Posted December 7, 2009 | Filed Under Community, Featured
Written by Peter Kray | Comments: 7
The Parking Lot (Shred White and Blue)—So there’s this ongoing conversation about what the heck ski music is anyway. Does it even exist? Is someone actively creating it somewhere? Or is it just whatever’s on the car stereo when you’re driving to the hill?
It seems as if there’s always been surf music, with its sunny guitar and that drum roll like a crashing wave. And skateboard thrash with its repetitive angst of insistent bass and strangled chords. And always the multi-sport friendly anthemic rock of Springsteen/Queen/Zeppelin and even Jersey pulp like Bon Jovi or whatever kind of hair metal you still get a secret charge from listening to.
But I couldn’t really tell you what defines ski music – now, or ever. Which is what got me searching my own CD (‘album’) collection, across the Internet and on the ever-indispensable YouTube, where it finally occurred to me, that like music technology (the aural delivery service, if you will), since 1970, what may or may not be considered ski music has undergone four distinctly different eras – encompassing 8-Track, cassette (oh lord, it’s the mixed tape), CD and i-Pod.
And you know what? There are a lot of great arguments for what American ski music just may be about. Here’s a little sample of the early years.
The 8-Track Years
Take it to the Limit: The Eagles
‘Cosmic American Music’s’ greatest progenitors, and the all-time gods of American album rock (because ABBA still kicks their asses in Europe), The Eagles were that perfect pairing of country plaid and blue-eyed soul. And out of all their hits, this was the one that let every skier feel as if every heartache could be burned out by a heavier foot on the accelerator – “You know I’ve always been a dreamer.”
Rock, Stein and the Bird
I don’t know Mark Johnson and have only once got to shake the hand of the great Stein Eriksen (who my father still claims as the greatest race and powder and bird-hunting – wink, wink – skier ever), but this film Mark made of Stein and buddies powder skiing in Alta is video proof of the truth that ‘the powder was always deeper in the early years.’ Powder on, ski gods!
January 5th, 1974, Mark, Stein and the Bird:
Hot Dog and the Return of Mitch Ryder
I will never be able to explain how Mitch Ryder of ‘Mony Mony’ and ‘Devil Blue Dress’ fame suddenly singing a Prince written song in a ski movie happened, but this one hits me every time. The video montage of Squaw Valley steeps and easy descending rhythm of this Hot Dog classic is what I still sing to myself on those bluebird days when I want to match a little mojo to my turn (especially as I wonder which local ski-skiing double is under all those hats and sunglasses ripping those local lines): Hot Dog/Mitch Ryder
Next, Ski Music: Cassettes and The Mixed Tape Years
//photo by Colin O’Brien
Tagged with: Alta, Mark Johnson, Mitch Ryder, music, Prince, skiing, Stein Eriksen, The Eagles | 7 Comments »
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7 Responses to “‘What is Ski Music?’ Part 1: The 8-Track Years”
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I was totally prepared to hate the eagles video (not a fan, burnt by 25 yrs of classic rock radio) but that was pretty sweet, as well as the other two. Good finds…
S-H-A-M-B-A-L-A! That vid is pure gold.
What about reel-to-reel? Fleetwood Mac Rumours, “Go Your Own Way.” And of course the Beatles. Particularly “Here Comes the Sun” on Abbey Road.
For a little different perspective try: Kraftwerk – “fahn, fahn, fahn auf der autobahn.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c81X6BiI0Y
So basically what comes to mind for me is the pure soul music of what I like to ride to and that could range from from motley crue if I’m in a real aggressive mood and other things such as Rob Zombie and hard stuff like that. If it’s a bluebird day and out with good friends then maybe a little Funkadelic some Bluegrass,James Brown anything that gets u hyped for what it doing that day.
Music plays a big part in the mood that ur in if ur in a shitty mood u may listen to something that reminds u of good or bad times and with music u can put yourself back at a certain time or place in time with either good memories or dad ones. I can say for myself that it plays a huge role in my life especially at a live show I’m transported to a different place for the 3 to 4 hours ok there I don’t have a care I’m the world or what is going on outside I’m in the moment and that is what life is about living for the moment because who knows what tomorrow may be bring. I’m sure most people will agree music and action sports go hand and hand. A certain song or a good beat can make u do things I did not think of before. So I feel u can’t have one without the other. Plain and simple music makes the world go round
Josh
I just like reggae. Bob Marley is what ski music is.
Call me old fasioned, but whatever happened to the sound of your skis or board on the snow being enough. Why is music even necessary when skiing/boarding. To me, skiing is pure. I love the sound of my skis scraping on groomers or swooshing through powder stashes in the trees. And I love the quiet sound that comes when it’s snowing. I wouldn’t trade these sounds for all the music in the world. It is what skiing is all about.
Hey I really like the site. Thanks for the stickers. Just to say I’ve been listening to a lot of Dead Weather lately. Jack White is America’s Jimmy Page, and a whole lot busier than any guitarist I can think of right now. Shred the white! Still too cold for the blue.