A few years ago, I published a #MusicMonday post called HEAVEN AND HELL, and thought it might be fun to explore more songs about opposite subjects. The possibilities are endless! 😀 Here we go!
Heaven and Hell Part II
[Find the obvious Stairway to Heaven and Highway to Hell on my YouTube playlist]
“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” is a song originally written by Bob Dylan and covered by Warren Zevon on his 2003 album, The Wind.
The song describes the feelings and impressions of a dying deputy, who notices that it is getting dark around him as he is knocking on heaven’s door.
Zevon’s version does not change any of the actual lyrics, except for him repeatedly adding variations of the line “open up for me” towards the end of the song.
The Wind was created as Zevon’s days were numbered due to terminal mesothelioma.
“Hells Bells“ is the first track of Back in Black, the seventh studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC and their comeback album after the death of lead singer Bon Scott.
It is the second single from Back in Black, released on 31 October 1980. The song also appears on Who Made Who, AC/DC’s 1986 soundtrack to the Stephen King film Maximum Overdrive and on both versions of 1992’s AC/DC Live.
“Hells Bells” is widely regarded as one of the band’s best songs. In 2020, The Guardian ranked the song number six on their list of the 40 greatest AC/DC songs, and in 2021, Kerrang! ranked it number seven on their list of the 20.
Black and White
[Find the obvious Paint it Black and Nights in White Satin on my YouTube playlist]
“Black Is Black“ is a song by the Spanish rock band Los Bravos. Together with German-born singer Michael Kogel, the group set out to achieve success in the European market making English-language pop music.
After signing with Decca Records, the band went to England to work with Ivor Raymonde, a British producer, arranger and composer. “Black Is Black” was released in 1966 as the band’s first single.
It reached number two in the UK, number four in the US, number one in Canada, and sold two million copies in Spain. With the recording’s success, Los Bravos became the first Spanish rock band to have an international hit.
“White Room“ is a song by British rock band Cream, composed by bassist Jack Bruce with lyrics by poet Pete Brown. They recorded it for the studio half of the 1968 double album Wheels of Fire.
In September, a shorter US single edit (without the third verse) was released for AM radio stations, although album-oriented FM stations played the full album version. The subsequent UK single release in January 1969 used the album version.
Rolling Stone magazine ranked “White Room” at number 376 on its list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. Eric Clapton, along with Phil Collins, began his act at Live Aid in 1985 with the song. In 2005, the reunited Cream played and recorded it at the Royal Albert Hall.
Night and Day
[Find the obvious Hard Day’s NIght and Day Tripper on my YouTube playlist]
“When The Night is over” is a 2018 single, released by Los Angeles Indie rock band Lord Huron, from their third studio album, Vide Noir, released on April 20, 2018, by Republic Records.
The album received positive reviews from music critics and peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200, becoming the band’s highest charting album in the United States.
Lord Huron combines western, folk rock, rock and roll, pop, and the surf rock with movie and new age influences to produce a sound described by The Wall Street Journal as having “a decidedly cinematic flair, heavy on mood and evocative imagery. Lord Huron is reminiscent of artists like The Band and Neil Young.
“If Today Was Your Last Day“ is the third single from Canadian band Nickelback‘s sixth studio album Dark Horse, released in Nov. 2008.
The song was used for promotional videos in the 2010 Winter Olympics, and also as the closing number during NHL Tonight’s 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs coverage.
“If Today Was Your Last Day” debuted at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, and peaked at number 19. It is their second top twenty hit from Dark Horse, and their ninth on the chart overall.
In Canada, it debuted at number 91 on the Canadian Hot 100, reaching its peak at number 7.
Fast and Slow
[Find the obvious Life In The Fast Lane and Slow Ride on my YouTube playlist]
“Go Fast” is a single released in 2015 by Boston alt rock band, Endway.
Often drawing comparisons to Maroon 5, The Police, INXS and Sublime, Endway’s upbeat and eclectic style is guaranteed to get a crowd moving at any type of venue.
Formed in 2004, Endway has released 2 successful albums and developed a vast fan base that supports the band all over the United States.
They have had songs featured on 5 MTV series and toured with national acts, including Hoobastank, A New Found Glory, Dashboard Confessionals and more.
“Goin’ Down Slow“ or “Going Down Slow” was composed by American blues singer St. Louis Jimmy Oden, and is considered a classic of the genre.
Many artists have recorded the song, including a noteworthy version by Howlin’ Wolf with narration by Willie Dixon.
British band, The Animals, with front man Eric Burdon, recorded a cover of Goin Down Slow for their fifth American album, Animalism, released in November 1966. It peaked at #33 On Billboard’s Top Albums Chart.
It was the last album recorded by the original Animals, Burdon would assemble a mostly new lineup under the name “Eric Burdon and the Animals”.
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Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
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32 thoughts on “MUSICAL OPPOSITES #MusicMonday #4M”
WOW! Great Playlist and Black is Black was such a great song, still love it😻 We only know the cover Knocking on Heaven’s door of Guns’n’Roses and Randy Crawford🙈 Extra Pawkisses for now🐾😽💞
Thanks very much, A, B, S, P & G. 🙂 Many artists have covered Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.
Oops! I meant I subscribed to your new blog for Who Did It Better. I think you know what I meant – I hope.
Of course! 🙂 It’s BOTB (short for Battle of the Bands). Tagline: Who did it better?
https://botb-by-debbie-d.blogspot.com
Thank you for joining all the Music Moves Me bloggers this special week! I didn’t know a number of these bands – my favorite of the new (to me) was Lord Huron. I wanted to address a comment concerning Nickelback. I have no idea why, but back years ago it seemed some United States radio DJ’s made fun of them, and I have no idea why. (Some also seemed to make fun of Loverboy. Dislike of Canadians? I hope not!). I have heard of them although the song you picked was new to me. Also, thank you for giving a shoutout to my March 6 Music Moves Me festival theme. I hope you have a great time joining in. Once again, you are always welcome at Music Moves Me. (P.S. I subscribed to your Musical Opposites blog).
