# Summarize a Musical Group/Artist in One Song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 23, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593 "2012-10-23T03:37:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/61 "2012-10-24T09:05:01Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **B-52’s** are better served by “Channel Z” than “Rock Lobster.” > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > The important thing, and I think we can all agree here, is that it isn’t _Love Shack_. I’m thinking [Song For A Future Generation](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AEv1Pky-qo), myself. But I could go for Channel Z. Pixies is hard - you don’t want to leave out the later-period stuff _just_ to shoehorn in some Spanish, IMO. But you do need the Kim in there. Allison? Here Comes Your Man? Velouria? It’s hard. ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/62 "2012-10-24T12:59:36Z")
The Pogues - Boys From County Hell ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/63 "2012-10-24T13:18:29Z")
**Dylan** is difficult, Like a Rolling Stone is a great choice, but I’ll go with \*\*Tangled up in Blue \*\*for its countless verses, its storytelling framework, and the obligatory mouth organ. **Warren Zevon** : **Lawyers, Guns & Money** showcases an infectious primal beat, a naughty word, and Zevon’s sense of humor. **Jethro Tull** : **Skating Away (on the Thin Ice of a New Day** has great flutework, typical clever lyrics, and provides a great representation of Ian’s vocal stylings ("'Cause you were bre-e-ed, for humanity…) mmm ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/64 "2012-10-24T13:21:19Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > **April** , why are you spoilering your links? Unless they are NSFW, it’s not necessary. Not familiar with Prodigy, are you? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/65 "2012-10-24T14:03:35Z")
**Talking Heads** - “Girlfriend Is Better” **Allman Brothers** - “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” **Steely Dan** - “Aja” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/66 "2012-10-24T14:20:48Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Led Zeppelin - “[Ramble On](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3HemKGDavw)”. It’s soft, hard, whimsical, bluesy and Tolkienesque - all of the band’s qualities in one song. > > Although I’m sure plenty will disagree. I actually heartily agree with this. The only thing that’s missing is a quality guitar solo, but it _almost_ has that as well in one of the musical interludes. Now, I dislike the song versus a lot of LZ’s other stuff. I prefer the not-so-bluesy mysticality of the middle songs on LZIV or the straight-up hard blues rock of LZ1, but Ramble On does provide a perfect mix of the two. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/67 "2012-10-24T16:20:16Z")
ZZ Top - [La Grange](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vppbdf-qtGU) Grateful Dead - [Ripple](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFsbAuX9P4w) ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/68 "2012-10-24T16:27:24Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > ZZ Top - [La Grange](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vppbdf-qtGU) > Grateful Dead - [Ripple](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFsbAuX9P4w) OK, I’ve changed my mind. While \*Ripple \*is currently my favorite song of all time, it’s probably not the song that’s most representative of the Dead. So instead I nominate [Uncle John’s Band](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjxJsW4dQAE). ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/69 "2012-10-24T16:30:07Z")
[quote=“Suburban\_Plankton, post:54, topic:638593”] I’d pick _Wouldn’t It be Nice_ I’d pick **I Get Around** for the Beach Boys. Great harmony, girls, sand, hot rods, dates, guitar break, surf sound. Yeah, it’s got it all. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/70 "2012-10-24T18:28:40Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > OK, I’ve changed my mind. While \*Ripple \*is currently my favorite song of all time, it’s probably not the song that’s most representative of the Dead. So instead I nominate [Uncle John’s Band](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjxJsW4dQAE). If I was choosing to summarize the Dead as a coherent band and not just a bunch of wasted nutters noodling pointlessly, I’d play _Wharf Rat_. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/71 "2012-10-24T18:40:33Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > If I was choosing to summarize the Dead as a coherent band and not just a bunch of wasted nutters noodling pointlessly, I’d play _Wharf Rat_. YMMV. Nah - _Me and My Uncle_. **Santana** - _Toussaint L’Overture_ **Neil Young** - Another next to impossible one. Which Neil? If I had to pick one, I’d pick _Like A Hurricane_. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/72 "2012-10-25T01:00:06Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Not familiar with Prodigy, are you? LOL. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/73 "2012-10-25T06:53:19Z")
