Legend Wrote Rock Classic as a SCATHING Middle Finger AGAINST the ESTABLISHMENT! | Professor of Rock
Вставка
- Опубліковано 9 гру 2023
- The incredible story of the Creedence Clearwater Revival “CCR” 1969 classic rock hit Fortunate Son. Written and performed by lead singer John Fogerty during the traumatic time of Vietnam when young men were being drafted to fight in a war where there were no clear answers. The song was written to protest more than the war though… it was the ultimate middle finger against the establishment and put CCR in a place where they outsold the Beatles in that same year.
Thank you to this episode’s sponsor, Zenni
GET ZENNI Glasses HERE: imp.i279709.net/vn5gLd
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Producer
Brandon Fugal
Honorary Producers
Walter O. Wright II, Moon Comix, Scratchers J Scratcherton esq, fakeaorta, Mark Thompson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out my Hand Picked Selection Below
Professor's Store
- Van Halen OU812 Vinyl Album amzn.to/3tLsII2
- The 80s Collection amzn.to/3mAekOq
- 100 Best Selling Albums amzn.to/3h3qZX9
- Ultimate History of 80s Teen Movie amzn.to/3ifjdKQ
- 80s to 90s VHS Video Cover Art amzn.to/2QXzmIX
- Totally Awesome 80s A Lexicon amzn.to/3h4ilrk
- Best In Ear Headphones (I Use These Every Day) amzn.to/2ZcTlIl
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check Out The Professor of Rock Merch Store -bit.ly/ProfessorMerch
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check Out Patron Benefits
bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan
Help out the Channel by purchasing your albums through our links! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you, thank you for your support.
Click here for Premium Content: bit.ly/SignUpForPremiumContent
bit.ly/Facebook_Professor_of_...
bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of...
#classicrock #60smusic #vinylstory #creedenceclearwaterrevival
"During one of the most traumatic periods in American history, a misinterpreted classic emerged from one of rock’s greatest voices. It resonated deeply with the have nots, as they felt at least someone understood them.
The story of one of the greatest songs of the rock era and its inspiration is NEXT on Professor of Rock."
Hey Music Junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you remember the flip side to all of the 45s you had as a kid or the b sides to the CD singles you’ll really dig this channel. make sure to subscribe right now. And click the bell so you never miss out and also don’t forget to check out our exclusive content on Patreon. Also, make sure to check out our merch right below, There’s the Vintage Years collection and other POR offerings Celebrate great music by wearing it.
It’s time for another edition of our series #1 in our Hearts where we break down a song that was so grand, it deserved to be #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released but for various reasons, it came up short. We place the song in its context since it peaked and the other songs that were ahead of it. Today’s song came from a band that NEVER had a #1 HIT even though they are one of the greatest rock bands of all time. They had 5 #2 hits, the most without having a #1 in history…
First, a little history. After the Gulf of Tonkin incident off the northeast coastline of Vietnam in August 1964, the United States military was fully engaged in the Vietnam War, and every facet of life in America was affected by the escalation of war.
The country was deeply divided on whether the U.S. should have been involved in the conflict in the first place.
Throughout the 60s, pop culture was full of songs about Americans deployed in Vietnam. Emotional songs about pining for a lover called to duty- like “Solider Boy”- a #1 smash by the Shirelles: Patriotic songs like the chart-topping phenomenon “The Ballad of the Green Berets” by the mercurial Staff Seargent- Barry
And protest songs, My favorite being today’s song that should’ve been a #1 hit “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
The song came close, peaking at #3 on the Hot 100. “Fortunate Son” is largely tagged as an anti-war song, but it's really a constitution for the hard-pressed working class and a blistering attack on the charter of the privileged. The track was written by CCR’s lead singer & primary lyricist, the great John Fogerty- who became the voice of a generation-
Fogerty’s high-tenor blast of raging defiance on “Fortunate Son” helped characterize one of the most important periods of the Rock Era. The genesis of Fogerty’s soulful affectation goes back to some of his earliest memories when he was a 3 or 4-year-old boy. - Розваги
Poll: What is your pick for the GREATEST Protest song of the rock era?
