People, You've Got the Power Over What We Do

[chomiji]

These songs are all about being a band on the road, and the relationship between audience and artist during the performance:

"Bob Seger - Turn the page (original 1973)" (Watch on YouTube)

Bob Seger: Turn the Page

"Jackson Browne - The Load Out and Stay - Live BBC 1978" (Watch on YouTube)

Jackson Browne: The Load Out / Stay

"Boston - Rock And Roll Band - 6/17/1979 - Giants Stadium (Official)" (Watch on YouTube)

Boston: Rock and Roll band

Anybody have any others to add to the set?

Comments

[ar]

"Turn the Page" is one of my favourites ever. D: A couple others I like a lot include:


I wrote more postcards than hooks.
I read more maps than books.
Feel like every chance to leave
is another chance I should have took.
Every minute is a mile.
I've never felt so hollow.
I'm an old abandoned church with broken pews
and empty aisles.
My secrets for a buck.
Watch me as I cut myself wide open
on this stage. Yes, I am paid
to spill my guts. I won't see home till spring.
Oh, I would kill for the Atlantic,
but I am paid to make girls panic
while I sing.
"I Will Play My Game Beneath the Spin Light" - Brand New

She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly
But the traveling was hell
"Same Auld Lang Syne" - Dan Fogelberg (this one only touches on it, but I really like it--and I think the wistful interaction of old flames is cousin to this theme anyway ♥)

And they said we would’ve seen you two years ago
Had you stuck around or come out to a show,
But youth’s taken over by rock and roll,
While we were laughing and drinking and smoking and singing...
"At Least I'm Not As Sad As I Used To Be" - fun. (I would make the argument that the entirety of Aim and Ignite! is about leaving one band to start another and trying to recenter one's voice; there are several songs that are clear, obvious homages to other musicians, like "Light a Roman Candle with Me", and it all feels very much like they're playing with the idea of musical identity)

you got a pretty vision in your head
a pencil full of poison lead
and a sickened smile illegal in every town
so here i lay dreaming looking at the brilliant sun
raining its guiding light upon everyone
here i lay dreaming looking at the brilliant sun
raining its guiding light upon everyone
you say you mean well, you don't know what you mean
fucking ought to stay the hell away from things you know nothing about
"Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands" - Elliott Smith (I see this one as a reaction to media exposure and being defined by one's audience)

It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
And the manager gives me a smile
'Cause he knows that it's me they've been coming to see
To forget about life for a while
"Piano Man" - Billy Joel (decidedly different audience, but when you consider that this was his first single, it's interesting to see how he sets himself up as a performer of the people)

I'll have to think on others. ♥ In the meanwhile, you might enjoy this list, too.

[chomiji]

Yes, those are the sorts of thoughts I was thinking! And re Same Auld Lang Syne and the intersection of the road and missing the one you love, plus Billy Joel: I was also thinking of Blonde Over Blue (that's a great studio live recording). I especially love the line about "in Hell, there's a cheap motel, where the bar just closed and the windows never open ... ."

[lawless523]

I don't have any other songs to suggest, but "Turn the Page" is a favorite of mine.

[chomiji]

Yes ... "Up there in the spotlight you're a million miles away: every ounce of energy, you have to give away: as the sweat pours out your body like the music that you play ... "