iradiophilly | Culture - Classic Rock Group America Rides That Horse Again

Streaming Radio for Philadelphia
More Music. Fewer Interruptions. Just what you want to hear.

FOLLOW:

Culture
Talk about Arts, Culture, & Entertainment


The Post

Classic Rock Group America Rides That Horse Again

by: JoeS - Springfield, PA
started: 01/20/14 12:36 pm | updated: 01/20/14 12:36 pm

The classic rock group America has had a bang up year with two Golden Globe Awards going to a movie and another to a TV series using one of its songs. Both Breaking Bad and American Hustle used the song "A Horse With No Name" to project a mood swing from serenity to uncertainty. Though America has had numerous hits over the years, nothing has come close to "A Horse With No Name" in terms of either public recognition or the use in movies, TV etc.

Songs, especially songs with abstract lyrics, almost compel folks to project a meaning that is either exciting or a self-portrait. "A Horse With No Name" might well be one of the champions of projections. American Hustle and Breaking Bad would lead you to believe that heroin is the subliminal message in the song. Well, that is simply not true. Dewey Bunnell wrote the song and was the lead singer on this song. In multiple interviews he has been clear that as a young boy he loved the desert and longed to see it again. Dewey was sitting in a room in England on a rainy day and just projected himself back to a simpler time and place. "A Horse With No Name" has also been used in numerous other movies and TV shows including Good Morning Vietnam, Friends and The Simpsons.

The song was written in 1971 and released in 1972 going #1 across the world and on the Billboard 100. America rode the horse to the Grammy Awards that year winning the new artist category. Gerry Beckley, Dan Peek and Dewey Bunnell were the founding members. Dan Peek left the group in 1977 to pursue a career in Christian music. Dan Peek passed away in 2011. Originally "A Horse With No Name" was titled "Desert Song," I wonder what would have been if "Desert Song" remained the title. Gerry and Dewey have recorded and toured as America for more that 40 years. You can check them out on Facebook or at www.venturahighway.com.

Listen to iradiophilly's Ziggy for Classic Rock

Listen to iradiophilly's The Plateau for Mellow Rock

TOP STORIES

(0) responses

Welcome to iradiophilly! Philadelphia's Internet Radio Community

Welcome! Start listening now for FREE! The music is always on, so choose a radio station and click to listen. You can find fun Events around Philly and you can list yours on our Events page FREE. We will also promote cool Philly shows, events and fundraisers on the air FREE. There are also great opportunities to become a sponsor or advertise. iRadioPhilly supports the Philadelphia music and arts scene. If you are a local musician or performer, send us your stuff. We will play it on our BYO radio station, Philadelphia's Local Stage. We're designing the radio stations and iradiophilly to reflect Philadelphia's music tastes, so we'll want your input. We're glad you're here. Invite your friends.

FOLLOW:

Site Design by Bananaland | Built by quadpain media