I asked on Friday… What song do you really love despite being philosophically opposed to the lyrics.
I promised to post mine, but first a recap of the ones already offered:
“Ain’t No Way” – Aretha Franklin
I know that a woman’s duty is to help and love a man
“I Got A Woman” – Ray Charles
She knows a womans place is right there now in her home
“House of the Rising Sun” – The Animals
“Son of a Preacher Man” – Dusty Springfield
Most things by Janis Joplin.
“I Know My Love” – The Chieftans
“OPP” – Naughty By Nature.
“Before He Cheats” – Carrie Underwood
“Spirit in the Sky.” – Norman Greenbaum
“Build Me Up, Buttercup” – The Foundations.
And my personal list:
“Always A Woman” – Billy Joel
“Jessie’s Girl” – Rick Springfield
And thanks to Rob Paravonian
“Every Morning” – Sugar Ray
Hmmm…
“Follow Me” – Uncle Kracker
“The Party Song” – Blink 182 (Actually, most things by Blink…)
That’s all I can think of right now…
Re: Hmmm…
Also, the husband came up with:
“Self-Esteem” – Offspring
“Stacy’s Mom” – Fountains of Wayne
Wow, where to start…
I think part of my problem is that I realize it is easier to craft a song about how we need to be united and a better people than it is to craft a song about heroism (they all sound like the “Ode to Davy Crockett”) or individuality. So while I may enjoy a fair number of different songs, the actual content, while a beautiful sentiment, runs contrary to my own political leanings–which favor the individual and individual initiative over the group-think of a socialist state. In other words, while it is beautiful to sing about how all the people will come together in unity and harmony, it’s a dangerous sentiment because it’s demanding all these people give up their free will for the good of the State.
Songs in that category include:
“On The Turning Away”, Pink Floyd–uses the notion of turning away from the helplessness of others (such as homelessness) to advocate everyone coming together in harmony.
“Territories”, Rush–an anti-war creed which advocates one-worldism over patriotism or nationalism. (That song pissed off the Chinese market–which is why Rush also wrote “Tai Shan” the following year, which is about as much of a love song about China as you can ever expect.)
The song lyrics I tend to like the best tend to be very personal impassioned pleas: “Time Stand Still” (Rush)–I can almost hear the signature lyric “Time stand still” screamed during performance as a demand to the universe to slow down. “Loved By You” (Journey)–the lyrics:
still choke me up. (I’m a softie…)
And the lyrics that make me cringe are the old love songs that I used to listen to when I was in high school and college–which strike me as mindlessly juvenile–which makes me wonder how people like Phil Collins could write such drivel. That includes stuff like “Silver Rainbow” by Genesis–puke!!! How the fuck did I ever listen to that?!?
When I was in high school, I really liked the song More than Words by extreme. I was 17 and highly suceptible to sappy ballads sung by cute guys. It was 1990, and I was still in the habit of not really listening to the lyrics of music (holdover from 80s pop–don’t listen, just dance.)
The song eventually fell off power rotation and disappeared for a few years. Then the “mix” stations moved from 60s-70s-80s to 70s-80s-90s, and I heard it again on the radio. I actually listened to the words and had to shut it off.
The message of the song basically boils down to, “If you loved me, you’d fuck me.” Um, yeah.
The other one that comes to mind is Pink’s You and Your Hand. I’m actually fine with the sentiment and the overall message. She’s at a club, just wanting to dance with her friends and ends up having to fight off drunken assholes who are trying to paw at her or pick her up or both. I’ve been there. It sucks, and it makes you mad enough to really tap into the raging-bitch-from-hell energy. Even so, the “you and your hand” part of the lyrics are a bit much. A simple “fuck off” works much better. The part of the song that squicks me is the line, “Keep your drink, just give me the money.” Ok, sister, you just lost the moral high ground. Other than that, it’s a good song for when you really need angry music.
Agreed!
I like the song at first for the fact I’ve related in a drunken state “get the fuck away creep who just grabbed my ass for no good reason” although, she lost me with that one line too…
“Keep your drink, just give me your money” because… ew.
The ew concept.
-Angela
“If you wanna be happy” Jimmy Soul
Okay…
I realize a lot of folks may or may not know this song, but as a kid – I always loved it, and therefore I still love it although long since listening to the lyrics of “If you wanna be happy” by Jimmy Soul.
Here’s how it goes:
If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life
Never make a pretty woman your wife
So from my personal point of view
Get an ugly girl to marry you
A pretty woman makes her husband look small
And very often causes his downfall
As soon as he marries her, then she starts
Doin’ the things that will break his heart
But if you make an ugly woman your wife
You’ll be happy for the rest of your life
An ugly woman cooks your meals on time
An she’ll always give you peace of mind
Don’t let your friends say you have no taste
Go ahead and marry anyway
Though her face is ugly and her eyes don’t match
Take it from me, she’s a better catch
—–
I must say, … Wow.
🙂 But as it has a catchy beat and it also brings back childhood happies well… there it is. I definitely don’t agree with the philosophy. 🙂
-Angela
BTW
Brilliant post.
Brilliant! There are so many songs that this could apply and I like reading what others have to say!!! Thanks for posting this question!
-Angela
“Brutal Planet” by Alice Cooper. Great song, but I’m not a fan of born-again theology.