New Jersey
This guy’s list of good NJ songs completely sucks (Opinion)
Whoever Jared Parker is he has a number of explaining to do. And I’d wager the farm he didn’t develop up in New Jersey. I’m questioning if he’s even visited right here. Ever.
So why am I mad at some Jared Parker? Unfair of me actually. Besides that he wrote a bit for a web site referred to as singersroom.com referred to as “16 Greatest Songs about New Jersey of All Time.”
Initially, of “all time” is a daring declare, form of like when each diner declares they’ve “the world’s finest cup of espresso.” Second, his record sucks. Not just for what’s on it however for what’s not.
Let me give simply three fast examples.
He put this Chuck Berry tune on the quantity 6 finest NJ tune. “You Can’t Catch Me.”
Certain it mentions the New Jersey Turnpike however that’s about it. It’s a tune about operating from the cops. A little bit too comfortable to seize any true New Jersey grit.
You desire a REAL tune about NJ and police? Strive “State Trooper” on for measurement by a dyed-in-the-wool Jersey man, Bruce Springsteen. It not solely mentions the New Jersey Turnpike it additionally brings the road “‘neath the refinery’s glow.” It’s a darkish, tense, Jersey tune with true Jersey grit.
Then at quantity 9 was this terrible Lyle Lovett tune “Stroll Via the Bottomland.”
It doesn’t even happen in New Jersey however as a substitute in a Louisiana swamp. The one Backyard State reference is a “New Jersey girl.” Actually? You don’t know that’s referred to as a “Jersey lady?” Please.
OK, what did he put at primary? For his complete record you possibly can go to right here.
However primary? He picked an OK tune however by the incorrect man.
I don’t care that Tom Waits wrote it. It’s not the very best model of “Jersey Woman.”
This can be a distant second in comparison with Bruce Springsteen’s reside cowl the place you hear the group come alive on the line “cross that river to the Jersey aspect.”
And what’s actually terrible concerning the record? The tune that’s the true New Jersey anthem, a tune that’s been supplied as an official state tune of New Jersey, “Born To Run,” didn’t even get included.
So many different nice Jersey songs that didn’t make this terrible record and ones not by Springsteen.
How about Jon Bon Jovi’s “Who Says You Can’t Go House?”
And even X-Cops’ “Welcome to New Jersey” with strains like:
Paid off judges, paid off attorneys, paid off cops
Shining lights
Bloody face
Rabid canine
Can of mace
He is from New Jersey
Now THAT is from somebody who understands the Backyard State.
Opinions expressed within the publish above are these of New Jersey 101.5 speak present host Jeff Deminski solely.
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9 Springsteen lyrics that received him the Woody Guthrie Prize
The award is given to artists from any medium who keep it up the legacy of its namesake by talking “for the unvoiced with an understanding of how a platform can be utilized to shine a light-weight on our world, displaying us what must be mounted and find out how to repair it.”