Steely Dan are a jazz-influenced rock band from New York State. The core members of the group, singer/keyboardist Donald Fagen and guitarist Walter Becker, have been making records since 1972. The pair split up in 1981, but reunited twelve years later and have been active ever since.
Influence
Use of Irony
The lyrics to many of the Steely Dan's most popular songs may have been misinterpreted by mass audiences, due to Fagen's subtle and frequent use of irony. 1977's "Peg," for example, appears to be a love song, but closer examination reveals an account of exploitation and lechery. Likewise for "Bad Sneakers," which seems to celebrate the high life, but is actually a parody of disco-era decadence.
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