One of my favorite things about the phenomenon known as Rock 'n' Roll is that it has spawned a handful of songs over the years that will last throughout the ages. Now that list is for another music review outlet (Rolling Stone), I only wish to reflect on a turn of the 21st century tune that I feel should be heard and learned for years to come.
If look through Dylan's discography you will find the musical credit "Trad. arr. Dylan" meaning that the song goes so far back that not one person is recognized as the author. In other words, people have been playing that song so long, no one remembers who the was the first. I really like that. For me, these are the hymns of humanity. Shared by all to be interpreted for the times they find themselves in. Dylan certainly did all he could for his time.
Along these lines, I believe that some songs from recent history will reach that same status. I am not saying that their authors will be forgotten (thank you internet) but that they will be passed down, learned by new artists, and serve as opening tracks to careers. "Last Night" by The Strokes is one of those.
I can almost see it, four or five guys, roughly 16 or 17 in bad jeans and sneakers, starting off the set at a coffee house. If they have any rock n roll in them, they are doing it to wake everyone up. They are probably doing it because it is the only song they know. Still there is something there.
From the opening lick, soon joined by the drums, then joined by another guitar, and at last the singer, it allows the whole band to introduce themselves as they come together to play in a style that would make The Ramones proud. Although I cation against calling it punk in statement, I see it more in style.
The real bite of the song comes two and minutes in with an honest confession and vocal explosion. Julian Casablancas proclaims "Me, I'm never gonna understand.... LAST NIGHT!!!" It causes you to go back and listen to whole song over again ( All three minutes and eighteen seconds). You enjoy again the lead up, complete with lyrics telling a story of confusion and leaving, no big love lost but still something is gone, while name checking a laundry list of people who are also in the dark. There is enough word play that it doesn't become stale and becomes a fun challenge to sing along and get the nouns right, in the style "It's The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)". There are also instrumentation breaks that, to return to that image of the coffee house, are probably just as much fun to play as they are to listen to. There is a handful of chord changes to give it some rhythm and beat. It gets your foot tapping in a familiar way while still sounding new.
And that is what made all those traditional songs so appealing to Dylan. They were familiar, but he knew, he could make them new. I feel the same for "Last Night." So Julian, my grandsons might actually understand.
