Monkee’n Around

 

In high school, the girlfriend I was currently was with had grown up watching an odd group of four men from the 70’s who got into shenanigans while also writing and performing some of the most catchiest tunes anyone has ever heard. So, the first time she asked me to watch an episode of these monkees, I reluctantly said yes. Little did I know how much appreciation I would have now for their music and story.

 

 

The show was called the Monkees, and they were basically the first Naked Brothers Band, Big Time Rush, Hannah Montana, or any show that comedically followed the life of a fictional musician. Everyone knows their biggest hit, I’m A Believer, but you probably are more familiar with the bastard version created by everyone’s favorite early 2000’s punching meme bag Smash Mouth from the ending of the first Shrek.

 

 

The Monkees only ran for two seasons, and was composed of four actors with some members having more musical experience than others. Mike Nesmith, trained in bass and a little guitar, ended up being the show’s “guitarist”. Peter Tork, trained in guitar and a little drums, became the show’s “bassist”. The producers of the show really knew how to optimize their actors (sarcasm)… The other two, Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones, are a previous child actor and English broadway star respectively.

 

 

Their first two albums were created by some of the best song writers of the time, such as Bobby Heart, Neil Diamond and Carole King, under the supervision of Donny Kirshner. Diamond wrote “I’m a Believer”, and many of their bops like Last Train to Clarksville, Theme (From the Monkees), and I Wanna Be Free were performed mostly by studio musicians and only the vocals were done by what the audience saw as The Monkees. This later caused seriously controversy, as the media slandered them for being phony musicians.

 

 

The reason I have so much respect for these four is not because they were not afraid to be fools on television, but because they stood up for their artistic integrity. Nesmith and Tork especially, being the actual musicians wanted to perform the music on their own albums. They fought the network executives on multiple occasions, and Nesmith even punched a hole in a wall and told Kirshner that “it could’ve been his head.” I am a firm believer in standing up for what you believe in, as long as it is not some undermining evil plot to take over society or racist. In the case of artistic freedom, it is completely valid and encouraged.

 

 

Whenever there is any opportunity to fight the “man” and stand up for what I believe in for the greater good, I always feel this burst of energy and need to speak my mind. Freedom of Speech is an amazing tool to fuel passion, especially in the world of music.

 

 

Another reason I respect this group is because after two seasons, when the formula for the show was getting dull, when the network told them to keep to the formula or be cancelled, they let the show get cancelled. They did not want to drag on the same ideas over and over again without any creative changes, which many shows today are notorious for doing. Their last album to come out during the show’s life, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones is one of my favorites. Salesman, Cuddly Toy, The Door Into Summer, and especially Words are amazing pieces. Pleasant Valley Sunday was written by Carole King, but the fact that the band was actually performing their own instruments and no longer being forced to be phonies by the network was an amazing accomplishment.

 

 

I performed in a School of Rock show surrounding the music of the Monkees, most due to the same girlfriend pressuring me to do it with her because of her love for the music. It was mostly composed of younger students, which gave me the opportunity to perform on the harder songs such as Valleri and What Am I Doin’ Hangin Round, and I think that last song is the one that really got me hooked on wanting to listen to more old country/bluegrass music.

(Who is that girl-haired nerd wearing a Monkees hat? Oh shit that’s me…)

 

Overall the experience was more amazing than I expected it to be, and I hope to soon watch the Jack Nicholson Acid Trip movie the Monkees made in 1968 called Head. I recently watched the somewhat-mediocre biopic of the Monkees called Daydream Believer. It’s available on Youtube (both movies are) if anyone is really interested. Until then, I will be inspired to be a child at heart by this show and continue to realize that so much of this show’s music is some of the best music to come out of the 60s.

 

• JF

 

(PS I wrote this post while listening to ABBA, because ABBA is absolutely killer)

 

(PPS Please enjoy this crossover episode moment of Frank Zappa and Mike Nesmith dressed as one another)