The Greatest Rock Band in the World: Ramones

This is one of what will probably be quite a few posts about who should be considered for the title of greatest rock bands in the world.  We already know the Beatles are one of them.  The rest are up for grabs.  I plan to just post some of my thoughts on different groups as I think of them.  I've already made a post about U2, this time it's the Ramones.   Feel free to weigh in with your own thoughts and choices.

 

(This one is for Laura Lee.  She doesn't understand how the Ramones could be considered one of the greatest rock bands in the world. She wanted five reasons why they should be, so here are my five reasons, Laura.)

 

1.)  They helped create punk music.  Any time you try to pinpoint who actually created a style of music, it gets hard.  The New York Dolls were before the Ramones, but most groups that considered themselves punk and a lot that didn't all give their dues to the Ramones.

 

2) Their songs.  Blitzkreig Bop, Shenna is a Punk Rocker, Teenage Lobotomy, Beat on the Brat, Gimmie Gimmie Shock Treatment, Pinhead, Rock and Roll High School, Do You Remember Rock n Roll?, Rockaway Beach....the list goes on and on.  How can you not smile and want to just get up and jump around when you hear these songs?  The songs were short, simple and fast.

 

3) They rescued rock music from the overblown, pretenious "art" rock that was everywhere at the time.  Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Yes, all the groups that made singles that lasted an entire side of an album (oops, this is for those who remember albums and not cds) and thought just plain rock music was not good enough. 

 

4) The cover to their first album.  The were dressed in torn jeans, leather jackets, long hair hanging in their face.  They looked like punks.  They looked like throwbacks to the 50s and the beginning of rock and roll.

 

5) And the best reason of all...they're just cool!

 

There was nothing serious about the Ramones, their song titles are evidence of that.  But that's what made them so great.  I know in my last post about U2 I liked the fact that they thought rock music could save the world, that they did take their music so serious.  But not all groups have to be like that.  I admire and like groups like U2, but I also find something fresh and vital to rock music in groups like the Ramones.

The Greatest Rock Band in the World: U2

Ok, I got this from Laura Lee's site.  She mentioned a few posts back about a conversation she had with some friends about who were among the greatest rock bands in the world.   I threw in my two cents worth, but I was not really thinking about it too much at the time.  I can't get the idea out of my head.  Who is the greatest rock and roll band?

 

What I'd like to do is over the next month or however long it takes is just to post some of my takes on who I think are among the greatest rock bands.  And anyone reading this that wants to argue my points or suggest their own, go for it.  I'm interested to see who other people think are some of the greatest. 

 

Now before we even get started I'll save all the arguing and of course list the Beatles.  I don't think there is any argument on that one.  After that it's all up for grabs.  

 

This post I recommend U2.

 

What other band in the last twenty years has mattered as much?  I contend that they have put out two classic albums....The Joshua Tree and Achtung, Baby!  I almost want to put All That You Can't Leave Behind in with those two, but I'm not sure yet.  It's a great album, the more I listen to it the more I like it.  Their newest is too new yet, it's got some good stuff on it, but I don't know it it'll make the ranking of classic. 

 

Also I come from the school that music can change the world and U2 is one of those groups that still believe that.  All music doesn't have to be trying to change the world, I think the Ramones deserve to be in this list and will in another post, but I am moved by a group that can try and change the world and still rock out.  I'm sorry, I guess I'm just an old lost hippie at heart. 

 

I just don't see how anyone can make a list of the greatest bands in the world and not include U2.

 

Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame
You say...

One love
One life
When it's one need
In the night
One love
We get to share it
Leaves you baby if you
Don't care for it

Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well it's...

Too late
Tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
One...

Have you come here for forgiveness
Have you come to raise the dead
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head

Did I ask too much
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now it's all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
Well we
Hurt each other
Then we do it again
You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt

One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other

One...life

One