| Oh, Boy! Did Roy Orbison get it wrong? Buddy Holly | | | | music, since those of us who were teenagers back |
| would have rolled over in his grave while Beethoven, | | | | then have forgotten so many excellent recordings |
| contrary to the lyrics of Chuck Berry's classic song, | | | | from when we were young.Simply put, the dance |
| rests peacefully in his, secure in the knowledge that | | | | preserved the music rather than vice versa. Without |
| his music has withstood the test of time. Rock 'n' Roll | | | | the lasting popularity of the energetic, versatile and |
| die? That'll be the day!In the late nineteen sixties Roy | | | | easily learned dance style, the music would probably |
| Orbison, on a concert tour of Australia, arrived in | | | | have died long ago. Perhaps not all of it, at least |
| Adelaide on the same flight as the Walker Brothers. I | | | | initially. Elvis fans will no doubt testify to the |
| recall watching on television the airport interview in | | | | immortality of The King's music, but reality will |
| which Roy, always the nice guy, explained how much | | | | triumph. Elvis fans are no more immortal in the flesh |
| he loved the music of Scott Walker and his fellow | | | | than he was. They too will eventually die out.Most |
| band members. He went on to explain that he | | | | young people who learn Rock 'n' Roll dance |
| believed Rock 'n' Roll was a passing craze which | | | | nowadays have no more preference for the music |
| would soon die out, but that the wonderful music of | | | | of Elvis or The Beatles than they have for any of |
| the Walker Brothers would live on forever.Sadly, it | | | | the obscure one-hit-wonders who contributed so |
| was the loveable Roy himself who would soon die | | | | many of the old hit records. They find Smashmouth |
| after such a tragic life, leaving behind a rich legacy of | | | | more appealing as artists, but if an old song is good |
| music that remains very popular so many years later. | | | | to dance to they like it no matter who recorded it. |
| As for the music of the Walker Brothers, they | | | | Its reasonable to assume they will preserve much of |
| certainly left the world with some memorable hits. | | | | the music after we are gone, but mainly for dance |
| "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More", "My Ship Is | | | | purposes rather than for entertainment.That is what |
| Coming In" and "Make It Easy On Yourself" were all | | | | has happened to other music styles. For example, the |
| Walker Brothers originals that come instantly to mind, | | | | folk music that was so popular in the late 'fifties and |
| but you can't dance Rock 'n' Roll to them.Roy's gaff | | | | early 'sixties has died out because you can't dance to |
| can be forgiven. Its true that the production of music | | | | it. On the other hand many old time tunes such as |
| in the original Rock 'n' Roll style didn't continue, | | | | waltzes and marches remain popular today because |
| although artists like Shakin' Stevens did release some | | | | ballroom dancing preserves them.So, how long will |
| pretty good tracks in the old style during the | | | | Rock 'n' Roll last? No-one can tell, but the waltz dates |
| 'seventies and when Jackie Wilson's Reet Petite was | | | | back to 1780 and is still practiced, so our favourite |
| re-released after his death it soared up the charts. In | | | | dance and music style might have a couple of |
| Australia, even Gene Chandler's Duke of Earl enjoyed | | | | hundred years to live yet. Perhaps then a songwriter |
| a revival in the 'eighties after it was featured in a | | | | will compose a song in the popular style of the day |
| television commercial. The expected death of Rock | | | | entitled "Roll Over, Roy Orbison."Gareth Eastwood is |
| 'n' Roll wasn't happening.This also brings to mind a | | | | a Rock 'n' Roll dance instructor and enthusiast in |
| song released by one of the most successful | | | | Adelaide, South Australia. He maintains a recently |
| Australian groups of the 'sixties, The Master's | | | | created website, in which he repeatedly stresses the |
| Apprentices. The lyrics say "Rockin', Rollin' we're still | | | | need for dancers to be gentle with each other rather |
| doing it now, 15 years today and we remember | | | | than dancing roughly. When fully developed the site |
| how." When that song was released in 1970 it was | | | | will feature articles by numerous authors detailing |
| apparently remarkable that we "remembered how" | | | | dance styles and reporting on events.He also created |
| after an eon of 15 years. Its now 50 years since | | | | and manages Going Places With Gareth, a gigantic |
| Rock 'n' Roll first appeared and we still remember | | | | singles social network revolving around a |
| how.Its a fair bet that Roy Orbison's early songs are | | | | long-established website The network has been |
| played a lot more often around the world nowadays | | | | operating since May, 2000. Since then over three and |
| than the Walker Brothers records are. The main | | | | a half thousand people have become involved in it to |
| reason for that is simply that you can Rock 'n' Roll to | | | | some degree. |
| them. It can have little to do with the quality of the | | | | |