Biko, Peter Gabriel
This song began his involvement in human rights issues.
Fortunate Son- CCR is my first pick but I also like Stop Hey What's That Sound - Buffalo Springfield.
RATM
Eve of Destruction
Eve Of Destruction - Barry McGuire
Unknown Soldier - Doors
Wrong Side Of Heaven - Five Finger Death Punch
What is troubling to me is, all the "protest" songs listed below spoke against WAR. None of us "less fortunate sons" had little choice about serving in Viet Nam, but when we came home, we were shunned, bad mouthed, and discriminated against by our society. i am very glad that's no longer the case.
Great segment, Adam, we all need reminders, like this, to never forget the "men who died" in a pointless war.;-)
I had many friends that went to Vietnam and I used to get really pissed off because our Vietnam Vets never got the recognition they deserved of being heros in a war nobody wanted!!!!!! So many came back really fucked up; don’t forget Agent Orange which our government tried to hide 😡😡😡😡😡😡
I feel like Vietnam was a war we shouldn't have gotten involved in. I would never treat someone who went there badly though. That's a pretty dirty thing to do. Those people were just wrong to treat veterans so shabby. 😢
"Fortunate Son" is arguably the best song CCR ever recorded-It hasn't aged one iota.
All CCR songs age like fine wine
As a veteran who's the son of a Vietnam veteran and has served with a number of Vietnam veterans, I make it a point to thank anyone who's wearing a cap or jacket denoting their service there after hearing how they were treated when they came home.
31B here, I’m an Iraq/ Afghanistan combat veteran OIF/OEF, 7 deployments. And it kills me to see that our veterans are sleeping on pavement and concrete when we let illegal immigrants come in and give them medical insurance, place to stay, a phone, and free education when our veterans put their life on the line for ME and my family and are left out in the cold. I have personally said that the worst enemy that I’ve ever faced is the US government. Thank you for yours and fathers service, me and my family thank you for your sacrifices🫡🫡
Let me be the first to thank you both for _your_ service.
Thank you and your family for your service! My poppa was a Sgt in WWII, I tried to join the Marines but I have a GI ailment & tho well-maintained, in excellent shape, they said no. End of discussion. This was 22 years ago-I’m 46-still eats at me (clearly, thus the response)
Marine 0311. When we came back from Desert Storm, having heard the stories from some of our old timers about getting spit on when they returned from Vietnam, we had a plan in place for the beatdown the first civvie POS who tried that with us would get. Luckily we were celebrated instead. I did have a friend in college who said a group of protesters there cut the yellow ribbons off the trees because they were "bad for the environment".
I always do the same, although I did not serve. My father served in WWII and when he got home he was a firefighter for the rest of his career. How can you not respect a man like that, and like you all.
As a Vietnam veteran myself, long ago I had to separate the anger people had over the Vietnam war. Most resentment I saw was toward the politicians and the lack of military planning not the servicemen.
3 of my uncles were in Viet Nam. I was in Iraq. Neither of those countries did anything to deserve what we did. My dad got drafted but ended up in Germany, where I was born. Little Pink Houses and Copperhead Road come to mind.
I grew up during the Vietnam war. My older brother went to Vietnam in 67-68 and almost killed several times. I was told by every adult that when I graduated, I too would be drafted and shipped off to fight, so I never planned my future beyond high school. To be honest, I was terrified. I got very lucky though, and the war was winding down during my senior year. They were pulling out troops before I graduated.
To this day, every time I hear Fortunate Son I think of those times. In a different way, I considered myself a fortunate one.
Here's my thought i turn 55 in 2 months, i was 3 when CCR was done. For 40 years every single time someone throws the Beatles at me, i throw back John Fogerty, i have owned the albums, tapes eight tracks and cds, who by the way as of this writing is touring and less than 100 miles from my home, so guess what. I have 2 groups that will travel with me forever, CCR and The Eagles. i have watched their netflix documentary many times, they dominated the 60s black stations too.
