I always assume Rockin' In The Free World gets misinterpreted, Born In The USA style.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:24 (eleven years ago) link
It totally does.
― cwkiii, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:25 (eleven years ago) link
the SNL clip:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5lwon_neil-young-keep-on-rockin-in-the-fr_music
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:25 (eleven years ago) link
Doing a sarcastic patriots' anthem looks like a pretty good career move, tbh.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:26 (eleven years ago) link
I'm sure a lot of its staying power is that people do focus on the title/catch-phrase; it's actually the song's irony I find a little heavy-handed.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:27 (eleven years ago) link
http://phildellio.tripod.com/neil23.jpg
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:28 (eleven years ago) link
This sounds totally hokey because it is, but I really loved hearing "Rockin' in the Free World" over the end credits to Fahrenheit 9/11. It felt like a gutpunch.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:28 (eleven years ago) link
I love "Rockin' in the Free World" and haven't tired of it yet (which isn't to say that won't happen). I listened to the version from Seattle '89 this morning, the first time anyone other than Neil had heard the song (including his band)...and it's absolutely chilling. It starts a little clunky and you think, "Oh, this is kinda fun," and then it just keeps building and building and the guy in the car next to you is wondering if you're having a seizure or what.
― Chuck? Chuck? It's me, your cousin, Marvin D (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:28 (eleven years ago) link
"Hey Hey, My My" is my first one today. It's such a perfect closer.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:30 (eleven years ago) link
This sounds totally hokey because it is, but I really loved hearing "Rockin' in the Free World" over the end credits to /Fahrenheit 9/11/. It felt like a gutpunch.
It was supposed to be "Won't Get Fooled Again," but Townshend wasn't a fan of Moore and wouldn't allow the song to be used.
― Chuck? Chuck? It's me, your cousin, Marvin D (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:30 (eleven years ago) link
Okay: if I'd combined "Hey Hey" and "My My" together, they would have totalled 42 voters/422 points. Happily, that would have only placed it/them fifth. If they'd won, I might have had the same situation as Sight & Sound with the two Godfathers. Again, I think it makes much more sense to count them as separate entities.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:31 (eleven years ago) link
Pocahontus = my #4. Hey Hey = my #11.Rockin' = not on my list, but I agree - I could watch that SNL clip all day. Totally savage.
― hutlock, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:34 (eleven years ago) link
Townshend wasn't a fan of Moore and wouldn't allow the song to be used
still a pretty smart guy that Pete
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:36 (eleven years ago) link
I agree with separate counting fwiw. I voted for the one without the 'Johnny Rotten/Rotten Johnny' bit.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:36 (eleven years ago) link
"Rockin" was my #4, will absolutely never tire of that song. It was the first Neil song I ever got obsessed with. Its definitely overplayed, but I'll never tire of it.
― heated debate over derpy hooves (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:36 (eleven years ago) link
"Hey Hey My My" -- What tipped me to voting this over "My My Hey Hey" is just the joy of that monstrous guttural riff.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:37 (eleven years ago) link
Thanks for the clip, that's great--helps me re-connect to the song. I love how everyone skulks around all hunched over. Extra points for mentioning "shuffling" years before LMFAO.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:38 (eleven years ago) link
http://phildellio.tripod.com/neil22.jpg
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:39 (eleven years ago) link
haha anyone remember Annie Lennox's cover, used during the Spacey seduction scene in American Beauty?
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:41 (eleven years ago) link
"It's only castles burning"
<3
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:42 (eleven years ago) link
a kid that'll never get to be cool as the ultimate tragedy is such a neil young sentiment
― straight up now tell me will I be a fucking lump forever? (some dude), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:43 (eleven years ago) link
Should be all killer, no filler from here on out, but this is the sort of list both Neil nuts and contrarians could easily subvert.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:44 (eleven years ago) link
I think of it as the Mena Suvari seduction scene, but yes, remember it well. I don't think I realized it was Annie Lennox the first time I saw the film.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:44 (eleven years ago) link
Strangest song on Gold Rush, the one that best captures the album cover.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:45 (eleven years ago) link
yeah it's an unsettling one
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:45 (eleven years ago) link
it and "Tell Me Why" the oddest
Weird that Neil wrote about "lorries"--thought that was only a British term. Maybe it was just that "trucks" didn't have enough syllables.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:47 (eleven years ago) link
Coming in late here, but wanna say that the delivery of "Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and me" following the preceding lines still gets me every time. I mean, it is like a life affirmation for me: yeah, Neil's a cool fuckin guy and life is OK with shit like this around. Not sure why, but it works.
