BUREAU OF ARTS AND CULTURE : MUSIC
SAN DIEGO
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Art, Music and The Rolling Stones

RECORD SHOPS
CONCERTS
MUSIC
CLUBS
THE ROLLING STONES: BARDS?
By Joshua A. TRILIEGI / BUREAU of ARTS and CULTURE MAGAZINE
What is Art ? What is a Classic ? What is Literature ? When is something all of the above ? Why is Rock & Roll Music so damn powerful to us ? It could be that great music tells a narrative just as convincingly as a short story, poem or novel. Sometimes it can even tell that story better. Case in point, Mick Jagger & Keith Richards Classic 1968 song entitled, "Sympathy for the Devil." Today, we look at the song, asking the question: Can Music Be Literature ? And If so, Why ?
The title of the song is, "Sympathy for The Devil." It sounds like a Novel from World War One by Somerset Maugham or a historical piece explaining the rise of fascism in Europe during the 1930s or even a poem by T. S. Elliot. The narrator of the story is a Faustian Mephisto or as he is known in Christo-Judeo belief: The Devil. Our story opens, following a fabulous drum solo, with a grand and eloquent self-introduction, "Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste." He continues, "I've been around for a long, long year, stole many a man's soul to waste," explaining further, "I was around when Jesus Christ had his moment of doubt and pain." It is a devastating first meeting. The very prince of darkness himself is addressing the reader or in this case the listener. Lets put this into context. In 1968, the year this song was released, the world was in turmoil: Political Assassinations, Vietnam, Uprisings in France, Czechoslovakia, The Anti War Movement in America and a rising youth culture had recognized that evil could be anywhere and clearly, these were definitely historical times.
"Jagger and Richards tapped into the moment with a
diabolical diatribe that does not turn away from the
clear and present evils, but instead, reminds the listener
that it was here before, it is here now, it will be here after."
Jagger and Richards tapped into the moment with a diabolical diatribe that does not turn away from the clear and present evils, but instead, reminds the listener that it was here before, it is here now, it will be here after. The story continues with a historical look backward, "Stuck around St. Petersburg when I saw it was a time for a change," referring to the Russian Revolution, "I killed the Czar and his ministers, Anastasia screamed in vain." The narration swiftly moves through time to World War II, "I rode a tank, held a general's rank, when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank." Then after a chorus or two, entirely demolishes a hundred years of monarchy with the single line, "I watched with glee, while your kings and queens, fought for ten decades, for the gods they made." And then it peaks with the most devastating idea of the entire work, "I shouted out, "Who killed the Kennedy's ?" When after all, it was you and me." A shattering description that accuses the listener of committing murder: Astonishing. The devise of having a narrator speaking directly to his or her audience goes back as far as The Greek Tragedies and Shakespeare.
The same literary device was used a few years earlier in John Burgess', "A Clockwork Orange" which was later turned into the classic piece of cinema by director Stanley Kubrik. But here, Jagger and Richards put us face to face with the devil himself, presenting him as a man of power, a man of manners, a man of the world and simply a man who is very proud of his many accomplishments, however destructive they may be. The song lyrics take a slightly poetic turn, even in their maniacal aspects with the following phrase,"Just as every cop is a criminal and all the sinners saints. As heads is tails, just call me Lucifer, 'cause I'm in need of some restraint." Then after several chorus' including the echoing line, "Please to meet you, hope you guessed my name," a foreboding warning statement is pressed onto the listener with the final phrase, "So if you meet me, have some courtesy, have some sympathy, and some taste. Use all your well-learned politics or I'll lay your soul to waste." The listener is literally warned to not only respect the narrator, but to have some sympathy. Demanding respect for the dark side of our very nature. The song is a time capsule , a declaration of madness and a warning of future conflicts. It is a fine example of the use of language in creating effective storytelling. It's also simply a great song. But is it Literature with a capital "L" ? If so why ?
"The song is a time capsule , a declaration of
madness and a warning of future conflicts. It is
a fine example of the use of language in creating
effective storytelling. It's also simply : a great song."
For one, it speaks to more than one generation, the story has lasted, at least so far, as an important tragedy of not only it's time, but the song is still currently played on radios stations around the world. In other words, the book is still in print. The play is still on broadway. The public is still interested. Two, the song literally helped to define the actual times with which it was written: The 1960s. It is one of the actual anthems of the period. It may be the most important of the brave literary works to be a part of The Rock & Roll song book ever. Three, it actually speaks to a larger historical context with it's many references to world events and it's ongoing and foreboding demands of a future disaster. The song and narrator lives on in it's very description of itself. Why does this make it Literature ? Well, it doesn't. What does make it Literature ? In my estimation, it is the employment of ideas, the minimum use of narrative, the poetic turns of lyricism, the audacious accusations of the storyteller and the ability to open the imagination to world events that existed prior to the songs invention. Good literature, good fiction, good poetry, good writing, do this for the reader. Good literature will utilize history, experience, tragedy. Good literature will challenge power, normalcy, self-righteousness. Good literature will demand, entertain and sometimes even accuse the reader of the very experiences that mankind has allowed to happen. The Holocaust, Slavery, Genocide, War, Murder and Acts of Cruelty: Who would think to offer these subjects in a Song ? Sympathy For The Devil is very heavy material. Jagger and Richards use their platform to discuss important issues of modernity and history in a way that indeed transports, elevates and activates the same devices used by great writers around the world and that is why this song is ultimately a great piece of fine Literature.