My dad got a draft notice for the Korean war. The notice said he was going to the Marines. He said he decided he didn't want to "get his ass shot off" so he hightailed it to the Air Force recruiter and volunteered. He later brought the recruiter his draft notice to the Marines and was told not to worry about it. They would take care of it.
Dad spent the war stateside servicing aircraft. I literally owe my life to my dad's cunning.
John wrote and sang his truth, which matched the sentiments of Americans everywhere sacrificing family members. Life isn’t fair, governments are corrupt, and music is the unified outlet. Thanks Adam.
This song spoke for many people. Every word the truth. He also wrote one when war was declared against Iraq. Deju vu all over again. Fogarty knocked it out of the park.
To Mr. John Fogerty, If you happen to see this I wish to thank you for the music you have given us throughout the years. It has touched upon many lives including my own. 🙏
It’s amazing that some songs can be literally written within minutes.
I may be a poor man, not a fortunate one, externally speaking, but I consider myself pretty fortunate that even in a screwed up world like this there's someone like John Fogerty to cut through the bullshit with his amazing vocal chops and the emotion backed by the truth. So maybe I'm a fortunate one after all... 🎸🎸🎸
John fogerty one of the best rock vocalist of all time. Every one of thier songs could have been and should have been #1
Fortunate Son: The Autobiography of Lewis B. Puller, Jr.
Lewis Burwell Puller Jr. was the son of Lt. General Lewis "Chesty" Puller, the most decorated Marine in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps. He followed in his father's footsteps and became a Marine officer. Puller graduated from the Christchurch School, in Christchurch, Virginia, in 1963 and from the College of William and Mary in 1967. After he graduated from Officer Candidate School, he received orders to South Vietnam in July 1968, where he served as an Infantry Platoon Leader for three months. On October 11, 1968, his rifle jammed during an engagement with North Vietnamese troops; Puller was wounded when he tripped a booby-trapped howitzer round, losing his right leg at the hip, his left leg above the knee, his left hand, and most of his fingers on his right hand in the explosion
Lewis was a good guy. I think of him whenever I hear this song.
I can’t believe CCR never had a No 1 hit. Anyone I’ve ever known who loves music has their albums. Anyways a tribute to our Veterans is very appropriate! God Bless every Veteran and all those who are serving today. Thank you! ❤🙏
Number 1 in our hearts though.
The establishment kept them down, man!
I think it's very patriotic to speak to and for and express the frustration of the common folks of one's country
Many people don't realize that almost every CCR song you know was from one of their first 5 albums which were released in a 2-year span starting in July of 1968. Man, what a great run. How did they do that ?
Lots of stories out there, but mostly a very driven Fogerty. I am not one of those that completely disparages the others' contributions, but, read his referenced autobiography and you get the picture.
How on Earth has CCR never had a #1 song?!?!? Guess it just goes to show how many amazing songs came out during the 60's and 70's!! But it's still such a tragedy for one of the best bands known to man!
Here's a different take on the middle finger:
The “Fish” Cheer / I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag by Country Joe and the Fish (from Woodstock)
I still remember being 12 years old in 1982 and a CCR song came on the radio. A buddy of mine said “have you ever noticed that CCR sounds a lot like Credence Clearwater Revival” completely seriously. We all laughed and made fun of him of course, but many fond memories are tied to CCR and other music of the era.
Oh my Lord. That one flew right over his head. 😂. Oops!
When I was 12, I did NOT know that John Lennon and Paul McCartney had been in the Beatles. This was in 1974. I also thought Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were STILL playing baseball and that Howard Hughes was STILL flying airliners!!!😮😮😮🤔😵💫🙃🙃
Favorite CCR song. My old job in my early 20's (a long time ago) was in construction and we'd start early in the morning, around 4 am loading our trucks at the yard. We'd have to be on the job site by 6:30am. We had a job in Indio, California and we'd stop for breakfast at the truck stop in Cabazon (where the dinosaur statues are from Pee Wee's Big Adventure). They had a jukebox there and I played this song EVERY morning.....CCR is an amazing band, one I enjoy immensely to this day. John Fogerty has a phenomenal one of a kind vocal style you recognize instantly. Looking forward to this one!
