Back in 2006, The AV Club wrote an inventory of Petty's best opening lines.
The guy really did know how to paint a picture, and set a tone, with just the first few words in a song:
1. “She was an American girl / Raised on promises” (from “American Girl,” Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, 1976)
It’d be hard for any lyric to live up to the instant excitement of the instrumental opening of “American Girl,” with its loud, chiming guitars and locomotive percussion. But on the first great song of Tom Petty’s great career, he showed off his gift for fixing a character, a moment, an image, and a feeling, all in just one sentence.
Back in 2006, The AV Club wrote an inventory of Petty's best opening lines.
The guy really did know how to paint a picture, and set a tone, with just the first few words in a song:
1. “She was an American girl / Raised on promises” (from “American Girl,” Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, 1976)
It’d be hard for any lyric to live up to the instant excitement of the instrumental opening of “American Girl,” with its loud, chiming guitars and locomotive percussion. But on the first great song of Tom Petty’s great career, he showed off his gift for fixing a character, a moment, an image, and a feeling, all in just one sentence.
It's amazing that song was written in 1976. So often when you listen to classic rock stations and a song comes on you can place the decade pretty easily. American Girl feels timeless and current.
+1
Shortytouching the meatIntergalactic Cool CourtRegistered Userregular
I just assumed he chucked it into the crowd, and forever after there's a guy with a big dent in his forehead who's like 'PRINCE DID THIS TO ME' and everyone else swoons and asks if they can touch his skull crater.
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+5
AuralynxDarkness is a perspectiveWatching the ego workRegistered Userregular
I just assumed he chucked it into the crowd, and forever after there's a guy with a big dent in his forehead who's like 'PRINCE DID THIS TO ME' and everyone else swoons and asks if they can touch his skull crater.
I mean if we get to pick our explanations I rather liked the Guitarhalla one.
Yeah I just assumed he just straight up threw his guitar into the crowd.
Which, granted, isn't really something you see happen very often at any show.
Usually it'll be a guitar pick. Or the drummer will throw one or both of their sticks into the crowd.
Then again if someone told me Prince regularly threw whole guitars into the audience during shows I would not hesitate to believe it. That is definitely a Prince-level move.
This is just the worst. Tom Petty was so dedicated to limiting the influence of corporate greed in music, and that would have been enough to put him on my super cool guy list, but also the man wrote and performed some damn good music.
Rest in peace, man. You worked hard and you never backed down.
This is just the worst. Tom Petty was so dedicated to limiting the influence of corporate greed in music, and that would have been enough to put him on my super cool guy list, but also the man wrote and performed some damn good music.
Rest in peace, man. You worked hard and you never backed down.
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That stings something fierce.
He released a few amazing albums later in his career that didn't really have any radio play but are full of great music
If you haven't listened to Highway Companion you definitely should.
Yeah I've never heard that one either. Fuck.
Man I never realized how much I loved his music until now.
This one hurts. Rest in peace, Tom.
I really did not expect to have to watch this in memoriam again so soon.
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The guy really did know how to paint a picture, and set a tone, with just the first few words in a song:
Link: https://music.avclub.com/inventory-14-classic-tom-petty-opening-lines-1798209600
I still don't understand where Prince's guitar goes at the end of this
away
It's amazing that song was written in 1976. So often when you listen to classic rock stations and a song comes on you can place the decade pretty easily. American Girl feels timeless and current.
It's lifted away by invisible angles because it is dead. Prince has slain that guitar.
I thought that too, but where are the wires (for example) when he falls off the stage? Or when he's bent over? etc.
My theory was that the very large guy who caught him falling into the crowd was prepared to also catch the guitar.
Yeah, I agree. The guitar looks like it is going forward a bit when he throws it, so it probably lands in the crowd.
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3ds: 3282-2248-0453
I mean if we get to pick our explanations I rather liked the Guitarhalla one.
Which, granted, isn't really something you see happen very often at any show.
Usually it'll be a guitar pick. Or the drummer will throw one or both of their sticks into the crowd.
Then again if someone told me Prince regularly threw whole guitars into the audience during shows I would not hesitate to believe it. That is definitely a Prince-level move.
Rest in peace, man. You worked hard and you never backed down.
It had done what it needed to on this earth. It was time for it to ascend.
I imagine it was a wonderful reunion.
Steam ID XBL: JohnnyChopsocky PSN:Stud_Beefpile WiiU:JohnnyChopsocky
On that subject, I really like The Last DJ and that song doesn't get nearly as much play as his classic-era stuff does.
It's slight of hand. Prince later pulled it out from behind a child's ear.