I...think...I...get...The Ramones

[Taverner]

It's not serious

Not at all

It's the ultimate spirit of punk

A "fuck you, we want to enjoy music that is just that...music, nothing great, nothing powerful, just fast happy chords."

[Forkboy]

1. Cha Ching!

That is indeed the essence of The Ramones. Other punk bands bring different styles and ideas lyrically, but even the political minded punk bands do their thing with a sense of humor and fun and tongue in cheek sarcasm. Jello Biafra and the Dead kennedys are one of the most political bands you'll ever hear, yet there's always a sense of fun under the surface of the serious issues he brings up. It's an attitude as much as a single style of music in many ways, but the music becomes the outlet for that attitude. The Ramones reduce it to it's most basic essence, and that's why so many still love them. It's fucking fun stuff! :)

[Taverner]

3. Funny, the Ramones were started by a Knuckle Dragging Freeper and a Dyed in the Wool Liberal

Yet, nothing even remotely political about their music

I never liked them

And still - I get it - but I see its not the end all

It was never meant to be the end all

And now I do like them

[nomorenomore08]

2. Greatest. Punk. Band. Ever.

Only the Clash could rival them in musical quality, and the Clash's very best stuff (namely the 'London Calling' album) isn't even "punk" in the generally accepted sense. To say that the Ramones' first two, even first three albums belong in any decent rock'n'roll collection is an understatement.

P.S. Sorry for the misunderstanding in the Iraq thread. I really wasn't trying to be a jerk at all, and now I feel bad about it. :(

[Twillig]

6. OneTwoThreeFour!

No pretension at all. Straight ahead. Rock.

Does it deserve the 'punk' label at all?

[Captain Hilts]

11. What a relief the simplicity was. And, you could have the souvenir of getting into a fistfight

with them during a concert.

Great fun.

[Taverner]

12. Its cool man - wanna sniff some glue?

:D

[ghostsofgiants]

4. Exactly.

And that is exactly why they fucking ruled.

I can't listen to "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" or "Rock and Roll High School" without a smile on my face.

[old mark]

5. They were great writers in the oddest sort of way - find the words to

"Commando", "Judy Is A Punk", etc - and yes, their music is simple, but check some of the YouTube vids of their live performances in London - Watch Johnny Ramone playing guitar...
Simple, but not easy.

I also recommend their Roger Corman movie "Rock N Roll High School" with the desirable PJ Soles-and several exploding mice.
I became a fan several years ago, sadly well after they were gone...

mark

[Orsino]

7. Me, too...I think.

Although I'm also given to understand that if you have to try to get them, you're doin' it wrong. Do or do not. There is no try. :D

It's happy music, loud and stoopid.

[Strong Atheist]

8. I WANNA BE SEDATED!!!!!!!! nt.

[SoxFan]

9. Well, that only took 35 years to figure out

:evilgrin:

[Captain Hilts]

10. The first group to come along NOT trying to recreat Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

It was a relief to hear 'music' with only three chords.

[redqueen]

13. One of the best shows I've ever seen.

The energy was indescribable. Fast, happy, slightly violent... completely fun.

[Jetboy]

14. There isn't much to really get. It's just that all of the other bands

forgot what rock-n-roll is all about. Leather jackets, juvenile delinquents, 2 minute songs, simple chords. Rock-n-roll mark 3 was simply rock-n-roll mark 1 all revved up. Brilliant!

[Tikki]

15. Please do yourself a favor and read..On The Road with the Ramones by Monte Melnick..

http://website.lineone.net/~murrayramone/monte.htm

This book is such a fascinating read...happy, sad and then some.

Doug Colvin was a musical genius.


Tikki

[Bucky]

16. Also, very short songs

Who the hell's got time for a fucking anthem or power ballad?

[Forkboy]

17. I take it the 62 minute song by Sleep doesn't interest you?

:)

[old mark]

18. Taverner, if you're still not sure, try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyhabGDj8&NR=1


"There's no stoppin'
the Cretins from hoppin'

Ya gotta keep repeatin'
If ya want a happy Cretin

I wanna go for a whirl
With my Cretin girl

My feet won't stop
Doin' the Cretin hop.


I have tried to live my life guided by these thoughts, but it's just too fuckin silly.

Check Johnny's guitar playing on this one.

mark