I’m glad you enjoyed Lord Huron, Alana. That was a good find for me too. 🙂 Re: Nickelback, for years they were the band that everybody loved to hate (I’ve always been a huge fan.) I think the biggest knock was they were too commercial, or something like that. This article goes into detail about it:
https://medium.com/the-riff/why-does-everyone-hate-nickelback-ceb2177c19ca
They just released a new album which seems to be doing well. As for Loverboy, they’re a good band IMO, and I have heard nothing negative, but maybe there is an anti-Canadian bias in some circles. Who knows?
You’re welcome for the shoutout, and yes, I am looking forward to the music festival. Please forgive me if I go a little overboard with it. 😉
Thanks for subscribing to my Battle of the Bands blog. Come on over and join the fun! Voting remains open until Mar. 7 11:59 pm. I’m featuring a Leonard Cohen number this month.
A great playlist here. Very nice.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks, Patrick! 🙂
Hi Debbie – you always have wonderful suggestions with some notes … I know the songs you mention … so appreciate the reminder – cheers Hilary
Thanks, Hilary! 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
This is a fun exercise… All I have of note to add is, I had a vinyl copy of Disraeli Gear, pictured above. As for the recording of White Room, I had the 45 rpm abbreviated version. (Double Albums were expensive.)
Hi Myke, yes, I enjoyed putting this together and will likely do it again, sometime. There are SO many possible match ups! 🙂 I was living in Europe when White Room came out, and had the UK (long) version of the single. I still have it, in fact. Thanks for coming by!
Not sure if I left a message, so how about maybe another? hehehe So HELLO GIRLFRIEND! It’s been a terribly long time & I’ve been ever so lonely, but I’M BACK & I’M BACK TO STAY my friend! Love the tune you picked. There’s so many versions of this one, but you picked a really good soul full one! So, God bless & have a great day! HUGS & SEE YA SOON! hehehehe WOW, that sure sounds good to me! See ya soon!
Sorry you had trouble with comments here, but I found yours, alright. There are several songs in this post, but you’re probably talking about “Knockin” On Heaven’s Door”? It was a poignant version, for sure. I really miss Warren Zevon. 🙁 He was a unique talent and gone much too young. Thanks for coming by! 🙂
HELLO, HELLO AND A BIG HUGE HELLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Oh boy, I missed everyone so much! My blog isn’t quite altogether, but it will get there soon with a little help from my friends! God bless & I shall talk to you next week or maybe even sooner! Woo Hoo! I wish I could give ya a great big HUG in person! Have a great day! HUGS
Hi Marie, your blog looks all fixed now. I was just there and left you a comment. Have a good night! 🙂
First set: WZ did a really fine, faithful job. He didn’t add much, but what he did really helped. ACDC, let’s just say I’m not a fan. Second set, all I can say is, “How do you choose?” Third set, both were good, but paid more attention to Nickleback. Last set, I liked Go Fast! I have to be in a mood for blues though. You oughta do a Sass Jordan set like this!
Thanks for your input, Chris! 🙂 During the Pandemic, Sass Jordan recorded two fantastic blues albums, back to back. She’s going strong. 👌
From her concert last October:
By far, my favorite is “Going Down Slow.” But you probably knew that…
Yes, I suppose so. It is mine, too. 🙂
Love your push me pull you songs. I love The Animals as well as most of the bands here. I can always count on you for classic rock which I do love. These are some great juxtapositions
Thanks Birgit! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂 I do like other genres occasionally, but rock resonates the most with me. The Animals were brilliant and completely underrated, IMO.
What a cool post, Debbie! For the rest of the day, I’ll be singing “in the white room with black curtains at the station.”
Love,
Janie
Thank you so much, Janie! ♥ White Room’s lyrics are fabulous, aren’t they? Here’s a lyric video, for your enjoyment:
Great theme and great music. I love Black is Black. A great song.
Have a fabulous day and week, Debbie. Big hug. ♥
Thank you, Sandee! 🙂 Black is Black brings back a lot of memories.
Debbie,
Great theme! I was just thinking recently about throwing up an opposite theme for 4M. That being said, I scheduled this as a theme for the first Monday in August. Thanks for the reminder. I love your song choices. Nickleback is a band I haven’t listened to much. I like their sound. I may have to jump over to YouTube to sample more of their stuff. Thanks for plugging me into their sound. I’m glad you decided to join the 4M dance floor, darlin’. Have a boogietastic week!
Thanks, Cathy, it was lingering in drafts for quite a while. 🙂 Since the possibilities are many, I plan on doing more “Opposites” installments and will likely join you for that one in August. The blogging muse has returned and I’m trying to post more often again. Nickelback is one of the most famous bands from Canada and they’ve sold millions of records worldwide, so I’m surprised you haven’t heard more of them. They used to do a lot of power ballads 10 years ago, then switched to more of a hard rock sound, recently. Lead singer Chad Kroeger has a distinctive voice that I love too! Check this out – Chad with Santana 👌
Good examples of the theme, Debbie. I thought ‘Knocking On Heaven’s Door’ was incredibly affecting in that scene where Slim Pickens dies.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks, Pete. 🙂 I love that movie! One of Bob Dylan’s best vocal performances too, IMO.
Omgosh. So many great tunes but I hadn’t heard Back is Black in so long… I had to play it twice. Love it.
Nice to see you, Karen! 🙂 Yes, Black is Black brings back SO many memories. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for dropping in.