Tag Archives: Pat Benatar

Live and In Person

31 Jan

Listening to music is one of my favorite pastimes. Cranking of the radio and letting the sound fill the air is a great pleasure. It is truly pleasurable when that music is of the Rock variety. However, listening to live music is more enjoyable. I have been lucky enough to attend many concerts, and there is nothing like being in a room filled with people and hearing a performer sing a great song.image-6

The other day, I was at the magazine rack when I spotted something called 101 Greatest American Rock Songs. With a title like that, how could I not buy it? The magazine offers an interesting list with stories about each one. As I read through it, a question entered my mind.

How many of these songs have I heard in a live setting? In Nashville, we hear a bunch of songs being covered by bar bands. My real question was trickier. How many of these songs have I heard performed by their actual performers in a live setting?

Here is the answer.

98. “When Doves Cry” by Prince

97. “Legs” by ZZ Top

95. “All Shook Up” by Elvis Presley

94. “Lay, Lady, Lay” by Bob Dylan

92. “Paradise By the Dashboard Light” by Meatloaf

84. “Jackie Brown” by John Mellencamp

82. “Black Magic Woman” by Santana

72. “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan

64. “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper

62. “Rock and Roll All Nite” by Kiss

60. “Tangled Up in Blue” by Bob Dylan

51. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses

48. “Bye Bye Love” by The Everly Brothers

46. “Dream On” by Aerosmith

36. “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar

32. “All Along the Watchtower” by Bob Dylan

31. “One of These Nights” by The Eagles

29. “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

27. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan

24. “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

23. “Enter Sandman” by Metallica

22. “Atlantic City” by Bruce Springsteen

18. “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith

10. “In the Ghetto” by Elvis Presley

9. “Hotel California” by The Eagles

5. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

3. “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen

2. “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan

I have been lucky enough to hear 28 out of 101 in a live setting, and, by looking at the list, I am afraid that I will not be able to add many more.

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Things I Learned at a Cher Concert

2 Apr

Last night, my wife and I saw Cher in concert. As the performer said, it is her farewell farewell tour. We went because Cher is a legendary entertainer who has been famous for about 50 years. Some people should be seen for the experience, and, in my opinion, Cher is one of them.

I was not sure how good the concert would be, but it turned out to be awesome. Cher put on an extravaganza with dancers, stage props, outrageous costumes and videos of her performing history. However, Cher was not the only great thing about the show. Pat Benetar was the opening act and totally rocked it out.

Looking back on the concert, I am glad that we went. It was a show not to be missed. However, it also was an educational experience. I learned a few things. In fact, here are the things I learned at a Cher concert.

Before Lady Gaga, there was Madonna. Before Madonna, there was Cher, who was truly original.

Pat Benatar and her husband, Spyder Giraldo, can put on a Rock n’ Roll show that will compare to anyone.

People with oxygen tanks like to go to concerts, too.

Cher and I have something in common. We both saw Elvis Presley in concert when we were kids.

“Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” is still Cher’s best song.

At age 67, Cher can still wear her get-up from the “humping the battleship” video.Cher Battleship

My wife gets upset when more men look at me than look at her.

There is always one guy in a section who insists on standing up while everyone else is sitting down. It does not just happen at football games.

Cher almost got arrested at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge.

When someone is sitting in your seats by mistake, their excuse is that someone in the band gave them the tickets.

Native Americans cannot even get a break at a Cher concert. (I know. I know. Cher is part Cherokee.)Cher Headdress

Anyone who thinks 80s music is bad is an imbecile.

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