The first twenty two seconds of the song may sound vaguely familiar. It is fast enough and simple enough for your mind to try and cull its library of previous songs heard and attach it to something more definite, more specific. The first twenty two seconds of the song, for some, is a no-brainer–a seminal recording from the mid-’70′s/ CBGB/New York punk scene. For the rest of you, the first twenty two seconds is still too abstract, too “Do I know this song?”
Then the track clock strikes 00:23. And with it that indelible drum beat that many a company has used in its commercials explicitly because that twenty third second also brings with it the even more indelible chorus of “Hey ho, let’s go!”
This is how The Ramones introduced themselves to the world when their debut album was pressed in 1976. They gave us “Blitzkrieg Bop,” the first song on the album. And we, in turn, have become somewhat confused with what to do with it. The song obviously rocks–it’s fast, catchy, and polished, what more do you need? Why not use it as the soundtrack for the AT&T Go Phone or Pepsi commercial?[1]
Unlike the near-solipsistic antics of The Sex Pistols or the try-anything creativity of The Clash, The Ramones were more middle of the road: play two chords, play fast, play loud, rarely exceed three minutes, and you’re done. The Ramones were also more middle of the road in terms of how they could be ingested culturally. The Sex Pistols looked like guys hellbent on destroying things and getting into fights; The Clash, at the end of the day, could be construed as a “thinking man’s punk band”; The Ramones, however, were four tall, skinny guys singing about sniffing glue and beating on brats–the former, a real possibility; the latter, unlikely but comical nonetheless.
And this is why I think The Ramones will never go out of style: they are the MGD of punk rock. Even if your punk rock tastes are more akin to the Guinness’ or Hacker-Pschorr’s or Rogue’s or Kwak’s of the world, you still could not pass up on The Ramones/MGD from time to time. And even if you do not like punk rock at all (i.e.-maybe you are a wine drinker) you would be hard-pressed not to enjoy the simplicity and raw rockability of “Blitzkrieg Bop” from time to time.
“Blitzkrieg Bop” not only played a large role in shaping the New York underground (and mainstream) music scene of the ’70′s but it also played a large role in shaping the American music scene (and fashion) of the last thirty or so years. All those kids in the back seat generating steam heat helped mold a simple two and a half minute song into an American icon.
Just like they did with the invention of the “$1 Draft Night” at your local bar.
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[1] Please do not make the snap judgment that I am some Naomi Klein disciple, or some cynically slanted anti-corporate type. I am not. Art and business over time become very malleable. Is it ironic that nearly thirty years after its release AT&T used a song it would have never used when it first came out? Sure, I guess. But commercials like that also provide a chance for people who would have never heard the song previously to hear it potentially many times throughout a typical week. Is there anything wrong with that? 93 out of 100 times I say no.
