This week I’d like to take the time to remember someone in music who was recently lost. I would like to take this week to remember Davy Jones, singer and heart throb of The Monkees.
The Monkees hit the scene in 1966 for a hit British television series that brought us such tunes as “Day Dream Believer” and “I Wanna Be Free.” With a pop-rock sound that took the world by storm, the Monkees drew in a waiting and enthralled audience. They may have been made specifically for television, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t talented. Take for example the made-for-TV bands of today such as The Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus; there is absolutely no comparison in talent. None of their members were nominated for a Tony for their Broadway performance, but Davy Jones was at age 16 for his role as The Artful Dodger in “Oliver.”
When I look at the over-driven garbage that is called “teen rock” today, I am saddened by the lack of actual talent. The Monkees may not have been innovators of their genre, but their song catalogue proves that they’re talented musicians. The fact that today, three decades later, they still have a huge fan base is a testament to their legendary status in the music world. Whether we like to admit it or not, the staying power and talent of The Monkees is something Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have yet to even touch. n