Exodus Posted October 23, 2004 Report Posted October 23, 2004 Hi, I am doing some research on early rock and roll for an article. Peter Wicke puts a lot of stock in Berry?s ?Roll over Beethoven? as a beacon of rock and roll?s character but fails to explain the lyrics. Although the intent of the words ?roll over? is certainly negative, its precise meaning is unclear to me. Is it addressed directly to the dead Beethoven, commanding him to animate his misery by rolling over in the grave? Does ?roll over? mean something like ?surrender your supremacy Beethoven and accept the change,? or simply ?change over?? Or does it tell the listeners of the song to ?roll over? or ?stamp out? the legacy of Beethoven? It is possible that more than one meaning was intended? Thank you for any leads that you can give me. Exodus
edna Posted October 23, 2004 Report Posted October 23, 2004 Funny, sometimes I asked me the same question... I always thought he means "come on, Beethoven, twist and shout" or something like this... Oh, and welcome!
bluesboy Posted October 23, 2004 Report Posted October 23, 2004 I think it's announcing that the older classical music will now take a back seat to this new found rock 'n roll music, that's the Real Thing and here to stay.
edna Posted October 23, 2004 Report Posted October 23, 2004 Exodus, trust BluesBoy... he´s the brains! And I´m not kidding, BB...
EasyRider Posted October 23, 2004 Report Posted October 23, 2004 yeah...I think Bluesboy nailed it.lol
Mike Posted October 23, 2004 Report Posted October 23, 2004 I think it's first a tribute to Beethoven, admonishing that he is a founding father of "rocking" (if you will) symphony's, consider the line...Roll over beethoven and tell tschaikowsky the news(tschaikowsky) also pioneered some very "moving" pieces it's the "changing" of the guard, enter a new form of rhythm to dance to hence the lines.....Sittin? down by the rhythm review. Roll over beethoven rockin? in two by two. and also You know she wiggles like a glow worm, Dance like a spinnin? top. Also note the "Don?t you step on my blue suede shoes" which is a reference to Carl Perkins.
Danielj Posted October 23, 2004 Report Posted October 23, 2004 I think it was more to say : I'm a rebel, I want Beethoven to dance like he wouldnt
bluesboy Posted October 23, 2004 Report Posted October 23, 2004 Exodus, That Peter Wicke book - 'Rock Music: Culture, Aesthetics and Sociology' looks pretty interesting
Uncle Joe Posted October 23, 2004 Report Posted October 23, 2004 I think it's announcing that the older classical music will now take a back seat to this new found rock 'n roll music, that's the Real Thing and here to stay. Blueboy is right on....again! And, oh yeah...tell Tchaikovsky the news.
bluesboy Posted October 23, 2004 Report Posted October 23, 2004 Uncle Joe, Isn't it time for the duck walk!
bazooka Posted October 23, 2004 Report Posted October 23, 2004 I thought this has to do with Beethoven "rolling over in his grave" because this of wild and unsophisticated new music.
Tybalt Posted October 24, 2004 Report Posted October 24, 2004 I'm straying from the topic a bit. This came to my mind when I heard the Stones' Gimme Shelter the other day: Isn't it quite an amazing leap lyrically from "rockin' pneumonia ...rollin' arthritis" to "Rape! Murder!". On the other hand, the Rolling Stones also gave us It's Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It). Years ago, a friend pointed out to me a long tradition of self-parody in Rock and Roll. The music's tendancy to experimentation, exaggeration and excess are all part of the evolution and responsible for its staying power. More Rock and Roll Anthems(<)
edna Posted October 24, 2004 Report Posted October 24, 2004 Who sang "I´ve got a rocky pneumonia and the boogie-woogie flu"? Could it be Jerry Lee Lewis?
EdL Posted October 24, 2004 Report Posted October 24, 2004 On a related subject - Beethoven's crypt was opened some years ago, possibly to check whether or not he had been rolling over. To everybody's surprise the grand old composer was sitting there with his manuscripts and an eraser, rubbing the notes off the paper. He was asked what he was doing (a number of times as he was still deaf) and eventually replied, in German of course, "I am decomposing". Sorry. :-)
bluesboy Posted October 24, 2004 Report Posted October 24, 2004 Good One EdL _ _ _ _ Who sang "I´ve got a rocky pneumonia and the boogie-woogie flu"? Could it be Jerry Lee Lewis? Yes Edna, + many more. :happybanana:
edna Posted October 24, 2004 Report Posted October 24, 2004 Thank you, BB, you´re the light for me! I like very much your Beethoven´s story, EdL! :happybanana: happybanana, the big halloween sensation...reminds of Carmen Miranda.
Tybalt Posted October 25, 2004 Report Posted October 25, 2004 Sorry for the bogus link in my previous post. I meant this: Rock and Roll Anthems (<)
Aunt_Acid Posted October 25, 2004 Report Posted October 25, 2004 What a coincidence, I'm listening to Chuck Berry right now.
Uncle Joe Posted October 25, 2004 Report Posted October 25, 2004 Who sang "I´ve got a rocky pneumonia and the boogie-woogie flu"? Could it be Jerry Lee Lewis? Yes, he did it but the original "I've Got The Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu" was by Huey "Piano" Smith and The Clowns of New Orleans.
Exodus Posted October 27, 2004 Author Report Posted October 27, 2004 Thanks to all for your responses. You've been very helpful. Exodus
bluesboy Posted October 30, 2004 Report Posted October 30, 2004 I meant this: Rock and Roll Anthems (<) Tybalt, That Rock 'n Roll Anthems list is great. 3 or 4 cds worth of 40 years of music ('55-'95).
windy1 Posted October 30, 2004 Report Posted October 30, 2004 I think the rolling over in his grave analogy is the correct one. If Beethoven and Thaichovsky(sp)could hear what had been done to music they would be spinning in their graves. But we don't know that. They could be rockin in their graves too.(hence the decomposing story).
edna Posted October 31, 2004 Report Posted October 31, 2004 I think the rolling over in his grave analogy is the correct one. If Beethoven and Thaichovsky(sp)could hear what had been done to music they would be spinning in their graves. But we don't know that. They could be rockin in their graves too.(hence the decomposing story). Sounds like Melanie... "Look what they´ve done to my song, ma... look what they´ve done to my song, ma..." Yeah, this thread should be studied in the Music University... very good thread... whose idea was it? I´ll have to scroll up... Best opinions: Windy, BluesBoy and PinkFloyd... and all the rest! :happybanana: :happybanana: :happybanana: :happybanana: :happybanana:
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