My theme for this year’s A to Z Blogging Challenge is classic rock songs. Each day during the month (except for the first four Sundays, I will post a classic rock song: a video from YouTube, along with a brief bit of background about the song and the recording artist(s).
This is much more difficult than I thought it would be. For every letter of the alphabet there are dozens of fantastic classic rock songs to choose from and picking just one song for each letter is maddening. But this is what I signed up for.
My K song is “Katmandu” from Bob Seger.
“Katmandu” was written and recorded by American rocker Bob Seger. It was initially released on his 1975 studio album, Beautiful Loser, which became the first of ten consecutive platinum albums for Seger. The song was later featured on his live album, Live Bullet. The single version reached number 43 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Katmandu is the capital of Nepal. In the 1960s, as many young Americans were searching for enlightenment, the city was seen as a panacea for the ills of Western culture. A remote and exotic location, it was also seen as the ultimate getaway.
Seger was singing about his desire to disappear for a while after dealing with constant touring and record company politics. For him, Katmandu represented a place far away where no one will bother you.
Sound familiar? Isn’t that what Joni Mitchell, in her song, “Free Man in Paris,” said how record producer David Geffen felt about Paris? Joni said that Geffen told her that he felt most alive and unencumbered when he was in Paris, where nobody could call him up and ask for favors and he had no futures to decide.
I wonder how many other rock musicians wrote songs about escaping the rat race of the music business. Can you think of any other such songs?
Although Seger wrote and sang this song about escaping to Katmandu, there is no evidence that he ever actually did. After the Nepali earthquake of 2015, though, Seger said his “heart went out” to the city and called on his fans to contribute any way they could.
Here are the lyrics to “Katmandu.”
I think I'm going to Katmandu
That's really, really where I'm going to
If I ever get out of here
That's what I'm gonna do
K-k-k-k-k-k Katmandu
I think that's really where I'm going to
If I ever get out of here
I'm going to Katmandu
I got no kick against the west coast
Warner brothers are such good hosts
I raise my whiskey glass and give them a toast
I'm sure they know it's true
I got no rap against the southern states
Every time I've been there it's been great
But now I'm leaving and I can't be late
And to myself be true
That's why I'm going to Katmandu
Up to the mountain's where I'm going to
And if I ever get out of here
That's what I'm gonna do
Aw, k-k-k-k-k-k Katmandu
Really, really where I'm going to
If I ever get out of here
I'm going to Katmandu
Oh
Take it away
I ain't got nothin' 'gainst the east coast
You want some people where they got the most
And New York City's like a friendly ghost
You seem to pass right through
I know I'm gonna miss the USA
I guess I'll miss it every single day
But no one loves me here anyway
I know my plane is due
The one that's going to Katmandu
Up to the mountain's where I'm going to
If I ever get out of here
That's what I'm gonna do
K-k-k-k-k-k Katmandu
Really, really, really, going to
If I ever get out of here
If I ever get out of here
If I ever get out of here
I'm going to Katmandu, oh
Ooh huh huh
Ooh huh huh ooh yeah
Katmandu
Katmandu
Katmandu
Katmandu
Katmandu
Katmandu
Katmandu
Katmandu
Katmandu
Katmandu
This, That, and the Other 
I like this song. Thanks for the wonderful reminder.
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I went Katmandu? I have never heard of that. Then I saw Bob Seeger and it still didn’t register. I hit play and knew straight away.
Love this choice for the K Fandango 🙂
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Better than my J choice, huh?
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The only way is up after J Paul McCartneys “Jet” would have been better
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I would never have guess this on thad something to do with the record industry.
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I didn’t either.
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I can hear some Roll Over Bethoven guitar licks in this song. This is not on my bucket list, but I would rather ne in Katmandu than Timbuktu.
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The older I get, the more I think “Kashimir,” the other K that fits here, is a work of genius. Also that place in the East to which musicians could escape. My favorite musician outta-here song is Pat Benatar, “Taking it Back….”
When they found you, you were driven and hungry
You were playin’ for your life then
You were livin’ for the chance to be heard
What they promised, what they offered
Was more than you’d ever hoped for
To walk away, ya’ know that would’ve been absurd
There were parties and photos and televised award shows
And covers of magazines
There was gold and platinum and everyone was smiling
You were coming apart at the seems
There were jerk offs too numerous to mention
When everybody shared the dream
But when it came time to share the nightmare
They were conveniently nowhere to be seen
Tell ’em you’re takin’ it back, so they might as well get used to the idea
You’re takin’ it back, those cooperation days are over
You got no one to blame but yourself, so don’t put it on nobody else
Put it behind you, start over, today
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Cool pickup on the theme.
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Yep, she definitely expressed her anger and frustration with “the business.”
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I remember hearing this song and the refrain of “If I ever get out of here…” reminds me of the tentacles of growing up in a very small town where everyone knew all there was to know about you and your family. Now, years later living in a very big metropolitan area, I sometimes miss the small town days, if that makes sense.
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The grass seems always greener on the other side of the fence.
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One of my favorites and definitely my favorite by Seger.
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