Hard Rock Music Time Machine – 5/18/17

Each Thursday, Hard Rock Music Time Machine takes a journey back in time to feature a variety of songs that date back as far as the ’70s.

In addition to appearing on the embedded YouTube playlist below, all songs featured on Hard Rock Music Time Machine can be listened to individually by clicking on the hyper-linked song titles above each review.
 

 ADAM WALDMAN – (Publisher, Hard Rock Daddy)

MEGADETH – “A Tout Le Monde” (1994)

The number of Megadeth fans who say that Youthanasia is their favorite album from the band is few and far between, but I stand with the minority.  To me, the album is filled with songs that are not only powerful, but melodic as well.  Ever since the release of the album in 1994, “A Tout Le Monde” has been not only my favorite song on the album, but also my favorite Megadeth song of all-time.

The subject matter of the song is heavy (to say the least).  While many of thought of the lyrics as being about suicide, Dave Mustaine has stated otherwise…

“It’s not a suicide song.  What it is, it’s…you.  It’s when people have a loved one that dies and they end on a bad note, you know, they wish that they could say something to them.  So, this is an opportunity for the deceased to say something before they go.  And it was my impression of what I would like to say to people, if I had say, 3 seconds to do so in life before I died.  I’d say to the entire world, to all my friends, I love you all, and now I must go. These are the last words I’ll ever speak, and they’ll set me free.  I don’t have to say I’m sorry, I don’t have to say I’m going to miss you, or I’ll wait for ya.  You know, I’ll just say I loved you all, good, bad, indifferent, I loved you all.”

The French chorus…“à tout le monde, à tous mes amis, je vous aime, je dois partir” translates in English to…“To everyone, to all my friends, I love you, I have to leave.”

In 2007, Megadeth released an updated version of “A Tout Le Monde” with Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil.  They slightly altered the title to be “A Tout Le Monde (Set Me Free).”  While it’s an interesting interpretation of the song, it doesn’t really compare to the original for me.
 

 
QUEENSRYCHE – “I Don’t Believe in Love” (1988)

It almost feels like sacrilege to highlight one song off of (what I feel) is the greatest concept album ever.  However, there are a handful of songs that were played on the radio, so it seems like fair game.  Operation: Mindcrime is filled with outstanding songs from top to bottom.  Each contributes not only to the cinematic storyline, but to the tone setting as well.

The album closer, “Eyes Of A Stranger,” gets the most airplay (deservedly so).  However, if I had to pick a favorite song off of the album, it would be “I Don’t Believe In Love.”  Like “A Tout Le Monde,” this song also features French lyrics.  Though the use of French is minimal, it comes as the song builds to a crescendo…“no chance for contact…there’s no raison d’etre…my only hope is one day I’ll forget.”
 

 

 

 ANDY CHEUNG – HRD Music Scout

SOCIAL DISTORTION – “Highway 101” (2004)

Maybe it’s the weather changing, but around this time of year, I daydream of living in California.  Orange County California’s Social Distortion has a unique West Coast sound that has always made me yearn for a jaunt on the opposite coast.  From their album Sex, Love, and Rock ‘n’ Roll, Mike Ness wails and laments on the California sun and riding along the coast on Highway 101, two things I have experienced in the past.  These long-reigning innovators of punk turned rockabilly have always been a staple in my musical diet growing up.

 

GORILLA BISCUITS – “New Direction” (1988)

As a teenager in the ‘80s, I was deeply immersed in the New York Hardcore movement.  After all, where did you think metal bands got their slam dancing, mosh pit craziness from?  One of the biggest bands in the NYHC genre was New York City’s own…Gorilla Biscuits.  With their brand of aggressive, speed-filled, feet-moving songs, the band preached about unity, being straight edge, being yourself, and above all, being a positive individual in a negative filled world.  Although they only released one EP and one album, Start Today (which I still listen to constantly), the band cemented itself as one of the forefathers of hardcore punk.  With their speed and aggressive style, a Gorilla Biscuits show always ends up being a flurry of flailing bodies and stagediving maniacs.  The band reunites periodically to play Super Bowl of Hardcore shows, so catch them whenever you can.
 

 

 

ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout

NIGHT RANGER – “Sister Christian” (1984)

This San Francisco band was founded in 1980 simply as Ranger, uniting some of the most talented musicians on the scene.  They changed their name in 1982 to Night Ranger, just before releasing their debut album, because a country band was claiming trademark infringement. They released a string of huge albums in the ‘80s with a bevy of hits, but their iconic song (and biggest hit) was this power ballad, written by drummer Kelly Keagy when he couldn’t believe how fast his little sister was growing up. Her name was Christy, but Jack Blades thought that Keagy was singing “Sister Christian.”  Those lyrics (and the title) eventually stuck.

 

NIGHT RANGER – “Time Of Our Lives” (2011)

Like so many bands that once hit it big, Night Ranger eventually disbanded and then reunited years later to make more music.  Like so many of those bands, they kept writing amazing material (even if they weren’t always met with the same commercial success they had once been accustomed to).  Here is an amazing (but lesser known) ballad from their highly recommended 2011 album, Somewhere in California.