We’re five days away from Christmas, folks – that means that in a mere 120 hours Santa Claus will be coming to town, as often depicted in the lyrics of the classic song, erm, ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.’ For Day Twenty of our BAMM Advent Calendar Countdown, we’re featuring a frankly awesome Bruce Springsteen cover of that very song – and if this doesn’t get you into a non-stop-grinning festive frenzy, then nothing will. Interesting fact: Santa is only actually ‘coming to town’ so he can grab a beer or two with Bruce; the whole present-giving thing is just a happy bonus.
Even the dullest of movies can be enlivened by a great cameo from a rock star. Seriously – just imagine how much better Transformers: Dark Of The Moon would be if Meatloaf joined forces with Mr. Big Robot Man (don’t care enough to google the actual name of the protagonist) to fight off hordes of 3D aliens. Surely you’d be willing to shell out your hard-earned cash on that cinematic experience?
Until that happens, however, you’ll have to be content with this selection of other music star cameos from the movies. Some are weird, some are baffling, all are real …
5. Tom Petty – ‘The Postman’
Kevin Costner’s post-apocalyptic flick features Tom Petty as … well, as a post-apocalyptic version of Tom Petty.
‘Coolness’ can be such a fickle concept sometimes. One minute you’re the toast of Pitchfork, the next you’re being slated on a million message boards for ‘selling out’ or mysteriously losing whatever touch you had in the first place. It’s never been quite clear who decides on what’s ‘cool’ or not (our god-like cultural overlords, perhaps, plotting the rise and fall of pop-culture from a volcano fortress somewhere in the mid-Pacific), but the rules of the game seem genuinely unfair a lot of the time. Here’s a look, then, at some of the acts whose talents have often been overlooked simply because they’re so ‘uncool’ …
5. Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
Boring, trad-heavy, MOR dadrock, right? WRONG. Petty’s ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation is pretty much a masterclass in songwriting, and all the hip sneering in the world ain’t gonna change that.
‘Coolness’ can be such a fickle concept sometimes. One minute you’re the toast of Pitchfork, the next you’re being slated on a million message boards for ‘selling out’ or mysteriously losing whatever touch you had in the first place.
It’s never been quite clear who decides on what’s ‘cool’ or not (our god-like cultural overlords, perhaps, plotting the rise and fall of pop-culture from a volcano fortress somewhere in the mid-Pacific), but the rules of the game seem genuinely unfair a lot of the time. Here’s a look, then, at some of the acts whose talents have often been overlooked simply because they’re so ‘uncool’ …
5. Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
Boring, trad-heavy, MOR dadrock, right? WRONG. Petty’s ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation is pretty much a masterclass in songwriting, and all the hip sneering in the world ain’t gonna change that.
Today is the 4th July, which means that our American readers will be cracking open a few beers and celebrating Independence Day, while our audience from the other corners of the globe will likely be sat in their offices casting envious glares across the Atlantic (or, y’know, whichever big body of water lies between your particular location and the Land Of The Free).
Well, don’t worry – because this is BAMM and we’re huge proponents of this global entity the kids are calling ‘the internet’, we figure that everyone should be allowed a bit of relaxation on July 4th. So – wherever you are – crank up your volume and enjoy our Independence Day playlist.
Bruce Springsteen – 4th Of July, Asbury Park
Although Springsteen has proven that patriotism doesn’t have to be mindless drum-beating, this beautiful early song from The Boss (one of his best) takes on an introspective, emotive slant.
Jimi Hendrix – ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’
Aaaaand now for something a little more direct. Hendrix took the national anthem and filtered it through a 60s guitar-fuzz aesthetic to provide an aural snapshot of a nation.
Violent Femmes – ‘American Music’
Do you like American music? I like American music.
Galaxie 500 – Fourth Of July
Surely its time for a Galaxie 500 revival? Mazzy Star are enjoying a comeback, so these fuzzy shoegaze alt-rock pioneers should be getting the recognition they deserve too. Killer tune.
Elliot Smith – ‘Independence Day’
Another low-key choice for our selection, taken from Elliot Smith, whose death at a tragically young age in 2003 still casts a shadow today. This is one of his finest moments.
OTHER BAMM.TV STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
Superstar musicians may prove to be a very entertaining spectacle every now and then, but there’s no denying that most of them lack the everyman factor – that special quality which dictates whether they’d get invited to a barbecue or not. Lady Gaga, for instance, would probably just ruin everything by sculpting all the raw hamburger meat into a special hat (at which point a double-page-spread Vanity Fair analysis would automatically spring into existence). Nope: it’s best to keep those megastar types well clear of your backyard get-togethers.
Apart from Bruce Springsteen, of course – possibly the only man in history to have garnered multi-billion-zillion record sales and still remain as down-to-earth as the day he started strumming his guitar in a New Jersey garage. Springsteen’s new album ‘Wrecking Ball’ – a passionate look at the state of the nation – is available today. Want to listen to it before you buy it? Here’s your chance.
We’re five days away from Christmas, folks – that means that in a mere 120 hours Santa Claus will be coming to town, as often depicted in the lyrics of the classic song, erm, ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.’ For Day Twenty of our BAMM Advent Calendar Countdown, we’re featuring a frankly awesome Bruce Springsteen cover of that very song – and if this doesn’t get you into a non-stop-grinning festive frenzy, then nothing will. Interesting fact: Santa is only actually ‘coming to town’ so he can grab a beer or two with Bruce; the whole present-giving thing is just a happy bonus.