Billy Joel - Piano Man ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/74 "2012-10-25T08:48:59Z")
Yes: “Endless Dream” - kind of mediocre, but it’s a Rabin-era track that sounds like a Classic Yes imitator. The Cars: “Let’s Go” Peter Gabriel: “Signal to Noise” - grand, symphonic and dramatic with world music elements. Genesis: “Cinema Show” probably captures the essence of both the Gabriel- and Collins-eras well. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/75 "2012-10-25T17:56:38Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > **Jethro Tull** : **Skating Away (on the Thin Ice of a New Day** has great flutework, typical clever lyrics, and provides a great representation of Ian’s vocal stylings ("'Cause you were bre-e-ed, for humanity…) Strongly disagree. It is a great song, but harldy representative. For representative you need something with more of an edge, with Ian singing into his flute and Martin doing some really hard crunch. Aqualung, Cross-eyed Mary, My God, Cold Wind to Valhalla, Hunting Girl, Beastie, Steel Monkey, This Free Will, Spiral – all better choices IMHO. How about this: Baker St. Muse? Here’s a challenge: Todd Rundgren. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/76 "2012-10-25T18:56:48Z")
The Doors --I would go with _Roadhouse Blues_ or maybe _Texas Radio_. America – _Horse With No Name_ – solid harmonies and guitar work, atrocious lyrics Aretha Franklin – _Respect_ BTO – it all sounds the same. Very good, but still the same. Pick one. Billy Joel – _Piano Man_ – pretty much an autobiography. Downside – he can’t hit the high notes anymore. Blood, Sweat, & Tears – _Go Down Gamblin’_, great vocals and horns. Bruce Hornsby – _Mandolin Rain_ Chuck Berry – _Johnny B. Goode_ – everything that made Chuck famous The Cranberries – _Linger_ Creedence Clearwater – _Run Through the Jungle_ Crosby Still, etc. – _Marrakesh Express_ Hall & Oates – _Maneater_ Dave Brubeck Quarter – _Blue Rondo A La Turk_ – multiple time signatures, the ultimate in cool jazz. David Bowie – _Fame_ Dick Dale – _Misirlou_ ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/77 "2012-10-25T19:04:39Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Here’s a challenge: Todd Rundgren. Tough one. I’m going to cheat and go with Side One of **A Wizard, A True Star** since it is basically one long suite. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/78 "2012-10-25T21:51:26Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Dick Dale – _Misirlou_ Nice! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/79 "2012-10-26T12:20:35Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Strongly disagree. It is a great song, but harldy representative. For representative you need something with more of an edge, with Ian singing into his flute and Martin doing some really hard crunch. Aqualung, Cross-eyed Mary, My God, Cold Wind to Valhalla, Hunting Girl, Beastie, Steel Monkey, This Free Will, Spiral – all better choices IMHO. How about this: Baker St. Muse? :::hijack:: have you heard the recently released extended version of Wondring Aloud? Unfortunately it wasn’t completely finished and still sounded sort of demo-y – there was a jam that sounded like it was going to be a great solo but just fizzled out. But if they had seen it through, it would have been the most typical Tull song – long, with folky acousticness, humor, and hard rock. Don’t remember if there was any flute in it or not. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593/80 "2012-10-26T14:09:26Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Here’s a challenge: Todd Rundgren. > [@campp](#): > > Tough one. I’m going to cheat and go with Side One of **A Wizard, A True Star** since it is basically one long suite. Same album, different choice: _Just One Victory_. I don’t know how many times I’ve gone home from a TR gig, a huge smile on my face and that song ringing in my ears. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summarize-a-musical-group-artist-in-one-song/638593.md?page=5)