music
REMASTERED
AND
REWORKED
Just over a month ago I settled in my car to drive to work and
flipped on the beloved Triple J. I was hoping for a smidge of
Meg Mac or maybe Purity Ring to calm my inevitable road
rage inspired by school morning traffic and drivers who seem
to be unaware of their indicators. But instead I was greeted
with the shocking news of David Bowie’s death, closely
followed by Glenn Frey just over a week later.
I don’t know about anyone else, but after hearing this news
I was suddenly inspired to dig out my dusty CDs and records
not only of these two era-transcending superstars, but also
their brethren including Fleetwood Mac, The Bee Gees,
Sting and the Police, Billy Joel, the Beatles, Pink Floyd,
Stevie Wonder, the Velvet Underground and the Rolling
Stones. For the past couple of months, I have spent quality
time reacquainting myself with some of the most invigorating
and beautiful songs ever written, remembering how much I
wished I could have been a teenager in the 70s and realising
that there are few albums I would go out and buy today to
listen to on a loop in 20 or 30 years’ time.
Throwback albums seem to be dominating the music charts
already in 2016; a growing phenomenon sparked by the
devastating and dust-off-the-records frenzy of Bowie and
Frey’s untimely passing. I’m greatly anticipating the musical
aspect of 2016 with the appearance of new music from old
artists like David Bowie’s ‘Black Star’, John Cale’s feature
in the Animal Collective’s new album Primitive Future, a fresh
croon of Jeff Buckley’s recently discovered, early recordings
and finally an unconfirmed and painstakingly awaited Guns
and Roses album.
Velvet Underground: I’m sticking with you,
‘Venus in fur’
Fleetwood Mac: Go your own way, Tango in
the night
Bee Gees: Spicks and Specks, ‘Stayin’ Alive’
The Beatles: Love me do, ‘Let it be’
Pink Floyd: Money, ‘Us and them’
Stevie Wonder: Superstition, ‘Signed, sealed
and delivered’
Rolling Stones: You can’t always get what you
want, ‘Paint it black’
David Bowie: Blackstar, ‘Heroes’
Glenn Frey (The Eagles): Take it easy, ‘Hotel
California’
Contrasting with the start of yet another semester at
university full of new friends, new classes and exciting events
at USQ, getting back into all your old records and music and
revisiting the understanding that like double denim, a good
suit and red lipstick, some old things never age.
WORDS: LAURIE OXENFORD – USQ Student
IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK
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