The sterling Old Rope blog has recently been discussing great song intros, and WHTB couldn't resist the opportunity to nab the idea and post a personal favourite. Who could forget this timeless classic?
Squirrel Song - Shellac:
Squirrel Song - Shellac:
On occasion, rock'n'roll has been known to produce artists whose schtick is schlock - yer Alice Coopers, yer Marilyn Mansons, whatever. Invariably they have been lambasted by well-meaning (but ultimatey idiotic) pressure groups as evil, sinful or corruptive. Lord knows what these groups would make of Shellac's 1000 Hurts album, which opens with a prayer to the lord to kill his cheating wife and her partner. The cuckolded Steve Albini - not reknowned for the cheeriest of music at the best of times - positively spits abuse all over the record, but it's best summed up with the savage, disjointed riff that opens Squirrel Song, and his caustic, venomously ironic narration over the intro: "This is a saaaad fuppin' song... be lucky if i don't bust out cryin'...". Then Todd Trainer's monstrously loud drums tear into the speakers, and for one brief moment it sounds like rock'n'roll could actually be powerful enough to summon demons. It can't, of course, but that brief moment sure is exhilarating.
5 comments:
Steal away WHTB!!!
This song sounds like intensity in ten cities!
I was thinking, cracking introductions are not limited to just music of course. I think the scope of WHTB might be wider in some respects... any readers got good suggestions for great introductions to graphic novels- sorry! trade paperbacks - books, films or football matches?
An obvious example for a football match would be this year's FA Cup Final, although i felt the game was a let-down overall. Ahem.
The start of Ghostbusters is a good example for a film... the librarian, the scream, the logo and the music... still marvellous today
Ghostbusters is a great shout. Possibly not a popular choice in this age of slapping down alternative hits as soon as they're not the sole preserve of cine-literate bedroom enthusiasts, but i thought the opening of Donnie Darko was pretty special too. Gorgeous shots drifting effortlessly into a slo-mo suburban bike ride sequence to the strains of Echo & The Bunnymen's best song - poifeck.
I know pop music in film seems almost cynical at times, especially now that it's easier to have an indie hit on your hands by adding a track by four skinny-jean-clad boys over the top. I also know that the opening scene from DD looks suspiciously reminiscent of the start of Lynch's Blue Velvet. But fuck it; the overall effect is utterly lovely. And sometimes that'll do.
Well, in the spirit of a low-brow cheap thrill obvious blockbuster one, how about Iggy and the intro to 'Trainspotting'.
or 'Snow White' has a good beginning. As does 'Beauty and the Beast' - also excellently parodied by 'South Park Bigger Longer and Uncut'
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