Great song…always struck a chord with me…I was fortunate not to be drafted, even though I was registered. I feel very fortunate for that! Thanks for the video Adam!
Revisiting the music of the Late '60s makes me realize how times change but nothing really changes. I was listening to another song from 1969 "One Tin Soldier" earlier today and it became clear that we have learned nothing from our past mistakes.
For a POC, it’s pretty uncommon, but my father’s favorite band was Creedence because he’s a Vietnam vet and the band is from the Bay Area. I remember when I was a very young kid, on the way to my uncle’s house on Hollis St. in Oakland, CA, my father pointed to a building and said: “That’s where the cover of “Willy and the Poor Boys” was taken.” It was where the Duck Kee Market was once located, on Peralta St. between 32nd St. and Hollis St. The market was no longer in business when my father pointed it out to me. Even though I was just a toddler, I knew what album he was talking about. John Fogerty’s voice has been in my ear all of my life and it’s one of my favorite sounds. My father died of Covid in 2020. After his death, I listened to Creedence repeatedly during sleepless nights to comfort me and “rock” me to sleep. “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” was, at that time, extremely cathartic. Thanks, Pops for the music appreciation and thanks to John Fogerty for helping me get through tough times.
Thanks for sharing your story, and for your father's service . I am sorry for the loss of your father. God bless you.
John Fogerty is one of our greatest rock and roll heroes. Fortunate Son is probably his best song, a tough choice to make with so many other great songs he has written. It is the one that resonates the most with people and stays with you years and years after you first heard it. I originally did not like the song until I listened closely to the lyrics and then I was sold on it as a rock masterpiece. John is a national treasure. If you have never seen him live please go to one of his concerts. He is an incredible musician and human being!!
Hell yes! I agree 💯💯💯
Black Sabbath's War Pigs describes this theme almost as well as this song does as does Billy Joel's "Goodnight Saigon".
this song means so much to me i was born in 1958 i just missed going the the war by only a few years we all were afraid we were going to have to go i had friends that didn't come back and kin people that didn't make it back i remmber me and my cousins would stand at the mail box every day looking for air mail coming from their brothers and friends that were over there it was a horrible time in our history God bless all our veterans and all they give up to keep us safe
Recalling the assembly where I was told my draft number... 364 ! Whew. Then I think of John saying he hadn't played 'this song' in many years - then sang it at the Welcome Home concert for Viet Vets. Touching AND a thunderous response.
This is probably one of the most “perfect” songs ever composed and recorded. Lyric wise, it’s obvious. Musically simple, three chords, great guitar hook with simple lead break, and the vocals, the way John Fogerty uses southern black phonetics and inflection in the sung lyrics is one of the most genuine and accurate uses of the black vernacular influence. Billy Gibbons is another great vocalist who exudes the black influence. Anyone who has studied guitar and American music is aware of this, the adage “those who know, know” certainly applies here. Thanks for another great presentation. 🇺🇸👮🏻♂️🎸
Damn, Fogertys voice is one of rocks all time greatest, part of the group just behind Plant, who has to be number one
Yup, when you hear Fogerty's vocals on the radio, there's no confusing him with anybody else!
@@thedys70 absolutely, for me he ranks with Ian Gillan, Ozzy etc, obviously just behind Robert Plant...
CCR songs are the first songs that I learned to play on guitar. I sympathized with sentiment that John Fogarty wrote about and still do. I could never sing like John, but nobody has to, but the sentiment can still be conveyed. I am always thankful for his contribution in my life.
Got to see Mr Fogarty perform this a few years ago. Was as raw as when he was with CCR!
Can't say enough about CCR and this song. I was old enough to know about the war, too young to fight and living in 🇨🇦. Know some draft dodgers to this day up here who came to get away. This song was their favorite. Incredible and poignant ❤. (And a damn good beat!)
