Metal music - still in the thought stage

[wm]

It was the SRV version of "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" that was used in BHD.

Sometimes I think Stevie Ray was channeling Hendrix, but then hearing Concrete Blonde's version of "Little Wing" makes me think that Jim Mankey was also channeling for Jimi. Derek and the Dominos does the best "Little Wing" version I think. I wonder why "House Burnin' Down" from the "Electric Ladyland" album hasn't made its way into a war movie soundtrack.

[Steve Blair]

Sometimes I think Stevie Ray was channeling Hendrix, but then hearing Concrete Blonde's version of "Little Wing" makes me think that Jim Mankey was also channeling for Jimi. Derek and the Dominos does the best "Little Wing" version I think. I wonder why "House Burnin' Down" from the "Electric Ladyland" album hasn't made its way into a war movie soundtrack.

I'd guess that it's either because (a) studios figure the average audience wouldn't recognize the song or (b) they can't get rights clearance to use it.

Way back when I saw a review in (I think) Guitar Magazine of SRV's version of "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" that compared to a good live version of Hendrix's original, but not up to the feel of the studio version. An interesting observation, and one that I've come to agree with over the years.

[Tom Odom]

Marc,

Favorite song to put on the CD player when running cam inspection patrols into Zaire from Rwanda was...

Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner by Warren Zevon

Lyrics

Written By Warren Zevon & David Lindell c. 1976 Zevon Music/BMI

Roland was a warrior from the Land of the Midnight Sun
With a Thompson gun for hire, fighting to be done
The deal was made in Denmark on a dark and stormy day
So he set out for Biafra to join the bloody fray

Through sixty-six and seven they fought the Congo war
With their fingers on their triggers, knee-deep in gore
For days and nights they battled the Bantu to their knees
They killed to earn their living and to help out the Congolese

Roland the Thompson gunner...

His comrades fought beside him - Van Owen and the rest
But of all the Thompson gunners, Roland was the best
So the CIA decided they wanted Roland dead
That son-of-a-bitch Van Owen blew off Roland's head

Roland the headless Thompson gunner
Norway's bravest son
Time, time, time
For another peaceful war
But time stands still for Roland
'Til he evens up the score
They can still see his headless body stalking through the night
In the muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson gun
In the muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson gun

Roland searched the continent for the man who'd done him in
He found him in Mombassa in a barroom drinking gin
Roland aimed his Thompson gun - he didn't say a word
But he blew Van Owen's body from there to Johannesburg

Roland the headless Thompson gunner...
The eternal Thompson gunner
still wandering through the night
Now it's ten years later but he still keeps up the fight
In Ireland, in Lebanon, in Palestine and Berkeley
Patty Hearst heard the burst of Roland's Thompson gun and bought it

All passengers were required to sing along


Favorite music for patrols inside Rwanda

Red Rain by Peter Gabriel
Lyrics
red rain is coming down
red rain
red rain is pouring down
pouring down all over me

I am standing up at the water's edge in my dream
I cannot make a single sound as you scream
it can't be that cold, the ground is still warm to touch
this place is so quiet, sensing that storm

red rain is coming down
red rain
red rain is pouring down
pouring down all over me

well I've seen them buried in a sheltered place in this town
they tell you that this rain can sting, and look down
there is no blood around see no sign of pain
hay ay ay no pain
seeing no red at all, see no rain

red rain is coming down
red rain
red rain is pouring down
pouring down all over me

red rain-
putting the pressure on much harder now
to return again and again
just let the red rain splash you
let the rain fall on your skin
I come to you defences down
with the trust of a child

red rain is coming down
red rain
red rain is pouring down
pouring down all over me
and I can't watch any more
no more denial
it's so hard to lay down in all of this
red rain is coming down
red rain is pouring down
red rain is coming down all over me
I see it
red rain is coming down
red rain is pouring down
red rain is coming down all over me
I'm bathing in it
red rain coming down
red rain is coming down
red rain is coming down all over me
I'm begging you
red rain coming down
red rain coming down
red rain coming down
red rain coming down
over me in the red red sea
over me
over me
red rain

We didn't sing with that one.

Tom

[BayonetBrant]

Wasn't it Stevie Ray Vaughn's version of "Voodoo Chile" that was used in Black Hawk Down? I'm pretty sure it was his. Personally, I normally perfer Jimi's versions, but two big exceptions are Voodoo Chile" and "Little Wing."

Could be... The guys I know are big Jimi fans, though.

I'm the heretic in the bunch, tho - I prefer Skid Row's version of Little Wing {ducks the inevitable flying cabbage}

[marct]

Tom,

I always had a soft spot for Warren Zevon, and especially Roland - I got in trouble once by singing it in a church before a concert .

That Slate review, Rock the Mullahs, is really good. I am going to have to get the book.

Marc

[Tom Odom]

Tom,

I always had a soft spot for Warren Zevon, and especially Roland - I got in trouble once by singing it in a church before a concert .

That Slate review, Rock the Mullahs, is really good. I am going to have to get the book.

Marc

In church? Good man!

Anyway music is soft power and it does influence. I love classic reggae. Cannot stand reggae rap. The first makes me happy. The second gives me a headache.

The Hutu extremists at RTLM had a panapoly of "hits" concerning killing Tutsis they played during the genocide.

My favorite Zevon song in my Lebanon days was "Lawyers, Guns, and Money." Sing that one in church

Tom

[marct]

My favorite Zevon song in my Lebanon days was "Lawyers, Guns, and Money." Sing that one in church

That would probably get me in way too much trouble . These days, I tend to limit my extra-concert, church singing to things like this .

Marc

[Adam L]

That would probably get me in way too much trouble . These days, I tend to limit my extra-concert, church singing to things like this .

Marc

Now that I think of Tom Lehrer I wonder if any of our bomber boys ever sang this one.

Adam L

[Umar Al-Mokhtār]

although I'm surprised Tom that your fav Zevon tune while on the Dark Continent wasn't Jungle Work.

Lear jet S.W.A.T team
On a midnight run
With the M16
And the Ingram gun
We parachute in
We parachute out
"Death from above"
We're screaming now

Where the pay is good
And the risk is high
It's understood
We'll do or die
Sten gun in hand
Where the gun is law
From Ovamboland
To Nicaragua

Strength and muscle and jungle work

Three young men
In a Russian truck
With a little MAC-10
Sent 'em running to the huts
These few young men
The few who dare
To battle in hell
Le Mercenaire!

Strength and muscle and jungle work

I've always liked Gorilla, You're A Desperado.

As for Lehrer I've always been partial to his Send the Marines.

[Tom Odom]

Thanks! I didn't know about that one

Still Roland has a special place for me as a Congo refugee

although I'm surprised Tom that your fav Zevon tune while on the Dark Continent wasn't Jungle Work.

Lear jet S.W.A.T team
On a midnight run
With the M16
And the Ingram gun
We parachute in
We parachute out
"Death from above"
We're screaming now

Where the pay is good
And the risk is high
It's understood
We'll do or die
Sten gun in hand
Where the gun is law
From Ovamboland
To Nicaragua

Strength and muscle and jungle work

Three young men
In a Russian truck
With a little MAC-10
Sent 'em running to the huts
These few young men
The few who dare
To battle in hell
Le Mercenaire!

Strength and muscle and jungle work

I've always liked Gorilla, You're A Desperado.

As for Lehrer I've always been partial to his Send the Marines.