Yesterday, we received a press release inviting us to attend the unveiling of the 10 finalists for the Official Rock n Roll Song of Oklahoma. Once the finalists are announced, it will be up to public to choose the winner. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to attend the function, but here are the details in case you want to pretend you’re a member of the media and head down there.
WHAT: Announcement of the ten finalists for the Official Rock ‘n Roll Song of Oklahoma.
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: Chesapeake Event Center at the Oklahoma History Center, 2401 N. Laird Avenue
WHO: The announcement will be made by our selection committee consisting of Dr. Hugh Foley of Rogers State University, Angie DeVore of DFEST Music Festival, Lacey Lett of The Buzz and OklaTravelNews, Steve Ripley of The Tractors, Ronnie Kaye of KOMA and Ryan LaCroix of Oklahomarock.com. Also serving on the committee but unable to be in attendance is Phil Bacharach of Governor Brad Henry’s staff.
Is anyone else a little bit worried about this thing? I’m terrified that the committee is going to choose a bunch of terrible songs that are only enjoyed by the stale 50-year-olds who planned the boring centennial parade. Either that or they are going to just commission Vince Gill and Amy Grant to write the state’s official rock song. That sure would be great.
If you’re not worried, just look at the people on the selection committee. Sure, Honorary Ogle Ryan knows his stuff and Lacey Lett is kind of hot and has to worry about Brent Skarky hitting on her all the time, but the rest of the committee frightens the hell out of me. Ronnie Kaye? When he was a kid he played with real life stegosauruses. Steve Ripley of The Tractors? WTF are The Tractors? Hell, they even have a guy named Bacharach on the committee. Are you kidding me? Having the last name Bacharach should automatically disqualify you from getting to choose music at a frat party, much less a state’s Rock n Roll song.
Anyway, at least the the only job of the committee is to give us 10 songs to pick from. Granted, we’ll probably screw it up like we did the state quarter design and pick some Hinder song and then have a re-vote, but at least we get to vote, right? Maybe if the wrong song is chosen Brent Rinehart will make a comic book about it.
If Friends in Low Places by my good friend Garth Brooks doesn’t win, I’m going to drink a 6 pack of Red Bull and chase it with some pop rocks.
I hope they can stick to a good definition of Rock-n-Roll. That they develope guidelines and not blurr the meaning by including Country, Hip-Hop, Rap, and such. The committee needs someone like Ronnie Kaye for a historical perspective and I do mean historical. I’m sure the list of the 10 finalist well be served up as fresh meat for the carnivors here at TLO.
Race for the Prize needs to at least be an option…
Give Phil a break – I think he’s the guy who started Chicken Fried News at the Gazette (back when it was funny and not just a 5-day old regurgiation of odd stories from the OK)
I’m still surprised there hasn’t been a story of Danny Williams retiring…he is crrrrrrrrrrazy.
Phil Bacharach was at the Gazette for several years and still does music reviews for them every once in awhile. He is in his 40’s and knows his music. If it comes down to Ronnie Kaye deciding though it will be something from Buddy Holly or Pat Boone.
wow………when was the last time I had Pat Boone brought to mind.
PLEASE no Garth, Vince or Amy to write “Our Rock n Roll Song!!”
We don’t need a mamma’s cry baby, rich fat boy or husband steeling goody female to do the music.
I nominate Leon Russell-an alternate okie to do us.
I just hope the winner is “Courtesy of the Red White & Blue”…that song has more Okie red dirt on it than Garth’s picnic dress.
Discuss amongst yourselves…..
I’m jumping on the Bacharach bandwagon here. First, he’s forgotten more about music than most of those other folks ever knew. Second, he keeps up on all the latest trends and has a varied and eclectic palette, and impeccable taste. Finally, he’ll nominate a Flaming Lips song–and all will be right with the world.
What? No posts on Aggie Thug Riley getting suspended for thugery?
I’ll say this – Color Me Badd is going to be pissed!
I just have to say, it frightened me a little to see Ronnie Kaye’s ugly mug pop up there.
Midget hands freak me out.
Have is it occurred to anyone else that Ronnie Kaye looks like a freeze-dried Gene Wilder? Love that shirt/jacket thing he’s wearing. I can’t tell, but 20 bucks says he has the sleeves pushed up to mid-forearm.
http://www.oklahomarocksong.org/nominees.html
Where’s Bruce Springsteen’s version of “My Oklahoma Home (It Blowed Away”?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCjFQL2YQKo
that’s ronnie kaye? i thought it as darrel waltrip or greg brady. anyway ZIP A SHIRT UP.
I actually had a class at Northwest Classen with the dude on the right. He went by Funny Bone, but I’m not sure I ever heard his real name.
I’m not sure it’s possible to forget seeing a midget on a regular basis for nine months.
Okay, I can almost accept the “folk is rock” thing (who could exclude Woody Guthrie) but the “country is rock”…Just NO.
Ronnie seems to be holding up pretty well. It must be that hot Dr. Pepper with lemon.
After looking at the nomination list I can only hope that half of this committee has no final say in what is chosen. Since when do any of Oklahoma’s lame country musicians play rock and roll? No, Chris Gaines doesn’t count. And how does Color Me Badd and The Gap Band make this list? It’s not hard to tell what Ronny Kaye nominated: Buddy Holly, Elvis, The Monkees. I just hope that Phil Bacharach has more influence on this list than anyone else.
If it’s the state SONG why is it partially listed according to Recording Artist? Shouldn’t it be the songwriter or did they just assume people were just too stupid to figure out what song it was by who wrote it?
Mack: All nominations by the general public were accepted. It was our job to remove the ones that didn’t qualify. We didn’t nominate the songs in the nominations list – the public did.
Jane: That’s just how they were listed because that’s how they were submitted. It’s the song people will be voting for, not the artist that wrote it or performed it or covered it.
Ryan, thanks for the explaination.
Fraidy Hole gets my vote. Oklahoma at its finest!
Oklahoma Rock= Flaming Lips
Bout time to get Rid of the combover Ron.
It BETTER be “Cocaine” by J.J. Cale!!!!!
Personally, I’d like to nominate a song from a Texas band. I know that’s probably against the rules, but the Austin Lounge Lizards’ “That Godforsaken Hellhole I Call Home” would be a surefire winner.
Let’s all take a moment to thank Rep. Joe Dorman for authoring the important legislation that created this long overdue debate.