and Motown music. Gordy says in the beginning that, “If you weren’t hip to “The Bird,” man, or Miles Davis could soothe you to death. I can still hear it today. I really did love jazz.”

I didn’t realize there were so many facets to Motown. Of course, each music genre is basically made up of the next, and the subgenres are all even more mixed than their predecessors, but in Harvey Kubernik’s interview, he was spitting out some seriously defined names in music. Stevie Wonder I already knew was widely considered Motown, but Michael Jackson or even Diana Ross? I suppose the gist of it all makes sense in the grand scheme of things, for each is made up of the other in some kind of small way. I find that very interesting.