Redartz: Hello everyone! Today we are merging motifs, combining categories, twisting topics. In other words, our two questions today are two sides of the same musical subject. We recently discussed Beatles tunes which may have not been, shall we say, our favorites. This go-round, we take that a step further. Our questions:
1. Is there a song, from your favorite (or one of your favorite) musical acts, that you absolutely detest (okay, everyone can have an off day...)?
2. Is there a song, from a musical act you absolutely detest, that you grudgingly admit you like (yes, you can't believe that act was capable of producing anything remotely listenable, but there it is)?
To start the discussion off, here are my answers:
1. The Beatles are tops on my list, but we covered them already. Therefore, another big favorite, the Police, will get the nod. Most all the songs on most all their albums are good listening. And the album "Synchronicity" contains many musical gems ( "Wrapped Around Your Finger", "King of Pain"). However, it also contains the track "Mother". Unpleasant, uncomfortable;doubtlessly intentional, but still excruciating. A definite skip-over track.
2. Another popular 80's band, Air Supply, left me choking (sorry, couldn't resist). I found their music whiny and unremarkable, all the worst elements of 'pop' rolled into one smarmy group. However, one of their singles from 1982, "Even the Nights are Better", actually has a rather nice melodic line. It sounds like it could have been a hit for the Archies. And I must admit to including the song on my phone, and on my 80's playlist. Air Supply; who would've believed it.
Okay, I've confessed; your turn. What great group left you a clunker, and what lame-o act rose to the occasion?
15 comments:
Amazing night in the UK general election - all the polls said Theresa May would win by a landslide but her party lost its' majority in Parliament. Everything's in chaos including Brexit, woo hoo.
Ahem...
1) I loved Blondie but not 'Rapture'...The man from Mars he ate all the cars and all the bars...WTF ???
2) I never liked any songs by Hall & Oates but I love 'Out Of Touch'.
Stevie Wonder "Ribbon in the Sky"... just kind of drones on to me. Yet it was quite popular and overall I did enjoy his music in the 60s and 70s quite much.
Not sure how much I truly liked George Clinton and his Parliament Funkadelic (P-Funk) All-Stars but I dug and still dig "Atomic Dogs!" (Bow wow wow yippee yo yippee yay!)
Colin J - I also dig your parliamentary system.
Yep Colin, I've been watching that as well. Russian hacking involved..?? LOL, I kid, I kid..
As for fav bands and the occasional bad turn, I enjoy all of what I've heard from Police, Hall&Oates and Blondie.
I thought Blondie's reggae 'The Tide is High' was a weird departure from their formula hits up to that point, perhaps the 'shark-jump' happened from then on.
There was a point in the late '80s where a few artists suddenly left their hit-making machinery to make 'important global statements', Sting (Blue Turtles), Huey Lewis (Small World), Billy Joel (We Didn't Start The Fire), U2, etc which for some careers were deemed unrecoverable because of it. What were they thinking..? It's like LiveAid went to their heads or something..
1. Bowie was my teacher, my guide. He remains my companion through life. But nothing excuses 'Blue Jean'. Nothing.
2. I have never really got The Manic Street Preachers but 'Design For Life' is a fantastic song.
Great questions today Red.
First, I have to say that I never really liked the "Synchronicity" album. I thought the Police peaked with "Ghost in the Machine." And after that, it really became a Sting solo act with a backup band in my opinion. They were a great band though in the earlier days - different mix of styles with great energy.
And Colin B., you are going to gag but I always liked "Blue Jean" because I always thought the whole genie thing, the album, and the song was a commentary on wish fulfillment and the idea that everybody wanted Bowie to continue the "Let's Dance" style. He was too smart for that and I thought the album was giving "them" what they want while also slyly commenting that it is simplistic, dumbed down, "be careful what you wish for...", etc.
"... she got a camouflaged face and no money. Remember they always let you down when you need 'em." Hidden agendas, no skin in the game, want everything their way, but give nothing. So you get nothing new from Bowie. I thought that was the whole message and he laughed his way to the bank. I may be completely wrong. Bowie said the single was simply sexist rock and roll - about "Picking up birds;" not that I don't believe him but I also think it was about flipping the bird. "... remember that everybody has to wait in line. So look out world, you know that I've got mine." I think he only wrote two songs on "Tonight" and that was one of them. Feel free to say I am totally nuts and the song is a dog.
As far as the questions go...
1) I always really liked the Dire Straits, particularly the "Making Movies," "Sultans of Swing" days. When "Money for Nothing" came out - I did not like it. And unfortunately the MTV movement and the innovative video technology advanced it. I hear those first notes now and I turn the radio knob.
2) This may seem odd, but I have never been a big fan of the Beach Boys. It all kind of sounds the same to me - so definitely small doses only. But "Sloop John B" always gets me for some reason.
I can't really think of any songs I absolutely hate from my favourite bands. On the other hand, I really can't stand U2--I think they're overrated and a bunch of hypocrites--but I do like the song "Vertigo". Same with Nickelback ... most of their stuff sounds the same, but I like the song "Photograph", though more for the lyrics than the music.
Martinex, I too don't care for the Beach Boys music. It all seems so syrupy and smug and like it should be performed by men waving straw boaters and walking sticks around. I do, however, like, "God Only Knows."
