Episode 91 - The Ataris "Boys Of Summer" Guitar Cover with Lyrics

(Headphones or Stereo Speakers Recommended 🎧)

I wanted to do this song last year but due to my hand and shoulder surgery, it got shelved. I wanted to do this song in celebration of opening day for baseball and do it baseball-themed as the boys of summer are back. I live in Wisconsin and have always been a Brewers fan as I am like many of you that root for your home team.

The song "The Boys of Summer" was originally written and performed by Don Henley, a founding member of the Eagles, for his 1984 solo album "Building the Perfect Beast." The song was a massive hit, reaching the top of the charts in several countries.

In 2003, the American rock band The Ataris released a cover version of "The Boys of Summer" as a single from their album "So Long, Astoria." The Ataris' cover brought new life to the song and introduced it to a younger generation. The single peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Modern Rock Chart and No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. It remains their most successful single.

The Ataris' version of the song replaced the "Deadhead sticker" reference with one that the band felt was more appropriate to the age group of their fans, namely a "Black Flag sticker", in honor of the punk rock band from the 1980s. In a 2016 interview, Henley was asked if he was okay with the lyric change and responded critically, "No, not really... And if you noticed, we haven’t heard much from the Ataris since then." On the contrary, The Ataris' version maintains the essence of the original but adds a more energetic and punk rock vibe to it. The band's lead singer, Kris Roe, explained that he was drawn to the song because of its nostalgic lyrics about lost love and the passage of time. Their cover resonated with the younger listeners, capturing the essence of youth, summer, and the bittersweet memories that come with them as well as introducing this song to that generation as it was likely they would have never come across it.

Tribute to the GOAT Hank Aaron the true home run king. I was very fortunate as a young child to be able to witness Hank Aaron hit a home run at County Stadium in Milwaukee. I remember being so excited to see him play and it was also full-size replica bat giveaway day so I got to take home a souvenir. Unfortunately, the bat was broken a short time later as we were using it to play ball in the park. The 2023 baseball season is here so good luck to all of those that are rooting for your home teams. Here's hoping for an exciting season.

Gear used in the video:
I used my Nita Strauss Jive Jr guitar. My guitar parts were played through my Eleven Rack which was recorded, mixed, and arranged through Logic. The video was edited with Final Cut Pro.

I use Ernie Ball Strings because I want the best like many of my idols like Paul Stanley, Jimmy Page, Billie Joe Armstrong, Angus Young, Joe Bonamassa, and Paul McCartney to name a few.

Thank you for your support of the channel and for keeping the music that created the soundtrack of our lives alive and well.

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