Like or Dislike: Rock a Little

[Highwayman]

I love the sad vulnerability in her voice, like she is resigned to her destiny. This isn't a sexy rasp at all; it's sad, reflective, defeated, introspective. Very moody. This is one of my top 10 favorites.

[ontheEdgeof17]

I used to hate all of Rock A Little, back in the day. The only songs I listened to were the singles. I shelved it for a good two years. So, one day I was really really really bored and decided to listen to all of Stevie's CD back to back. I wasn't looking forward to RAL or this song. But ya know how it goes....the stars were in the right orbit and all that jazz and it became my second favorite album.


I love the song for it being a different sound. It's just like she stood at a mic and just sang a song with no prompt to a different verse or chorus. It's totally random and raw. That's what I like about this song. And it kinda blows you away when you first listen to it....cuz it is in a weird spot on the album....right after ICW....You are excepting something along those lines and you get a slow, but rocking song that sticks out like a sore thumb.

[amber]

At first I didn't love it, it was too slow and meandering. Now I love it a lot. It's moody, it's strange, it's unpredictable. Of course I love it. I like RAL voice a lot anyway, Stevie and her voice have seemingly never been in so much pain...And you can really hear her weariness and ennui in this song.
Plus, I love the "hit it". Seriously, the music, the lyrics, and her voice are extremely unusual to my ears on this song, and in a good way.

[Serrart]

I like it, it's a song that flaws on contradictory and deep emotions, for me.

Romy

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by skcin

I'm sure we will get many different opinions on this tune.

Initially, I couldn't stand this song. I usually skipped it. I didn't like the music at all, I thought it was weird & halting & didn't flow well. After the title tracks of Bella Donna & Wild Heart, it was a real disappointment to me when I first heard it. I assumed it should be a great, powerful, epic song like those two were for me & it just wasn't. I hated all the "hit it"s.

Now, a few years after I first listened, it's grown on me. Still not a big favorite, but I don't skip it & I actually really like singing along to it. Now I think the lyrics are great, with the exception of this drivel:

"He knows his daughter, says
Where does she live?
He says, Oh, up there somewhere"

I really don't like that line, it doesn't seem to fit, IMO.
Her vocal - not powerful at all, but so raspy & sexy. Hawt.

I lke both versions, but prefer the alternate version. I really like the imagery that the "drivel" evokes. And it's so pure Stevie being vague and obtuse.
With the proper punctuation it makes more sense.

"He knows," his daughter says
Where does she live?
He says "Oh, up there somewhere..."

The way I see it, Stevie is affirming that she is in touch with her father...her perception that she remains close and connected to significant people in her life, despite living the fast life and dedicating herself to her career. Yet, the perception from her father is very different. He only has a vague notion of where she lives!

The song seems (to me) all about the strain and sacrifice that goes into working and living hard in the rock and roll world.

I like the line " Pale pink satin worn out in a week."

[xxxmx]

i started to play it before i voted just to be fair and all. i made it to "ra-haaa-gezzzz" and had to put something else on. pronto.

i would listen to Docklands or Silver Girl on loop before i would ever even think about listening to RAL again. evah.

[amber]

Originally Posted by xxxmx

i started to play it before i voted just to be fair and all. i made it to "ra-haaa-gezzzz" and had to put something else on. pronto.

i would listen to Docklands or Silver Girl on loop before i would ever even think about listening to RAL again. evah.

You make me sick, Mariel. Silver Girl. God.

[WildInTheWind]

I didn't like it at first, but it has grown on me alot. I think it's very sexy. If I made a "Songs to have Sex to" CD (which I've always wanted to do) ....this would definatly be on it. It may be one of my favorite songs on RAL.

[xxxmx]

Originally Posted by amber

You make me sick, Mariel. Silver Girl. God.

pretty serious, eh? i think i would even take a scratched Street Angel disc that kept skipping and only played "forgottenchimpanzeeforgottenchimpanzeeforgottenchimpanzee" forevah... how's that? have i illustrated my point clearly enough?

