Tulsa World: State may vote on official rock song

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State may vote on official rock song

By ANGEL RIGGS World Capitol Bureau
Published: 3/30/2008 1:49 AM
Last Modified: 4/2/2008 12:10 PM

Oklahomans would nominate music and make the final selection.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma lawmakers may give you a chance to make rock 'n' roll history.

House members are expected to decide Monday if the state will get an official rock 'n' roll song. If approved, the song should become official just as the Oklahoma History Center raises the curtain early next year on a major exhibit detailing the state's history of rock.

Lawmakers won't pick the song -- that's up to you -- but House Concurrent Resolution 1047 would set the stage for selection.

If approved, the measure would allow Oklahomans to nominate rock songs online and at various music events this summer. Any song could be nominated, as long as it was written or recorded by an Oklahoma artist.

"We want to get as many people involved in the process as possible," said Jeff Moore, the Oklahoma History Center's exhibit director.

The resolution's author, Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, said he would especially like Oklahoma's newest songwriters and local bands to enter the contest.

"We've got a lot of talent," said Dorman, who also brought Oklahoma its state vegetable, the watermelon.

Nominations will be taken online until August and can be made at www.tulsaworld.com/staterocksong .

All of the songs will be turned over to a

panel of experts, which will whittle the count to a Top 10.

Just who gets one of the sure-to-be coveted spots on the rock 'n' roll panel hasn't been determined.

However, the governor, House speaker and Senate president pro tem each get one appointee. The Oklahoma Historical Society and the Oklahoma Film and Music Commission will each name two people to the committee.

Oklahomans will choose the official song from the Top 10 this fall, by voting online, similar to the vote for the design of the Oklahoma quarter.

The song Oklahomans choose will then be submitted to lawmakers' next session for confirmation as the state's official rock 'n' roll song.

Any song whose writer or performer has Oklahoma ties can be nominated.

For example, the GAP Band's songs could work because the group originated in Tulsa. Likewise, Oklahoma City's Flaming Lips' tunes could also be accepted.

Even Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" could work because of the song's Oklahoma author, Mae Boren Axton. Of course, her son, Hoyt Axton, could also claim the title with his music, including several Three Dog Night hits that reference Oklahoma.

"Hopefully, the songs and the artists they will nominate will reflect the history and tradition of this great state," said Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville, the resolution's Senate sponsor.

If all goes as planned, by this time next year, the official song would be approved just as the Oklahoma History Center debuts "Another Hot Oklahoma Night," a comprehensive exhibit on Oklahoma's rich history with rock 'n' roll.

"It's really interesting about how all of these bands and musicians are all interconnected," Moore said. "It's an amazing story that hasn't been focused on."

Oklahoma can be credited with introducing the Midwest to rock 'n' roll, Moore said.

"People west of the Mississippi got their first taste of rock 'n' roll through Oklahoma, from the Oklahoma City and Tulsa radio stations," Moore said. Both cities had stations with huge, powerful signals, he said.

The three-part exhibit will feature rock 'n' roll songwriters, performers, radio stations and venues, including Tulsa's Cain's Ballroom and The Brady Theater.

It's to include not only the evolution of rock 'n' roll in Oklahoma, but also footage of some little-known but big-name performances. For example, a 1956 Elvis concert in Oklahoma City was filmed by WKY -- although the footage doesn't have sound, Moore said.

Singer Wanda Jackson, who now lives in Oklahoma City, opened for Elvis that night, he said.

"We're doing oral interviews and video interviews with a lot of these individuals associated with rock 'n' roll music to put in the exhibit," Moore said.

"Hopefully we can do a nice documentary covering the history of rock 'n' roll music in Oklahoma."

The rock 'n' roll song will not replace the state's official song.

It's unlikely that any song will ever upstage Rodgers and Hammerstein's world-renowned "Oklahoma," which became the state's official song in 1953.

However, the state does have other official songs.

Bob Wills' "Faded Love" was adopted as the state's country and Western song in 1988.

In 2001, "Oklahoma Hills" by Jack and Woody Guthrie became the state's folk song.

