You Really Got Me

I swear, "You Really Got Me" by the Kinks is the bane of my existence. I am supposed to learn this song for my next bass lesson - which is Saturday - and I can't get up to speed. Quite frankly, I should be practicing instead of writing this. At any rate, I can't play the song fast enough - and the whole song is based around speed.

The main riff to "You Really Got Me" is instantly recognizable, thanks in part to the popular Van Halen cover.  It's that popular riff that also earned the track a spot on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 best rock songs of all time. 

The song isn't just fast - it's aggressive in a way that music fans were unfamiliar when Ray Davies first penned the song back in the early 1960s. I have trouble with the aggression part, too. Oh, I am a frustrated artist for sure - but that never comes through when I play my bass. The only thing that comes through is... mud.

I grew up listening to the Van Halen version of "You Really Got Me."  That song still enjoys a healthy rotation on classic rock radio. I think part of song's charm is its length - you get in, you get out, you get some rock - in about two and half minutes. Van Halen were smart to not mess with the timing of the original. 

I think "You Really Got Me" is one of those songs that will make anyone look cool. I'm sure you are familiar with at least one local band that isn't very good, but has spirit nonetheless. I would suspect that playing a Kinks classic equals automatic street cred.

I guess I should practice now.

*Musicians - ever been really frustrated by one song in particular?

The Kinks:

Van Halen's version: