Music and the Banshee

[rosiedoes]

You know what’s really annoying about writing a Sean-centric bigbang fic set in 1962? Music. Because imagining the Sean we see in the film without suspecting he'd be spending what money he had on records is just... inconceivable to me.

First of all, there’s the temptation to confuse his interests with Creepy Kid’s, but even Bob wasn’t seeing much success in 1962, so that point is moot.

The big music scene at the time was Surf Music of bands like The Beach Boys, which I just mean... LOLNO and the year opened with The Lion Sleeps Tonight at #1 on the Hot 100. I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, 1962?

This is a kid that you just know would be into the British Invasion bands and Psychedelic Rock/Pop, if not Prog Rock, a few years down the line (he’s practically wearing drainpipes and we all see the Morrison mop, right?), but at the point the film is set, most of the Brit bands are two or three years from breaking the UK, never mind the US. The Doors didn’t form until 1965, as did the Mamas and the Papas, The Small Faces and the inevitable Pink Floyd; the Yardbirds didn’t form until 1963, which was also the year the Rolling Stones released their first single; The Kinks and Lynyrd Skynyrd until 1964 and Led Zep not until 1968. The Beatles were only just entering Abbey Road in 1962. Janis Joplin only began her music career in 1966.

Even The Zombies, who formed in 1961, except they didn’t really achieve success until 1964.

Personally, I can't see Sean being much of an Elvis fan, neither can I see him being much into Do Wop or Rhythm & Blues (if only because he grew up in small town Texas, in my ficverse). Frankly (no pun intended) the Four Seasons would probably destroy his hearing because they're so shrill (selectiveness or none).

I'm not even totally sure I can see him being into The Highwaymen (Johnny Cash's band). I feel like it'd need to be a bit groovier, for a youngster of his age in that era, no?

So, I'm in a headcanon quandry. I need the knowledge because I've already spent two hours researching this and I'll be fucked if I can settle for anything realistic. Therefore, I am turning it over for discussion: Sean Cassidy, 1962, record collection. Go!

Comments

[sassygirl.livejournal.com]

Oh mannnnnnn, one of my favourite eras for music research. I remember doing this for some Outsiders fics, I'm not sure what Sean would like... This is a list I looked at, so I'll hit up youtube to give some a listen.. http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/bg_hits/bg_hits_62.html

[rosiedoes.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon. Someone on Tumblr suggested Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly, although I think the music of the latter might have been a bit too pop-y for Sean. It got me thinking more about acts like Little Richard and Chuck Berry.

[sassygirl.livejournal.com]

I can definitely see him liking Chuck Berry... What about Fats Domino?

[rosiedoes.livejournal.com]

Probably a bit too slow for Sean. Not enough energy.

Clicked on a link to Ricky Nelson and it's Chris Evans! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLkCWT2neuI&feature=related