Bob Dylan
The Times They Are A-Changing
Like A Rolling Stone
vs
The Animals
House of the Rising Sun
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place
This first contest of our March Madness features a theme of most popular music—“the rolling stone:” leaving home, estrangement. We are not scientifically prepared to say how prevalent this theme is, but our gut says it is very prevalent in popular music consciousness in America, and it may be the most timeless theme (after love) in lyrical history.
The most important question to ask when assessing the strength of a popular song is how good is it at grabbing our interest—and keeping it. Does it begin well, but the thrill wears off before the song is finished? Does it have a strong conclusion? Does it make us want to listen to the whole song?
Here’s what all contestants in this tournament need to accomplish: an immediate strong impression which is sustained. The length or complexity of the song does not matter—only this principle does.
Repetition is a popular song’s strength—but it can also be a weakness if interest flags.
Bob Dylan’s lyrics are extremely effective. Dylan’s voice has the force of a unique musical instrument.
The Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun” also features strong vocals and effective lyrics—and the organ is also a strong voice, steering the song to its conclusion. “House of the Rising Sun” has a visceral, “turn this up,” quality—“Like A Rolling Stone” has this, too, but to a lesser degree.
Dylan’s backing music (while solid) sounds somewhat repetitive and disconnected, by comparison. The integration of music and vocals favors the Animals in this March Madness Two Songs contest.
Dylan snarls at a “you” (in a prophetic and skillful manner)—the Animals’ songs feature a voice speaking from distressed (and also prophetic) first-hand experience.
Both Dylan songs fade out. The Animals’ songs do not have surprising endings, but they do end more conclusively.
Winner. The Animals
The no. 1 seed, the iconic Bob Dylan—as good as his lyrics are—is out.
Beach Boys
Good Vibrations
Sloop John B
vs
Spanky And Our Gang
Sunday Will Never Be The Same
I’d Like To Get To Know You
The Beach Boys have the edge in terms of driving, rock-pop, dynamics.
The clever, pop arrangements of Spanky And Our Gang feel slightly more sophisticated.
The lyrical story—with its poignant story-telling vocal—in both Spanky And Our Gang songs is better foregrounded and expressed.
Both of these groups provide pop jouissance with their musical texture, vocal harmonies, and variety of song structure. The Beach Boys are ultimately more childish (which isn’t always a bad thing in pop) compared to the more grown-up melancholy of Spanky And Our Gang—who seem a bit more in control of fitting their lyrics to music.
Winner. Spanky And Our Gang
Another upset. The no. 1 seeded Beach Boys fall to Spanky And Our Gang.
Scarriet News Reporting.