Let's spend some time together

Wow. That was pretty cool. The Stones really earned my respect with that one. They could've just followed the timid rules of their network sponsors, self-censoring any objectionable lyrics, but they refused to do that.

When they scrapped their network-approved set-list and launched into "Sweet Neo Con" they proved they were bigger than the Superbowl and provided something far more memorable than just another timid, inoffensive, Up-With-People style halftime show.

Comments

[Hysteria]

Well, the question is, were there plans to in the first place? I think if there were, then yeah, they sold out. If not, then I was happy just to put the whole political mess out of my mind for a little while and rock out with some legends via the television.

Chris

[pharoute]

At least there was no wardrobe malfunctions from Mick, extra straps on the truss...

[Jen]

The claims on the news over here in Australia was there there were two uses of the 5-sec delay to mute Mick for language.

*shrug*

[Peatey]

I was just glad the 63 year-old didn't break his hip while doing the pelvis dance...

[Puck]

By "inoffensive" of course - you mean inoffensive to people you enjoy offending. That's why you criticize them - right?

You wouldn't have wanted the Stones to be offensive to people you don't want to offend.

Of course. Just making sure.

[jp!]

as i recall, a line or two were censored from the songs played. they cut out the audio from a line in Rough Justice and one in Start Me Up.

[Jason]

Absolutely nothing unexpected can happen at the Super Bowl halftime show, audio-wise at least. The dirty secret is that, no matter who is performing, the music is often pre-recorded. The singers usually sing live on top of pre-recorded instrumental tracks, but if anything goes wrong, the audio engineers can bring up a pre-recorded vocal track as well.

When U2 did the show a few years back, Bono and the Edge played live, but the bass and drums were pre-recorded. I can't say for certain what the Stones' setup was, but it was likely similar to U2's.

Incidently, what I found offensive about the Stones' set was not that they didn't whip out something like "Sweet Neo Con," but that they went with the two most obvious songs in their catalog. Seriously, "Start Me Up" and "Satisfaction"? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I'm not saying they needed to bring out an obscure album track like "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," but they could have at least done "Street Fighting Man," or "Monkey Man," or even "Brown Sugar" for crying out loud.

I admired the truly skillful use of Grecian Formula. Or was that a weave?

[Cathy]

They did, at least, put Keith Richards on the screen often enough that I was able to use him as an object lesson for Daughter.

"See that skeletal-looking guy with the guitar? That's why you shouldn't do drugs."

That said, I'm amazed that they're still able to kick out that energetic a performance at age 60ish...

[The Navigator]

I'm not even a Stones fan, and that wasn't such a great version of Satisfaction, but, damn, in their 60's and rocking like that? I might literally injure myself if I tried to dance the way Jagger did, and he's over 30 years older than me. Color me impressed.

[marciamarciamarcia]

Seriously, I'd rather just listen to an old record of the Stone's from back when Mick could hit all the notes than see a wrinkly old ought-to-be retiree strutting around stage. I wish I could say it was embarrasing to watch, but it was really just boring.

The kitten halftime show over on Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl was way more exciting.

[Pugs Malome]

I'm virulently anti-censorship, but I can't get worked up over this. It's not like the Stones had any integrity left to lose at this point.

[Julia]

Apparently I'm really rare in that I actually watched the game and skipped the halftime show. I've been hearing about it on local talk radio at various times during the day, though. Just as glad I used that time for the dinner break.

The Stones agreed to the censorship.

"As planned and agreed upon with the Stones, we turned down Mick's mike for two specific seconds," said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.

[Chris Smith]

Fuck that negative noise. Keith Richards said 20 years ago that he wanted to figure out a way to "grow old with this music" the way that Muddy and B.B. And they've done it, okay? Those guys have played the music live for 45 fucking years while "cooler" poseurs fell by the wayside. Is there *anybody* posting negative comments anywhere on the web about that performance who's been doing *anything* creative for 45 years? I don't care whether they were good or not--that's beside the point.

[dyspeptic grad student]

Keith Richards said 20 years ago that he wanted to figure out a way to "grow old with this music" the way that Muddy and B.B. And they've done it, okay?

Oh, they've grown old with it, all right - but not like Muddy or B.B. did.

Sorry if that hurts your feelings.

[Michael H.]

Eh, if they'd actually said they were going to play "Sweet Neocon", that's one thing, but from what I've read, they never had any intention of it. I'm just not worked up about it. I don't expect the Rolling Stones to be the saviors of us all.

Of course, if they did a good job with "Rough Justice", then maybe people will go out and buy the album, and the song will spread anyway.

[Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little]

Dear People Who Scoff "Shut up about the boringness and be grateful he's up there at all" (oh, you know who you are):

You know what?

I saw Neil Diamond play the Pepsi Center in Denver two months ago.

And you know what else? He frickin' rocked.

There is no comparison.

When you get up there and perform, you're telling people "Hey, I still got it! I rock! Watch me now!" And if you're gonna tell me that, I wanna see you deliver, you got me?

I will therefore continue to expect Pure Rockin' Out in a performance, for whatever value of "Pure Rockin' Out" is valid for said performer, regardless of the performer's age. No phonin' it in allowed.

And that's what.

Thank you. You may now carry on with your scoffin' and excuse-makin'.

[Martin Wisse]

This sort of thing is why most of the rest of the world finds the US such a childish country, you know.

[spearNmagicHelmet]

easy to pick on a bunch of old men. the stones are guilty of the same thing everyone here is, that is, protesting the bush regime right up to the point until it becomes uncomfortable. they will do as much as they can without taking money out of thier own hands. they will only go so far. they are not going to sacrifice thier recreation time, tv time, family time, free time or anytime for some petty reasons like freedom and democracy.

that is where you live. that is who you are. oh, what a wonderful world.

[J]

If I thought about it, I could come up with a list of 15-20 "dead" songs--songs whose cool has been leached out by use in car commercials. Let's see . . .

"Start Me Up"

"Everyday People"

"Lust for Life"

"Days Go By"

"For Your Love"

"Da Da Da"

. . . and as an Angoleiro, maybe the single most offensive "scrub" of a song into a car-commercial I've heard is "Zum Zum" by Mazda. You'd never know it from the way the song has been Whited-up and Americo-processed, but it's a piece of traditional Brazillian music. I've heard and even once sung the original myself. The difference between it and the Mazda version is like the difference between wine and vodka mixed with grape juice.

[Garnet]

"See that skeletal-looking guy with the guitar? That's why you shouldn't do drugs."

Because you don't want your daughter to be sixty and still capable of rocking? And no, I don't mean in a chair.

[Paul Herzberg]

'"See that skeletal-looking guy with the guitar? That's why you shouldn't do drugs."

'Because you don't want your daughter to be sixty and still capable of rocking?'

I do wonder about that some times. Keef's what? 63? So, for more than two thirds of his life he's been rocking out, partying, doing all sorts of drugs, doing all sorts of groupies and can still manage a world tour every couple of years. So he looks a bit odd to some people. I don't think millionaire Keef rightly cares.

If that's what drugs do to you I'm visiting my dealer at the nearest opportunity.

[online sports gambling]

online sports gambling Probaly you should read this. online sports gambling Hope this helps. See you next life