Also Canadian here. My ex's dad was a draft dodger - he ran off with a backpack and all the cash he'd managed to scrounge, worked on cargo ships to get to Europe, and somehow met the Canadian girl of his dreams a month later in France. It might sound like a cynical move, but they're still together now, and are still a pair of cute older hippies in love. He used to play Fortunate Son on his guitar and sing it with a raised eyebrow and smirk after a few drinks or a toke.
I was brought around to the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival between friends of mine who played it for me because they wanted us to cover some of the songs back when I was a teenager, it's Youth and popular culture and the radio. I first heard "Fortunate Son when we had just gotten the *Chronicle* compilation, then went to see Forrest Gump. Although Robert Zemeckis and his creative team plugged the song when the title character has arrived in Vietnam, what John Fogerty was really singing about was never lost on me. I could tell that last verse was about him being against the war.
Like me, my father was class 4F; he didn't serve in Vietnam. The difference is that he had flat feet while I've got legal blindness. He definitely was not in favor of the Vietnam War, the same way I was not in favor of our invasions of Iraq or Afghanistan 40 years later. It was not difficult for me to relate to the subject matter of this song, even if it was from "my father's time" instead of mine.
Believe me. Your father was better off not doing Vietnam!
I'll never argue with that statement, @@thomashugus5686. I did my homework, and I've always known that it was the hippies who had the right idea, not the government who forced our soldiers into that lost cause conflict.
Do you know why the US went into Afghanistan?
I know this, @@terrydizzydude4087 . When Osama Bin Laden was found, he was in *Pakistan.*
I remember playing my sister's 45 of Looking Out My Back Door into the ground. I was 7, she was 16.
My two oldest brothers both served in the military, navy and air force, not drafted. Fortunate Son was a little early for me having been born eight years earlier. But it got a lot of air time even into the late 70's. My brother closest to me in age graduated high school in '75 and I in '79. Both of us talked about the draft. Fortunately the war ended before that happened. But we saw the turmoil in our own community where we lived. A lot of guys of my two oldest brothers age got shipped off to Vietnam and some didn't come home. For years there was a lot of anger about that. Fortunate Son played a big role in opening eyes to what was going on. Both of our parents were born in the mid 30's but I don't remember what their feelings were on the war. My brother and I who didn't go to war both had long hair. Our parents didn't say anything about it. But long hair and facial hair were both viewed as a kind of protest against the establishment. Of course, all rockers had long hair! My two oldest brothers never let their hair grow long. But I do know that after they came home (both in one piece) their views towards the government was against it. And that was even after the war ended. The Vietnam War was an in your face reality. It was on the news in the evening every night when everybody was eating dinner. Images of wounded and bloody men, reporters dogging bullets, aircraft on fire, men getting shot right in front of the camera, B-52's and fighter jets dropping bombs and napalm, it was right there in your face. And when these guys got home they told stories. My brother who was in the air force was in Nam during the evacuation. He was in a loaded C-130 second in line to take off when the C-130 in front of them blew up. He told me how much that shook him up. It took a long time for protest songs like Fortunate Son to start having an impact in the higher ups. Nixon kept sending in more troops. The songs kept coming and Nixon kept ignoring them. But the songs impacted the generation that got sent over there. And the movie Forrest Gump captured the anguish well. It was a stupid war. A lot of men died for nothing.
❤
A BONUS Sunday episode!! Worth coming to class for!
John Fogarty and CCR! Love it!! We are all Fortunate Sons to be in this country.
Thanks Professor!
Always grateful for any bonus episode.
I don’t know about that??!! 🤔
It always blew my mind that some guys from California could make music that sounded like it came from the bowels of a swamp.
Sac Delta is pretty swampy!@@Deepdriller328
It was towards the end of my second year of high school when the Vietnam war ended. That second year before the war ended I can't tell you how much despair I felt knowing that at the end of High School and all that learning laid death even though it was two years away but at the time there didn't seem to be an end to that war. Hard to describe that feeling I had when the announcement that the war was over. I felt then like a fortunate son.
