What's Your Pick for the Official State Rock Song?
There's a push to make The Modern Lover's "Roadrunner" the official rock song of Massachusetts. But the state's musical heritage is full of great acts and songs. What's your pick for a state anthem?
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With paeans to Massachusetts, Route 128, the Mass Pike and even Stop n' Shop, The Modern Lovers' "Roadrunner" is a thoroughly local song. But should it be the state's official rock song? Some state legislators think so.
Aside from the song's lyrical caress of the state and its eccentric geographic locales, the band has great local roots in and around Boston. Lead singer Jonathan Richman is from Natick, and drummer David Robinson hails from Woburn. The band's first demo was recorded at the Back Bay's Intermedia Studios, where Aerosmith recorded "Dream On," and which was later bought by the Cars, who recorded there as well. The Newbury Street studio is long gone, however; the space is now an American Apparel.
State legislators from across the state are jumping on the "Roadrunner" bandwagon, including North End Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (his aunt was in the band).
While Jonathan Richman may be in love with Massachusetts, not everyone in the state is enamored with his "Roadrunner." Boston's "Rock n' Roll Band" has several state references sprinkled throughout the lyrics, and The Dropkick Murphys have created their own cottage industry writing and covering locally-based songs.
What do you think? Is Richman's cooing "I'm in love with Massachusetts?" enough for the state song, or are there other local rock songs more deserving of the title? Give us your best alternatives in the comments section below.
Bette Task
6:28 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
This is what are legislators are wasting their time on!!!!
Plenty O'Toole
7:30 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
What a joke this state is.
ann merritt
8:46 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
This shows that our legislators are irrelevant at best!
JMc
7:11 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
We have too many great Boston bands to pick one song...
William Dawes
9:29 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
I would vote for "My Country, My Ass"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=F7JY-pn-OkM
Now tell me again how this country is the home of the free
and the land of the brave.
You can't really believe that what you see now
is the reason so many brave men gave
Teacher used to say we had the Bill of Rights -
I think they took our rights and sent us the bill.
Well, I don't know about you my friends,
but I think I've had my fill.
They've been walking on me for my whole life
I think it's finally time to draw the line.
You can tell ole John Cougar Mellancamp
to stick his song where the sun don't shine.
My Country, My A**!
This is not the land I learned about in class!
My Country, My A**!
That freedom justice stuff is all in the past!
Et Cetera.
Plenty O'Toole
10:48 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Nah, let's kep it simple under the largess of the Dems:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA-MxiTA6dE
Kept in line with truncheons
Rifle butts and truncheons
This is state control, this is state control
State control, state control, this is state control
Beaten up behind closed doors
Cracked and bruised ribs, bloody mouth
Cracked and bruised skull, bloody mouth
State control, state control, this is state control
Kwum
11:08 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
wow..Exclusionary Much? Why should it be limited to a "rock" song.. Why not "Favorite" song which could encompass any flavor from -->rock, soul, jazz, country..MA is a pretty diverse state - NOT a monolithic group so why specify " rock"?
stupid *** like this just gives credence to those who regard MA as a close minded knuckle dragging exclusionary place to live
Roberto Scalese
12:41 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Hi Kwum, there's already an official state polka song, so I think offering multiple songs in multiple genres is a lot of fun. What would you propose for soul, jazz or country?
Also, saying a preference to rock music is evidence of a knuckle-dragging mindset is a bit closed-minded in and of itself, isn't it?
david mokal
12:05 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
I think the best one would be "Smuggler's Blues" Fits the geography.
Joseph
12:40 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Take The Money and Run
- The Steve Miller Band
Joseph
12:42 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Big Boss Man
-Jimmy Reed
Joseph
12:45 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
A Little Help From My Friends
-Joe Cocker
Joseph
12:47 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
We've Got To Get Out Of This Place
- The Animals
Joseph
12:48 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The End
-The Doors
Joseph
12:50 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Ship Of Fools
-The Grateful Dead
Joseph
12:53 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Know Your Enemy
-Rage Against The Machine
Joseph
12:56 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Wake Up
-Rage Against The Machine
Joseph
1:00 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Tax & Spend
-The Deval Patrick Orchestra
Joseph
1:02 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
If I Don't Know You, You Don't Got No Job Here
-Mumbles Menino & The Beacon Hill All Stars
Joseph
1:07 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Backroom Deals
-East River Pipe
Matthew
1:31 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Wow, people will seriously get "outraged" over anything and everything nowadays. Relax, people. It's only a somg.
mike
1:46 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
us and them
David Ertischek
1:47 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
While it's negative-themed, Dropkick Murphy's "The State of Massachusetts" freaking rocks! There's even a DSS reference in it.
Joseph
2:06 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
We Don't Work Hard For Our Money
-The EBT Theftains
Kwum
2:25 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Roberto Scalese- you totally missed my point.. I never said a "rock " song is evidence of a knuckle dragging mindset.. Once again I stated that limiting the choice of songs ONLY to rock is narrow minded when there are diverse types of music which appeals to the diversity of people in the commonwealth.. Your counter is basically supporting my statement.. You claim there was a polka song for the state.. I doubt anybody said " Ok pick a song ONLY from polka songs..obviously there was a DIVERSITY of songs to choose from and the polka one won out... So again.. why limit the choice just to rock ? Not everyone like rock.. so its just as ridiculous as asking people to pick from only " folks songs"..
BH Resident
4:10 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
What a waste of time!!! You have to be joking me. Lets focus our attention on some real issues. If they are wasting tax payers time and money on this nonsense it's time for them to go.
Joseph
4:24 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
BH Resident - You're 100% correct. I hope you all remember that our tax dollars are being used to pick a freaking state song. Keep on voting for Democrats. This is what you get. It's time to start paying attention to real issues!!!
Kwum
6:15 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Joe- i AGREE that the state song thing is silly.. That being said...take your Teabilly rant to Texas where someone may care.. Thee real issue is you lunatics are still munchin out on sour grapes since losing the last TWO prez elections. get over it. gotta love masssholes..lol
Plenty O'Toole
7:24 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGfMK0hPbTo
Joseph
9:10 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
@Kwum - It's a shame that you're too closed minded to understand fiscal responsibility. Your Teabilly response is typical of someone who votes D just cause of the letter and doesn't understand the issues at hand. Everyone should care about the state of our economy! Does us all a favor, catch up on some current events.
Lunatics = Fiscal responsibility. Yeah, ok, that makes a lot of sense.
Massholes - seriously? You do realize that a majority of "massholes" voted for Obama, right?
Let me guess, early 20's, maxed out credit cards, complaining that you have to actually work hard to be successful? Mommy and daddy stopped giving you your allowance? Way to contribute to society there pal. Now go home and get your shine box. I'm done with you.
Kwum
8:07 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EhKxNpUMU4