Anonymous
7/17/2025, 4:15:14 PM No.127072654
Although it’s regarded as a party song and child friendly bop, the B-52’s hit, ‘Rock Lobster,’ is a very complex and dynamic work. The song is quite long and transitions across different time signatures. At around the five minute mark, it descends into raw rock, a scatological crescendo that sweeps and builds a rough tempo. The Sprechgesang and animal mimicry bring in another element—a vocal choir on par with Liszt’s “Faust Symphony” with grandiose and powerful mass to it. You might think ‘Rock Lobster’ is a simple, fun bop. But think again. The bars and riffs go back and forth, building momentum, until the topsy-turvy rhythm builds on repetition and refrain. It’s got a groove on par with delta blues; it’s got solos and jazzy digressions.
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