Angel Riggs (405) 528-2465
angel.riggs@tulsaworld.com

By ANGEL RIGGS World Capitol Bureau

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	Report Comment Johnny 5, Tulsa (3/30/2008 2:42:37 AM) How about a song after our state bird. "Halo of flies" by Alice Cooper. Dust my broom for the dust problem & I've got the Blues for the condition of the infrastructure -n - being plagued by crime, disease, famin,corruption etc,etc etc The vultures are circling now
	Report Comment observer1, tulsa (3/30/2008 5:34:04 AM) Your politicians at "work"...priorities?
	Report Comment jw, canadian (3/30/2008 8:07:46 AM) Why don't these igets vote for school funding or replacing the piece of crap for a highway 69 from Eufaula to Checotah?
	Report Comment E T, tulsa (3/30/2008 8:22:39 AM) what a waste of tax payers time and money. they will probably make it a special election wasting even more of our money. I would waste the pencil lead to vote on something like that.
	Report Comment TRUTH, SS (3/30/2008 8:29:16 AM) What a waste of time! You should call your Representative and tell him/her exactly what you think of this effort. What's next, the official state polka song? How about the official state rap song? Don't forget the official state heavy metal tune? Where does the madness end?
	Report Comment Eric, (3/30/2008 8:42:24 AM) Living on Tulsa Time
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (3/30/2008 8:48:38 AM) There was a serious effort back in the 1980's to make "Louie Louie" the official state song of Washington. Oklahoma could do worse, and probably will. But there's only one candidate: "Tulsa Time" by Don Williams. The Eric Clapton version is the best, but it's been recorded so many times that someone from Oklahoma must have recorded it too. Is anyone in OKC working on what to do about the budget shortfall?
	Report Comment STEPPENWOLF, TULSA (3/30/2008 9:04:39 AM) With all the drug problems JOKLAhoma has, THE PUSHER MAN by STEPPENWOLF would be the perfect theme song or maybe the theme tune from the movie DELIVERANCE with an rock & roll beat.
	Report Comment james, Sapulpa (3/30/2008 10:46:23 AM) You got to be kidding! With all that's not going on with Oklahoma's education system, gas prices, milk prices, price prices etc. we have a poltician wanting to vote for a state rock song? How stupid are our leaders. My god. We are living in a freaking goof ball land.
	Report Comment WHAT'S NEXT, (3/30/2008 11:19:29 AM) Good Lord. What's next. Don't those people have more important things to do than sit around dreaming up some stupid thing such as this.
	Report Comment OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE, (3/30/2008 11:21:05 AM) Merle Haggard and OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE
	Report Comment Onomatopoeia, Jenks (3/30/2008 12:24:22 PM) Any legitimate candidates for a state rock song couldn't be about just one city. I'm sure that the eventual selection will leave everyone just as puzzled as the winning design for the Oklahoma quarter.
	Report Comment Ron B, Broken Arrow (3/30/2008 1:53:34 PM) Our leaders really are on top of it. Not every state can have a fruit as its vegetable. Maybe Mr. Dorman should step out of the spotlight for a while...at least until the laughter subsides.
	Report Comment Ric Palmer, Tulsa (3/30/2008 2:15:49 PM) The obvious choice is "Never Been to Spain" by Three Dog Night, written by Hoyt Axton. With lyrics like "I've never been to Heaven, but I've been to Oklahoma", it sums up all of the whole state. Now if everyone on here can just quit all the bitchin and realize Okie politicians are idiots everything would be OK.
	Report Comment myers, tulsa (3/30/2008 3:55:17 PM) wow.. this is going to be a good one! the state quarter is a joke, a state tune... hehe.. oh.. wait- "three blind mice" is already taken.. what else? turkey in the straw?... nope.. good choice but has no oklahoma ties... maybe state lawmakers need to focus their attention on more pressing issues???
	Report Comment J. W. Booth, South Tulsa (3/30/2008 4:29:37 PM) This is pure discrimination. I'm calling my representative tomorrow. If we're going to have a State Rock Song then we should also have a State Rap Song.
	Report Comment Cletus, (3/30/2008 5:59:28 PM) Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side.
	Report Comment But it is suppose , tulsa (3/30/2008 6:11:37 PM) But it is suppose to distract you, and make you feel good and warm all over. Give yea that fuzzy feeling. How about Highway to hell or Dust in the wind
	Report Comment Kevin, Tulsa (3/30/2008 6:52:08 PM) " The resolution's author, Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs" - and they wonder why a lot Democrats bills don't get heard. Clowns.
	Report Comment I got it, Tulsa (3/30/2008 7:11:29 PM) Send in the clowns
	Report Comment david allen cole, tulsa (3/30/2008 7:11:40 PM) David allen cole is from oklahoma. how about his old hit SHE RAN OFF WITH A [ILLEGAL ALIEN]
	Report Comment Joe-Allen Doty, Tulsa, OK (3/30/2008 8:43:35 PM) Rodgers and Hammerstein's world-renowned "Oklahoma" replaced the original State Song. -- If an official State Country Song were being selected, I would choose David Frizzell's "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma." Frizzell was not born in Oklahoma, but, in Arkansas. (But, then again, Rogers and Hammerstein weren't from Oklahoma either. -- Merle Haggard was the son of Okies and he was born in Bakersfield, CA. -- There is actually a real historical difference between Country Songs and Western Songs.
	Report Comment PZZAGUY, Jenks (3/30/2008 9:17:42 PM) to david allen cole, tulsa: Do you mean David Allan Coe? He's the famous rebel country musician. Not sure who David allen cole is. Could you please clarify?
	Report Comment thinker, (3/30/2008 10:23:05 PM) How about Guns and Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle"?
	Report Comment that a good one, tulsa (3/30/2008 10:26:37 PM) #26 thats a great tune With a 100% German name like AXEL what can be expected [lol]

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