I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday - Fats Domino
Song of the Day #13
Apple Music link: https://music.apple.com/us/album/im-gonna-be-a-wheel-some-day/1552756829?i=1552759518
If you asked me before I heard this song that "would Fats be successful without his piano and horn arrangements?" My answer would be a resounding "no." It's clear that the focal point of his appeal resided in the New Orleans atmosphere brewed by his expressive playing style and thick, heavy arrangements. Yet, the true secret to his magic actually lies in the sheer number of great vocal hooks that are present in his songs. "Please Don't Leave Me?" "Ain't That A Shame?" "Blue Monday?" "I'm Walkin?" "Whole Lotta Loving?" "I'm Ready?" Practically ALL of these manage to capture a memorable vocal melody delivered with his charming personality, and it's hard to imagine him attaining dozens of hit singles without the songwriting giftedness of Fats and Dave Bartholomew.
So, it was easily possible for him to make great music without his typical instrumentation, and "I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday" is one of his most successful forays into new musical territory. I didn't like it much at first, but I just had to adjust to the change in style: it's hard to not love those "HEYs" that kick off one of his most entertaining speedy rockers. The way he subtly modulates his voice on the main chorus truly makes the song. The melody itself is absolutely invigorating, but those little emphases on "I'm gonna be a WHEEL someday, I'm gonna be someBODY, I'm gonna be a REAL gone cat" gives the song the necessary jolts it needs to lock into full overdrive. It is lighter and airier than you expect from their regularly hefty sound, but the energy, tightness, and scratchy guitar riff allow the song to stand its ground against Domino's long series of classics. So even though I lament the lack of piano (though here is a good live piano-driven version), this is one hell of a kickass song. Who could play as fast as this back then?
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