Unrelated, for the longest time I though Rust Never Sleeps was just a live album and, as I had heard all of the songs separately before on bootlegs and stuff, never bothered checking it out. Was really surprised when I actually listened to the whole thing. Way more essential than I ever gave it credit for.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:49 (eleven years ago) link
SNL clip the rare occasion when Neil is in crazy mode and neither the funkiest nor the best musician on stage. A shame ego clashes made that band impossible.
― Three Word Username, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:49 (eleven years ago) link
https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR4fxKeRUgSBpF5Ekgo_dgBMmybBHYOuYnQ2Fches8UcK-ZZVKcNg
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:49 (eleven years ago) link
Marlon Brando/Pocahontas
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:50 (eleven years ago) link
I almost used Ms. Littlefeather for the image, but the Marlon photos kicking around on the internet tend to be a bit more evocative.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:51 (eleven years ago) link
I was watching that night! You never knew what would happen on the Academy Awards for a few years there...
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:52 (eleven years ago) link
http://phildellio.tripod.com/neil21.jpg
This is what convinced me to put "Pocahontas" on my list:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2wmDfRJn0M
― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:53 (eleven years ago) link
^^^ a wonderful song that I never want to hear again (c/o John Lennon about "Yesterday")
xpost
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:53 (eleven years ago) link
I was surprised "Needle" finished so high; another overplay casualty up here.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:53 (eleven years ago) link
who was in the rockin' in the free world/snl band, anyway?
― Mad God 40/40 (Z S), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:53 (eleven years ago) link
Don't Let it Bring You Down = my #39. The solo acoustic takes on this one are stronger and stranger to me than the band version on ATGR, I think.
Needle/Damage = kind of surprised to see it this low myself, I had it at #9. Probably the most beautiful anti-drug song I've ever heard.
― hutlock, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:54 (eleven years ago) link
I think that was Oscar Gamble in the "Keep on Rockin'" clip.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:55 (eleven years ago) link
I think "Needle" works for me still cause it is so short. And I really love the guitar playing on it, but that is a muso thing. Cool turnarounds etc.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:55 (eleven years ago) link
Steve Jordan on drums and Charley Drayton on bass (X-Pensive Winos rhythm section, both producers/multi-instrumentalists now), and Frank.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:56 (eleven years ago) link
Agreed on the guitar playing on "Needle" -- really awesome stuff, and just the right length IMHO.
― hutlock, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:59 (eleven years ago) link
http://phildellio.tripod.com/neil20.jpg
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 15:02 (eleven years ago) link
That seems about right. Not on my list, but it'd be weird if it were absent from the Top 20.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 15:03 (eleven years ago) link
catching up, in reverse orderheart of gold - cool tune! fun to play around a campfireneedle and damage done -- good song, but don't need to hear it again. unless he does an electric arrangement w/ crazy horsedon't let it bring you down -- didn't vote for it, but classic, love that it's an acoustic song that still sounds heavy. hey hey my my - that high note he hits in the guitar solo, holy shit, like tectonic plates shiftingrockin in the free world - the first song i ever learned to play on guitarpocahontas - one of my all time faves, just a perfect set of lyrics, perfect melody. this song runs through my head daily.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 15:04 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah, glad lots of songs will place higher than Heart of Gold, but cannot deny its status as a Neil bonafide, just not the version I turn to these days. I do admire the moment when the backup singers really let go on the very last chorus though. Gets me through the whole song every time. Like the drumming a lot to, cool hi-hat work.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 15:06 (eleven years ago) link
good tunes! glad to see "rockin" made the list after all - i get why people might be sick, but i still think it's the best thing he's done post-Rust.
― da croupier, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 15:07 (eleven years ago) link
Solo on hey hey my my gets me through that song, find it to be a slog most of the time.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 15:07 (eleven years ago) link