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On the Beat: David Menconi on music
News & Observer music critic David Menconi's random (and we do mean random) musings about all things related to music and culture of the "popular" variety.
What should North Carolina's "official" rock song be?
My colleague Ryan Beckwith is taking suggestions over at the N&O's political blog about what should be North Carolina's official rock song. A few states do have them, and a dust-up erupted in Oklahoma recently after the Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize??" proved to be a controversial state-song selection with more conservative members of the state legislature.
If they put this to any sort of vote, it's a lead-pipe cinch that James Taylor's "Carolina in My Mind" would win. And that's a lovely song, sure, but way too obvious. I'd put in a vote for something more left-field -- Squirrel Nut Zippers' "Put a Lid on It," say, or the Connells' "Stone Cold Yesterday"; perhaps Let's Active's "Every Word Means No." Or, in honor of the state's growing Latino population, Rey Norteno's "Raleigh."
Over to you, what should it be? Weigh in here, or at Under the Dome.
David Menconi
David Menconi has been the News & Observer's music critic since 1991. Before that, he spent a few years at the Daily Camera in Boulder, Colo.; and before that, he earned a masters degree in journalism from the University of Texas (on top of an English degree from Southwestern University).
Comments
My choice...
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 03:55 — Nathanial12I love "Buddha Buddha" by Rick Rock (aka Parthenon Huxley)
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State Song
Sun, 05/03/2009 - 13:01 — dawgitallRumble by Harnett Co. native Link Ray, a very important song for the evolution of rock guitar.
Carolina By the Sea by Super Grit Cowboy Band, the best rock band ever in NC bar none, alt before the word existed and a song that speaks to love of home better than any other
Eight Piece Box
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 13:50 — dwcattyAnything by Southern Culture on the Skids.
NC Rock Song
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 12:17 — TonyPlutoniumCouple more suggestions:
UV Prom's "Mobile Home Murder" (seems appropriate for NC)
Connells' "Slackjawed" (an apt description of many of our fellow denizens of NC)
Trailer Bride's "Silk Hope Road" (okay, not rock, but still...)
The Pressure Boys' geographically appropriate "Cowboys (Look to the East)"
NC's OFFICIAL STATE SONG
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 04:48 — tiltymelSurprised OH MY SWEET CAROLINA (Ryan Adams) didn't make your suggestions list David!
James Taylor would most definitely have the advantage of recognition, but OH MY SWEET CAROLINA has a truly powerful, sentimental, earnestness and beautiful, timeless southern yearning. . . PLUS, Emmylou Harris!
May be my favorite Ryan song to boot! Or would that we COME PICK ME UP? OR Whiskeytown 16 DAYS?
Long Live the good ole days!
Mel in NorCal, now. . .
"Saturday They'll All Be
Wed, 04/29/2009 - 19:53 — grumpasaurus"Saturday They'll All Be Back Again" by David Wilcox
North Carolina songs
Wed, 04/29/2009 - 12:30 — jpryals"Oh My Sweet Carolina," Ryan Adams
"Wagon Wheel," Old Crow Medicine Show
"Carolina Girls," whichever crappy beach music band originally popularized it.
offiicial Rock song
Wed, 04/29/2009 - 10:16 — tswinneyJohn D Loudermilk's Tobacco Road
State Song
Wed, 04/29/2009 - 09:53 — fourcornersI'd be pretty shocked if it wasn't the Taylor pick.
Still, my vote goes to Petey Pablo's "Raise Up." I mean, come on, that's a gimme. (Expanding the definition of "rock," of course.)
or...
Wed, 04/29/2009 - 08:54 — HoldenR"Most of the Girls Like to Dance" by Don Dixon
"Big Brown Eyes" by the dB's
"Olive Hearts" by the Bowerbirds
"Hyper Enough" by Superchunk
state song
Wed, 04/29/2009 - 08:54 — BarnaudJimmy Buffet, Coast of Carolina
nc's official rock song
Wed, 04/29/2009 - 08:40 — jeffhoosome nominees:
"Battleship Chains" by The Woods
"Les Debris, Ils Sont Blanc," by Phil Lee
"Buddha Buddha" by Rick Rock (aka Parthenon Huxley)
"Driveway to Driveway" by Superchunk