Ongoing History of New Music – The Rock Explainer 5

Release Date: April 23, 2025
Host: Alan Cross

In the fifth installment of the Rock Explainer series, hosted by the venerable Alan Cross, listeners are taken on an enlightening journey through various intriguing and often overlooked aspects of rock music culture. This episode delves deep into topics ranging from misheard lyrics and the use of nonsensical sounds in songs to the technicalities of singing accents, backmasking, radio song repetition, and the significance of Canadian content laws in shaping the nation's music industry.

1. Introduction to the Rock Explainer Series

Alan Cross opens the episode by setting the stage for the Rock Explainer series, which aims to demystify unexplained facets of rock culture. He emphasizes the importance of questioning accepted norms to uncover deeper insights into music.

“The idea is to explore the strange, unexplained, and traditional things about rock culture that don't get enough attention and analysis.”
— Alan Cross [03:30]

2. Misheard Lyrics (Mondegreens)

One of the primary focuses of this episode is mondegreens, or misheard lyrics. Alan illustrates how listeners often misconstrue song lyrics, sometimes for decades, leading to entirely different interpretations.

• Examples Highlighted:

  • Jimi Hendrix’s "Purple Haze": Many believe Hendrix sings, “Excuse me while I kiss this guy,” whereas the actual lyric is, “Excuse me while I kiss the sky.”
  • Bruce Springsteen’s "Blinded by the Light": Common mishearing includes, “Revved up like a deuce,” referring to Ford’s 1930s Deuce coupe.

• Origin of the Term:

  • The term mondegreen was coined by Sylvia Wright in 1954 after mishearing a line from a Scottish ballad.

“Misheard lyrics are known as mondegreens. You hear it wrong, and as a result, the line gets a completely new and unintended meaning.”
— Alan Cross [25:45]

3. Vocables in Music

Alan explores the use of vocables, which are nonsensical sounds or syllables used in songs when lyricists momentarily run out of words or seek a particular musical effect.

• Historical Usage:

  • Indigenous songs and Jewish melodies often incorporate vocables.
  • Even classical composers in the 15th century employed vocables for filler.

• Modern Examples:

  • Simple Minds’ "Don't You (Forget About Me)": Features numerous "la la la's" as placeholders.

“Sometimes a song screams for singing that doesn't say anything, doesn't mean anything, but feels good.”
— Alan Cross [40:15]

4. Accents in Singing

This segment examines why singers often seem to lose their regional accents when performing, despite their natural speech patterns.

• Linguistic Factors:

  • Phonemes, the distinct units of sound, are influenced by melody and rhythm, which can neutralize accents.

• Artist Examples:

  • The Gallagher Brothers of Oasis: Their strong Mancunian accents are softened in recordings to appeal to a broader audience.
  • Elton John and The Proclaimers: Occasionally retain their accents to maintain authenticity.

“The melody of a song tends to override how someone would normally pronounce a word and its phoneme.”
— Alan Cross [54:30]

5. Physical Changes in Singers' Voices

Alan discusses the physiological aspects affecting singers' performances over time, particularly how aging impacts vocal capabilities.

• Key Points:

  • Vocal cords lose flexibility and become stiffer with age, making high notes harder to sustain.
  • Strategies singers employ include lowering the key of songs or reducing the number of high notes performed.

• Notable Artists:

  • Paul McCartney: Adjusts song keys in his performances to accommodate his aging voice.
  • Bono of U2: Utilizes backup vocals and lowers song keys to maintain performance quality.

“Another issue is age. As we get older, our voices change.”
— Alan Cross [1:10:20]

6. Backmasking in Music

Backmasking, the technique of embedding messages within a song that can only be heard when played backward, is the focus of this discussion.

• Historical Context:

  • Initiated by Aleister Crowley in 1913 and utilized by The Beatles in tracks like "Rain" and "Tomorrow Never Knows."

• Controversies:

  • Claims of satanic messages, such as those alleged in Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," though often debunked.

• Modern Usage:

  • Bands like Eminem, Linkin Park, and Tool continue to experiment with backmasking for artistic and playful purposes.

“Backmasking can be a cool audio effect, but it has also been the source of many conspiracy theories.”
— Alan Cross [1:30:55]

7. Repetition of Songs on Radio

Alan explains the scientific reasoning behind the frequent repetition of songs on radio stations, particularly within the Top 40 format.

• Historical Origins:

  • Todd Stortz pioneered the high-repetition playlist in the early 1950s, leading to the rise of Top 40 radio.

• Mechanics:

  • Repetition ensures that listeners frequently hear their favorite songs, maintaining high ratings.
  • Songs are categorized into "power" rotations, played multiple times a day to maximize exposure.

“Repetition can equal higher ratings. Art and science come together in determining the perfect level of repetition for each individual station.”
— Alan Cross [2:15:40]

8. Canadian Content Laws (CanCon)

The episode concludes with an in-depth exploration of Canadian Content (CanCon) regulations, which mandate a percentage of music broadcasted on Canadian radio to be of Canadian origin.

• Historical Background:

  • Before 1971, Canadian radio was dominated by UK and US artists, leading to a lack of national musical identity.

• Implementation:

  • On January 18, 1971, Canadian radio stations were required to play at least 30% Canadian music to foster the domestic music industry.

• Impact:

  • The CanCon rules spurred the growth of Canadian recording studios, labels, and artists, resulting in a robust music export industry.
  • Today, the minimum requirement has increased to 35%, with some stations opting for higher percentages.

“The CanCon rules have been a great success. Today the Canadian system cranks out more music to the rest of the world than a country of our size should.”
— Alan Cross [2:45:10]

Conclusion

Alan Cross wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to engage with the ongoing history of music and contribute their own questions for future Rock Explainer episodes. He also promotes his other podcast, Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry, which intersects true crime with music narratives.

“If you have something about rock that you would like explained, I will do my best. Drop your question to AlanLancross CA and I will put it on the list for the next installment.”
— Alan Cross [2:55:00]

Key Takeaways:

• Mondegreens reveal the fascinating ways our brains interpret ambiguous sounds based on familiarity.
• Vocables serve as musical fillers, adding rhythm and emotion without specific meaning.
• Accents in singing are often neutralized to enhance musicality and universal appeal.
• Aging impacts singers’ vocal abilities, leading to adjustments in performance techniques.
• Backmasking has both artistic applications and controversial connotations within the music industry.
• Repetition on radio is a strategic tool to maximize listener satisfaction and station ratings.
• Canadian Content laws have been instrumental in developing a vibrant and export-oriented Canadian music scene.

This episode of The Rock Explainer offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of these multifaceted elements, enriching their appreciation of rock music’s depth and complexity.