One of the things I did while in England was go to see the Rock Theatrical We Will Rock You.
It is more than a show, it is more than a Jukebox Musical, and it will probably never cross the Atlantic, so I'm feeling little to no shame in telling you about it. Basically the year is 2302. Music--rock music has been banned for years. And there are kids (or anarchists, take your pick) trying to find it and bring it back. It features the music of Queen and it was truly an amazing show. I'm listening to the soundtrack as I write.
However, one flaw, but if you were going to ban rock music, if you were going to ban all rock music--Queen is perhaps the thirteenth band that you would ban. So here it is, what artists and groups I think would be banned, and the song that would do it. All of these musicians are inspirational and have inspired others and it is for that reason they would be banned, more for the inspiration potential.
1) The Beatles --Together, of course, and individually, Sgt. Peppers would be the first album to go
2) Bob Dylan--He is the recipient of a special Pulitzer Prize for his contributions--even if you can barely understand a word he sings.
3) Rolling Stones--Satisfaction, Start Me Up,
4) Paul Simon --Can't have a Bridge over Troubled Water when you're banning all this music.
5) Michael Jackson--When he was black. The Thriller years
6) The Who -- Tommy--nope. Behind Blue Eyes...nothing.
7) Kiss--Where to start, the music or the makeup?
8) Madonna--Again, where to start.
9) Dixie Chicks--Before The Long Way Around I wouldn't have listed them. But hell, they already got banned for nothing more than being women with opinions
10) Motown--All of it. No Smokey Robinson, No Miracles, No Marvin Gaye or Stevie Wonder
11)Meat Loaf/Jim Steinman--Paradise by the Dashboard Light
12) Bob Marley--No Woman No Cry
and of course
13) Queen--We Will Rock You and Bohemian Rhapsody
So, who do you think would be banned?
*Honorable mentions
Led Zepplin, Grateful Dead, the Ramones
Oh, my. It's more a question of who NOT to ban, you know?
The first one I thought of was Elvis the Pelvis... *wink*
I was mentioning about how important the emotional release we can get from music earlier today, at Claudia's (yes, out on a limb with Claudia). I think it's an important function of music.
Posted by: Susan Helene Gottfried | April 09, 2008 at 06:24 PM
I think I would ban Motown most definitely! Great post for TT
Posted by: Kat's Krackerbox | April 09, 2008 at 06:35 PM
Springsteen.
Posted by: The Gal Herself | April 09, 2008 at 06:46 PM
It played here in Toronto, last year :)
I would hate to ban any form of music, with the exception of country .. lol! Can't stand country music for some reason, otherwise I'll listen to everything else.
Happy TT
Posted by: Sue | April 09, 2008 at 06:53 PM
You took all mine...Bob Marley, The Beatles, The Stones.
Posted by: nap warden | April 09, 2008 at 06:58 PM
I think The Doors would be banned. The song to do it would be "The End".
Posted by: Malcolm | April 09, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Great list, but you'd have to add Willie Nelson!
Posted by: Kay | April 09, 2008 at 07:24 PM
I agree. Elvis would be on that list. Happy T13
Posted by: Adelle Laudan | April 09, 2008 at 07:33 PM
The first thing I thought was the same as what SHG said, Who wouldn't you ban? LOL!
I really hope that one does make it across the pond, or at least to DVD, it sounds like a great one, especially with Queen music!
Posted by: Shaunesay | April 09, 2008 at 07:53 PM
The Sex Pistols.
Oh, and I actually think it would have been The White Album, rather than Peppers. Just sayin'.
Posted by: you know where you are with | April 09, 2008 at 08:11 PM
The White Album and Abbey Road.
Posted by: Nicholas | April 09, 2008 at 08:50 PM
I am old enough to remember when Michael Jackson was cool! "Beat It" was my favorite!
Posted by: Chelle Y. | April 09, 2008 at 09:11 PM
Some great bands there, though I think Led Zep should be definitely on the list. Along with Hendrix and Bowie.
Posted by: AnthonyNorth | April 10, 2008 at 02:59 AM
I would ban the Dixie Chicks :) Happy TT!
Posted by: Bethany | April 10, 2008 at 06:07 AM
Pink Floyd for The Wall. Iggy Pop for, well, lots of things!
Posted by: Project Ni Hao | April 10, 2008 at 07:51 AM
All those groups out of the 50s and 60s would have to go, too: Bill Haley and the Comets, The Imperials, The Monkees, etc. Of course, I wouldn't ban anything from Motown (well, maybe a few), but most of it I would just re-classify as R&B.
Happy TT and thanks for visiting my TT!
Posted by: Denise Patrick | April 10, 2008 at 01:38 PM
That's a fun list! Though, I think it played in Vegas, too. I remember seeing ads for it there, anyway.
Happy TT!
Posted by: Nicole | April 10, 2008 at 02:53 PM
I don't want to ban anything. Even the stuff I don't like. Happy TT.
Posted by: pussreboots | April 10, 2008 at 05:51 PM
Now..Now...give them a break. There are some good groups up there:) Banned??? Paris Hilton and anything she sings...YUCK!!She's not a band but she does have an album. Happy TT and thanks for stopping by.
Posted by: Lori | April 10, 2008 at 06:56 PM
The thought of banning any of these singers/bands makes me want to run out and buy the album.
Posted by: Alice Audrey | April 10, 2008 at 10:58 PM
You've got most of my favorites on that list. Thankfully they're not banned, though I'd happily ban most of the teenybopper pop that's around these days, and any and all remixes that take good songs and wreck them by mixing in rap segments.
Posted by: Robin | April 15, 2008 at 03:24 AM