BUREAU MUSIC : THE ROLLING STONES in San Diego 2015
by Joshua A. TRILIEGI
It has been over thirty-five years since I first experienced The Rolling Stones perform live. I was ten years old. It was Nineteen-seventy five and our entire family attended. Mom, Dad, older brother, older sister and me. Even back then, I was the artist of the family. So it was my job to paint the famous " Lips and Mouth " logo originally created in 1970 by fellow artist John Pasche. Later, Peter
Corriston would go on to design The controversial Some Girls album art as well as Tattoo You. Some Girls led to law suits. I have a copy of the original with celebrities that have since been blacked out. There has always been a very special relationship between art and music. The Rolling Stones have known very well through their personal relationships with interesting artists of their time how art and music intersect. From the fabulous photography of Michael Joseph on Beggars Banquet, which opens up into a centerfold like layout of a 17th Century painter to Sticky Fingers and the infamous Zipper and banana by Andy Warhol. Robert Frank's documentary and photographs used on Exile on Main Street with the help of John Van Hammerveld 's design layout were striking and poignant.
There is a raw and honest intensity within the ethos of The Rolling Stones. An attitude and raunchy style that says, ' Hey man, this is the way it is, this is Rock and Roll. This is what life is like. This is who we are. Mellow out and listen " Experiencing The Rolling Stones at ten years old in a live venue with thousands of people and my family was a trans formative experience. A Ritual of the highest order. While my friends were at home watching The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family, I was watching Mick Jagger dance down a star shaped stage as the conical shape slowly lowered one petal at a time. " Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and fame..." Drums, guitar and that bongo like rhythm leading into a raging histrionics explaining what had just happened to America since the death of JFK and the loss of innocence that hovered above our existence, unexplainable except through music, poetry and the like. He swung from a rope high above our heads.He threw buckets of water on the first few rows. He danced astride a plastic inflated erectile shaped instrument that exuded confetti from its pointed top. Mindblowing. Of course he needed no introduction, we had grown up listening to the Stones, glowering over the albums and remembering the lyrics. From the early simple blues influenced love ballads into the post sixties dark tales and on into the seventies rock.Through to The Eighties, Steel Wheels, etc ...
"While my friends were at home watching The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family, I was watching Mick Jagger dance down a star shaped stage as the conical shape slowly lowered one petal at a time."
Album covers, album liners, T shirts and memorabilia plays a large part in Rock and Roll.The images that will forever be connected to the music and visa versa. I have designed a few album Covers for musician friends and it's always a special sort of assignment. What will represent the music ? Images and sound wedded to tell a larger story. As we drove to the forum that evening, people began to beep
their horns at the artwork on the back window. My parents had proudly taped my version to the back of the vehicle. When people began to react, I was surprised. For me it was just a personal expression, something fun to do, be a part of the scene. For others it was something altogether different. We were all a part of something. We were a family of Rock and Rollers and people wanted us to know, that they too were heading to this ritual. That it was a community and we were all connected through the music. We were connected in this counter culture experience. It was the first time I realized the power of Art and Music and Ritual and Community in a way that changed my entire perception.I sometimes wonder how many other ten year old were at that concert ? Not too many. How many entire families attended ? Not too many. My old man insisted that we all attend. He is no longer on the planet. But every time The Rolling Stones are being played, he's here all right. He even slightly resembled Jagger and to be honest, Mom resembled Bianca. We sorta were The Rolling Stones. Music has a way of enlivening memories, history, loss, joy, energy, rebellion and the acceptance of the moment.
Music is life. In a way, Mick Jagger is my old man, he's still alive. Still Rocking and Rolling. Still kicking and screaming. Still selling a million albums and reminding us how far we have all come after all these years. The Rolling Stones tell a story of America that is highly influenced by Black America, The Blues, The Working man, The Bikers, The Lovers, The Outsiders, The Struggles. Its a beautiful tradition, Rock and Roll. With a new Documentary on HBO, " Crossfire Hurricane " as well as a new album and a Tour of America,The Rolling Stones are gathering no moss. There is a whole new generation about to discover the Stones. They have kept rock and roll alive. I still get teased from my family for passing out three quarters of the way through the concert. That was way past my bedtime. The next day my friends at school were talking about Fred Flintstones and George Jetson, while I was singing , " Wild Horses " , " Angie " and " Satisfaction". Oh well. The other day, I heard a radio D.J. say , " This is a new song by The Rolling Stones." Its about time. I turned it up. It was good. Life is good. Rock and Roll is good.
Link to The Rolling Stones
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