[amber]

Originally Posted by xxxmx

pretty serious, eh? i think i would even take a scratched Street Angel disc that kept skipping and only played "forgottenchimpanzeeforgottenchimpanzeeforgottenchimpanzee" forevah... how's that? have i illustrated my point clearly enough?

That's strange. How many times have you listened to RAL? I didn't like it the first 10-15 times, either....uh....there has to be some explanation....

[Dreammms]

I think this song is really good. I LOVE the extended version which they should have put on the album.

I also wanted to add that a Stevie fan on the AOL message board had a daughter named Lily who passed away. I sent her the extended version and she really liked it.

Now when I listen to this song it has new meaning.

[Kelly]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

I've never understood the title. It doesn't really rock at all. Basically, I never could get into it. A lot of the production on RAL is too much for me.

I interpret the title to mean "get out there and rock a little or sing". There is a bit of a story Stevie has told about this song. I cannot remember all the details right now but it was something like Stevie was sick or tired and was laying back in her dressing room. She was feeling disillusioned with her life and career and basically not wanting to go onstage and do her show that night. Her Dad told her to get the Hell up and go Rock a Little. Hit the stage running and perform! I was always sort of bothered by this story for some reason. I am not sure why.....

I love her vocals on the song but it is not one of my faves. The sultry rasp is one of my most favorite Stevie voices so I adore that about the song. It sounds so bedroom voice-ish.

[dissention]

Paula! Start using some GOOD songs for these threads!

Originally Posted by Kelly

I love her vocals on the song but it is not one of my faves. The sultry rasp is one of my most favorite Stevie voices so I adore that about the song. It sounds so bedroom voice-ish.

Sultry isn't what I'd call that vocal, I'd call it whiney and cloying. Just like the song itself. One of her worst songs, I'm with Mariel on this one. I'll even listen to "That Made Me Stronger" before I listen to this drivel. This is coked-out Stevie at her worst and most obnoxious. Sounds to me that she forgot how to sing and "wrote" the lyrics by cutting and pasting lines from her journals at random. All of that "he says" and "she says" ****, oy.

She's home now
She says I've gone far beyond that song
She says rock and roll ballerina
Where else would she go?
He knows his daughter, says
Where does she live?
He says, Oh, up there somewhere

This bitch of a song kinda makes "Muskrat Love" sound like a landmark in music history.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by dissention

Paula! Start using some GOOD songs for these threads!

Why would I do that - it's way more fun to read your disparaging comments.


Actually, we just completed the entire BD album & a few people requested RAL. So here we are - I'm not going in sequence cuz I'm a rebel.

[amber]

Originally Posted by dissention

Paula! Start using some GOOD songs for these threads!



Sultry isn't what I'd call that vocal, I'd call it whiney and cloying. Just like the song itself. One of her worst songs, I'm with Mariel on this one. I'll even listen to "That Made Me Stronger" before I listen to this drivel. This is coked-out Stevie at her worst and most obnoxious. Sounds to me that she forgot how to sing and "wrote" the lyrics by cutting and pasting lines from her journals at random. All of that "he says" and "she says" ****, oy.

She's home now
She says I've gone far beyond that song
She says rock and roll ballerina
Where else would she go?
He knows his daughter, says
Where does she live?
He says, Oh, up there somewhere

This bitch of a song kinda makes "Muskrat Love" sound like a landmark in music history.

You know, that is kind of true, I remember I really thought that when the song came out (in addition to not liking the slow meanderingness).

I think my face turned red from embarrassment and I rolled my eyes when I first heard the line "rock and roll ballerina where else will she go".

But I think I listened to it too many times, and it hypnotized me, and forced me to like it.
Perhaps that song is cursed - but I really like it right now.
Damn you Stevie, you've won again! But I'll never like Desert Angel, do you hear me?! Never!