I like Madness but, "Driving in My Car," makes me want to tear my ears off.
Colin, I hate The Manic Street Preachers. They always make music sound like it's hard labour but, "Motorcycle Emptiness," is an epic tune. I always see it as the British equivalent to, "Born to Run."
I can't stand Tori Amos. A bit too much of the Kate Bush wannabe about her for my liking but I love, "Pretty Good Year."
Speaking of Kate Bush; "The Dreaming." Argh!
Cliff Richard has spent the last sixty years churning out songs designed to cause me intense psychological pain but I could listen to, "Carrie," all day long.
I hate the Eagles with a passion but I love, "Hotel California."
The Stereophonics make me want to punch my radio to death but I love, "Superman," possibly because it doesn't sound like the Stereophonics.
Oh, geez. Air Supply. This came up in a post at the BAB a few years ago - something about air-shredding bands/music or something like that - and I immediately mentioned my loathing for Air Supply. "Whiny and unremarkable" is being charitable in my opinion. Could not stand those guys or any. single. song. they ever released. Ok, got that off my chest...
I agree with Martinex about "Blue Jean." I kind of like that song, too. In fact, I just listened to it this afternoon while doing some yard-work. Also agree about "Money for Nothing" as a really grating song from a band I otherwise like quite a bit. In fact, to make it a hat-trick, I can say that I also agree with Martinex about the Beach Boys. Not really a fan at all.
As for my own answers:
1) I'll have to take this one back to the Police - in general, I don't like them as much as I used to back in high school and college, but even back then, I really didn't like "Every Breath You Take" and had no idea why it was such a big hit, and why everyone else seemed think it was best song ever. Also, the lyrics are kind of stalkerish (and yes, I'm aware that Sting later apparently claimed that that was the point, that it was actually supposed to be about the dark musings of an obsessed person rather than a love song, but nobody at the time apparently realized that. And honestly, the music doesn't give any indication that it's supposed to anything other than someone sappily singing a love song).
2) For the second question, I don't really like REO Speedwagon, but I just absolutely love "Roll with the Changes." Any time I hear it, I have to crank up the volume.
Edo, I always liked, "Every Breath You Take," until someone pointed out to me that it's a rip-off of Leo Sayer's, "More Than I Can Say," which somewhat robs it of its sense of intensity.
Ah, Blue Jean...
Fair points chaps. There are worse songs out there and I can even see why other people would like it.
But I spent the year between Let's Dance and Tonight immersing myself in Low, Young Americans, Ziggy, Heroes, Diamond Dogs etc etc etc. Couldn't get enough.
By 1984 the media build up to the Blue Jean video was breathless and so was I. 'What will it be' I thought to myself, what will it be - Venusian Electro-Pop from the 5th Dimension? Or Mournful Polkas Recorded While On Drugs That Haven't Been Invented Yet?
And what we got was...a song. A kind of OK song. With a bit of make up.
Marti, perhaps you're right and I was precisely the demographic to be satirised. Bowie was super-capable of playing games with any audience he chose :)
Hey ho, I was too hasty. At least the Blue Jean video wasn't Dancing in the Streets...
Ha ha. Dancing in the Streets. Horrible. That video makes me wince. Bad lip syncing and freeze framing for no discernible reason. Horrible clothes. And don't even start about the actual dancing.
So what did you think of "Under Pressure"?
I found the Under Pressure video quite touching, if I may admit to that.
I thought the Beatles were really keen on the Beach Boys, from what I've read/ heard. Never understood it. Liked a few of their songs but all kind of, sort of, was the same sound.
"Let's Dance" is a tough act to follow... Blue Jean was OK. Give Bowie the benefit of the doubt? That being said, I sold that album at a garage sale about a month after I bought it.
Artist-I-Like/Hit-I-Hate is kinda tough, since every artist is gonna have some clunkers. As a quick, easy one I'm going to go with a couple from Paul McCartney and/or WINGS, 'cause I generally do like most of Paul's looooong catalog pretty well. But his I-can-do-disco-too DON'T SAY GOODNIGHT TONIGHT just aggravates me no end. COMING UP is also an overly-cute annoyance. And I often change the channel for WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME.
Artists-I-Don't-Care-For/Hits-I-Like: The Disco-era BeeGees were inescapable, and I truly didn't love their music-- much preferred their classic 60's sound and output. But-- I love NIGHTS ON BROADWAY. I perk up whenever I hear it.
And although I'm not overly familiar with Paul Revere and the Raiders overall, their HIM OR ME (WHAT'S IT GONNA BE) is one of my favorite pop songs of ever, ever, ever-!!
HB
Enjoyed hearing all your opines and peeves, group! Interesting how many have a less-than-glowing view of the Beach Boys. Charlie, I read that Paul was crazy about the Beach Boy's album "Pet Sounds". It has some good tunes, but I never found it all that memorable.
Edo- you don't know how difficult it was to admit to liking an Air Supply single. I still shudder with self-loathing...and I understand your view of "Every Breath You Take". Not a bad song, but hardly worth the attention it got.
HB- good call on the Bee Gees. Grievously overplayed in the day. "Nights" is a fine tune, though. Actually, it was used as the theme for our Junior Prom. Of which, the less said the better.
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