Go Johnny, go, go GO!

 

I will never forget the first time I heard the song Johnny B Goode.  I was 12 years old.  How can I be so sure, you might ask?  Well thru the magic of the internet I can find the name and date of the TV show I was watching.  It was called Misfits of Science, and in a pivotal scene one of the main characters started shooting electricity from his hands whilst singing Johnny B Goode!  Now the theatrics of electricity may have played a part in my awestruck young soul, or it could be the subconscious acknowledgement that this was the 'cool' kid.  I vaguely remember sunglasses, leather jacket, you know the type.  The fact of the matter was once I heard that song start, it had my full attention.  I'm talking jaw dropped, sitting up ramrod straight, and the rest of the world ceasing to exist, attention.   

I still maintain it is one of the most perfect songs ever written.  Tell me, when you hear this song how do you react?  If you don't start yelling Go! Go! how do you even call yourself human?  Music doesn't need deep lyrics or complicated rhythms.  Don't get me wrong, that stuff doesn't hurt.  I'll go further and say that's beautiful too, buy the simplicity of Johnny never fails to get my toes tapping and shoulders rolling and my voice bursting from my soul.  That's what I call perfect.  If I never get tired of it, that's damn good.  If it brings out my soul, that's perfect.  

Music is universal magic.  Even the trite crap touches someone somewhere.  And if JBG isn't your thing?  Well maybe I should respect that.  There's plenty out there that doesn't sit well with my tastes.   Still, give it another listen.  But he could play a guitar just like a ringing a bell!  GO GO!