Great post Prof!! I lived through this era. I remember unfortunately the report of casualties on the news every night. Heartbreaking to a kid.
I was going to say the same thing. That's what I remember every night on the nightly news, the casualty reports. John Chancellor and David Brinkley did the NBC reports which my parents watched. My uncle was in the USAF and went over there, but luckily not in combat. I still have the Vietnamese doll he brought me when he came home.
My dad did the exact same thing to avoid Vietnam. He signed up after he got his draft notice and becuase he volunteered he got to choose his assignment. He ended up serving on a base in Japan where he served in an intelligence unit that kept tabs on the Chinese. Of course, he had to postpone his his wedding by about four and a half months and my grand dad wasn't happy but hey it was worth it I guess.
If this song doesn't give you emotional goose bumps, there's something wrong with you. CCR is the best. Pure rock!
John Fogerty is definitely one of the finest lyricists and musicians of our time. This song is high on my list of favorites from him, hard as it is to ever pick a favorite. He unabashedly got to the heart of the issue here. Crying shame CCR never got a number one.
I was so lucky as a kid, that my sister had a wide range of musical taste. Her record player led me to many of my favorite bands/artists. By far one of the best was CCR. I remain a huge Fogerty fan through today. And Fortunate Son was one of my favs. It's on the set list of my cover band. Thanks Adam. Jebus, take a day off. You'll burn out, brother. LOL
Foggy is totally the best power vocal lead singer ever.
I’ve always loved the swagger of this song since the first time I heard it on the radio in ‘69 as a 12 year old. It summed up how many of us young people felt. I still remember my friends being worried about their older brothers getting drafted.
This is such a good song. Outside of CCR's version of the song, my favorites covers are Clutch and Social Distortion. Both bands managed to capture the essence of the song.
Great song! CCR and John Fogerty are awesome. It was cool that Fortunate Son was included in Forrest Gump!
As I reflected upon my time being sent to Iraq over WMD lies. This song has always resonated with me. I am the Fortunate one that made it home. I had friends that wasn't. My salute to my Veterans from all wars.
Not trying to justify the deception but nobody was drafted because of the WMD lie.
This song tends to bring me back to memories of a distant cousin who was briefly at Fort Eustis. I remember him briefly starting a under hood fire trying to revive my aunt's '52 Chrysler New Yorker convertible. He did succeed, and drove that while he was here. Somewhere I have a picture of him, leaning against a radiator heater, apparently smoking a cigar, with a sign in the background saying "No Smoking".
I lost an uncle in Vietnam. He joined the Marines right out of high school, in fact, he graduated early to do so. It was a cold day, snow on the ground, if I remember the pictures correctly, when they buried him, which would have been sometime in February 1966. My grandparents were always glued to the news about the war, then and after. Years later, I looked through his effects, left in the room upstairs. There were record albums (Peter, Paul and Mary, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons), a short story, poetry, along with things like a watch and an ID bracelet. I'd like to know what he said to that girl in New York (the state, not the city), considering what was in her replies. He'd had a girlfriend back home (she ultimately married a doctor), and his and her initials were all over that sweatshirt, along with a large Marine Corp logo that may have been hand drawn.
Actually, it's well after the fact that this song brings those memories to mind, since all of them predate that song. I've alluded to it in UA-cam comments because there's one political figure in particular that defines part of it. I won't mention his name here. That points to the truth that this song speaks. It's not going away any time soon, folks.
A song from my generation - Always loved CCR
One of CCR's best songs!
I’ve liked this song ever since it came out! Last year I went to see John Fogerty in Vancouver. He was just as wonderful as he was during his CCR days! I remember thinking, dang, this song is still as relevant as it was back in the 1970’s! Thank, Adam!
Real. American. Music. Awesome lesson, Prof. !
