Michael Heatley

The Girl in the Song: The True Stories Behind 50 Rock Classics

Published by Chicago Review Press

Oct 11, 2010 Web Exclusive By Frank Valish Bookmark and Share


Michael Heatley's examination of famed rock muses, while not extensive or exhaustive, is an interesting exploration for the layperson into the subjects of some of the most recognizable songs-about-girls. With 50 songs covered in under 150 pages, Heatley doesn't spend undue time on any one song, rather he skips along through rock history with a footnote's brevity and Cliff's Notes ease. It's a quick read and Heatley's text is more bullet-point presentation than thorough analysis, but how much do you really need to know about "Maggie May?" [Spoiler alert: it's about Rod Stewart's losing his virginity in a one-night stand at a jazz festival in 1961.] Songs mostly stick to the classic rock and pop genres: "See Emily Play," "Under My Thumb," "Lola," "Our House," "My Sharona." The Rolling Stones and Beatles are well represented, with the occasional oddball thrown in for good measure (remember Donovan's "Jennifer Juniper"?). So in a way, The Girl in the Song is perfect: bite-size trivia and little facts you probably didn't know about songs you have doubtlessly heard and probably not thought a whole lot about. Browse it and dazzle friends with useless knowledge at the water cooler. (www.chicagoreviewpress.com)

Author rating: 5/10

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