Happy Music Monday! The Ides of March are traditionally when Caesars get a little nervous. After all, it was in the Ides that Julius Caesar was murdered by... aw, we all read the play in high school. Today's Music Monday is a tribute to all the great Caesars of days past. We who are about to rock salute you!
Julius Caesar is the Caesar most of us think of first, but remember, Caesar is a title, not a surname. Really, anyone with the vision, the drive, and the focus to crush everyone in their way could become a Caesar. What do you think "Czar" really means?
Ave, Caesar! More hails await you after the jump.
Mr. Pop is the son of a history teacher, so one has to expect that he'll know a little history. This song gives you the experience of a Caesar going about his daily duties with a little guitar behind it all. Not a bad gig, huh?
Let's be honest, regardless of our feelings about this period of Kiss, "Little Caesar" is at least as good as all the other crap from 1989. This song also features the vocals of the late Eric Carr, affording him a rare honor in a group dominated by Gene and Paul. It's a song full of strut and glory, perfect for a bar jukebox after the gladiator battles are done for the day.
What is it about Caesar-themed songs? Bands seem to turn to them after their glory years are through. Blondie's last 80's record joins Iggy Pop and Kiss to create this story about a hero looking back at, well, what the past was like. Maybe that's the real message of Caesar and the ides of March. No glory lasts forever, and you don't know you've passed it until it's too late.
Part of being Caesar is never admitting when you're wrong. You gotta just own it and make everyone else doubt themselves.
Let us just remind you: some images come from the corresponding Wikipedia page and are here under fair use. See you next week. And, uh, remember thou art mortal.