I saw him this summer in brightport conn he was great .. he was very happy playinging with his 2 sons in stage
Always a fan of CCR, I grew up in the era of this war & remember some of our town's sons going off to fight. In my career I was been blessed to have worked with every faction of the Military except the Coast Guard & am dang proud of them all.
So wonderful to see your dad Adam... He feels like part of OUR family.
Wow! That song should of been #1 on the charts. I’m sure it got bumped down to 3 because of its true meaning.
Totally agree with your remarks about the vocals. Sometimes that strained voice sends a song right over the top...like Lennon in "twist and shout."
Cosmo's Factory is my personal favorite of CCR catalog.
Amen Adam! Fortunate Son is one of the most passionate songs ever written and sung!
I swear, I came out the womb against the Vietnam War....oops, I meant the police action.
So, gravitated to anything that was against that damn War.
However, being that it was something I had with my breakfast and my dinner, it was my understanding that one day my turn was going to come. They tried to get one of my brothers, but he failed the physical and one Saturday morning he popped it back up at the door.
Let me say this, my mother was so religious and pray daily.
After my brother got his draft notice, one night my mom was in her bed praying... she I was saying a prayer asking that none of her children would ever have to go to war. She said the bedroom lit up, and a voice said ," Let, not your heart be troubled", sense that experience... my attempt to join the Marine Corps in the 80s, was not to be and when one of my sons attempted to join the military, he too was rejected.
I will tell you, not one child of any children that came out of my mother's womb, has been able to join the military.
I will say out of all the anti-war songs, Fortunate Son", what is the most powerful it had the most impactful message.
I love CCR they are just great music and. John Fogerty voice is so cool, nobody sounds like him. Really awesome.
In school back in the 60’s and 70’ I can remember sitting cross legged on the grass singing songs as a class. Songs like leaving on a jet plane. And yes kumbaya, different times.
If you had a low draft number best thing to do, was to enlist pick a duty station overseas in Europe.
Kick fuckin ass. Certainly one of my favorites. John is such a treasure.
There's this myth that anti-war protesters spit on the returning veterans; not true. The protesters' chant was to "bring the boys back home". Those going over were their brothers, their friends and neighbors and those doing the fighting weren't fortunate sons. I always felt this song was for them. Kissinger has just passed on and it was heartwarming to see all the thoughts and feelings expressed in comments by these less than fortunate sons and daughters for the legacy he left.
Are you serious? Maybe you didn’t hear of any personal attacks but they happened! Vietnam vets tried to make sure veterans of Desert Storm and other military actions didn’t receive the treatment they did!
@@shellymedley6795 Sorry but these myths were perpetuated over the years by the very masters of war and politicians who crafted these wars for our unfortunate sons and daughters to fight, the politicians who rolled back many veteran benefits and saw that the homeless vets on the street were hidden by emptying the mentally ill from state psychiatric facilities.
Great song with an important message.
One of my favorite singers and his songs still matter as much today as they did then.
Thanks for sharing a little snippet of your dad's interview. It was nice putting a face with a wise man that followers of this channel have heard so much about. And as a Veteran, thanks for dedicating this video to us! You rock!
CCR one of my all time favourite bands. Loved them to bits. Nice hearing the history about them.
I remember singing this song when I was young. Being born in 1960. I’ve been very blessed to hear some of the best music ever recorded.
I think Dan has one of the best voices ever. Starting back then and lasting throughout the years
I think you mean John.
That Dan Fogelberg is something else.
I had a draft card, but the war was closing down and I didn't get drafted. My older brother was blind as hell without his glasses and failed his physical. I did end up enlisting in the Navy. Stayed over 20 years and they thank me every month with a check.
I must confess that I don't remember "B" sides of any cd's I had.
As a kid I had the blessing of a family that loved music. CCR was a mainstay of my youth. However being born in 72 my intellect for music was lacking. So in 1987 when I was riding bike and boards a Circle Jerks cover of this song blew me away and it reminded me of music that was always on. Thankfully my music intellect grew and helped me love all music
What a great song. I saw Pearl Jam play this song several times in concert. They absolutely nailed it
Some years ago, not that many, a former friend won tickets to a concert at the Amp in Tampa.
Willie Nelson family was the opening act, if you can imagine. The headliner was Fogarty.
My former friend only wanted to see Willie, and I rode with him.
Gee, whiz! I didn't even get to see "Fortunate Son"!
What a drag.
With the exception of a morning radio show, I listened to nothing but CCR for 2 entire years! Fortunate son isn't my fav by them, but I still love it. Adams right, the passion behind those vocals is heard loud and clear!
My miltary career started in the late 80s with the California National Guard. Many of my friends there were Vietnam veterans. Fortunate son is a great song. Run through the Jungle too. Creedence music played near our trucks and howitzers.
I grew up seeing the war through Walter Concrite, when I got old enough "Fortunate Son" became how I learned to live, looking at what was really happening. WWII was, in my opinion, the last war we fought for America.
Always learn from your vids Adam. Thanks for for showing a clip of your Dad.
As solo performer after CCR has been nothing short of amazing. I saw it on TV brings a little of his so many of his/our generation. Thank you for the inspiration.
Viet vet here (one of the one’s your sick of because of the Lejeune water fiasco, but I’ll never see a penny) all the thanking came at the Desert Storm era. I got crap but all of a sudden thanking became Patriotic. I quit wearing my Marine gear years ago because “I don’t wanna hear it, it’s too late.” I have nothing to do with the VA, hope I never have too. Jam it all!
Nothing against the guys that accept it, they deserve it but count me out.
CCR, before the break-up, is the only true American band. IMO.
Being in my 70’s I remember CCR and boy did they tell the truth. Us poor folk didn’t have a chance.
I really like CCR so it was great to hear more about them. Great job prof 😊
Adam, I truly hope your amazing dad got to see the success you've achieved through the passion for music he helped to instill in you, before he passed.
Played it on Ed Sullivan too!! For a show that routinely censored musical acts,(Dylan,Stones,Doors…),surprised they let ‘em get away with this. Love me some John Fogerty,ESPECIALLY this jam!!
Love your take on this! You’re so articulate and spot on! This is my favorite CCR song of all time! Saw them 3x in the late 60s/early 70s! Steamed a live Red Rock concert of him and his 2 sons a couple of years ago. My bucket list is to see him live at least one more time! Had a ticket to see him in 2022, but show cancelled last minute. He had to have emergency eye surgery. I’ll keep trying!
Here's a wild fact, Jim Morrison's Father was the one who was in command of the US ships involved in the (partially falsified) Gulf of Tonkin incident.
Adam you've never been better or more valuable to the world
CCR was grrrreat! Too many excellent songs to list.
Always liked it. I always think about Eisenhower's speech about the military industrial complex. I'm not a fortunate son.
Fortunate Son wasn't a song written and sung to get 2 weeks on top 40 and make a few bucks. It was a song written about the actual reality of what was happening in and to America, and to Americans. Fifty years after its time on the charts it is still being played because it is a song about America, its government, and its people. It's not a pop song. It's a statement about America and Americans. And what it sings about hasn't changed very much over the last 50 years. The song still rings as true as the day it was written. So you can drive across the USA and still hear it being played today on small, local radio stations all across the heartland.
Great post!
My favorite CCR song!!! Definitely one of those the I’m damn sure the whole damn neighborhood will listen to it with me!!! (And the Grohl, Zak, & Boss performance is one of the best covers ever!!)🤘🍻
Dave Grohl and Zach Wilde collborated on a cover? I gotta hear that.
@@germanenglishengineer2054 no, (I wish), it was Ghrol, Zak Brown & Bruce Springsteen at a free concert in DC
ua-cam.com/video/BXTMhDJD3vk/v-deo.htmlsi=_LezQTkXlTrJ67Sl
Professor of Rock . Adam , CCR was the voice of that decade for us first born GEN Xers .
i think it is a damn shame CCR never had a no1 hit in my mind they had many no1 hits
John Fogerty's personal story is an interesting one of its own!