Meme-isation

[flexibeast]

i've been wanting to create this meme for a while now (which i imagine has actually already been done; but i haven't seen it):

What are the five songs you loathe the most, and why?

My list, in no particular order:

1. American Pie, by Don McLean

Reactionary nostalgia in a musically catchy format. Apocryphally, when McLean was asked what the song meant, he reportedly said "It means I have never have to work again."

2. It just won't do, by Tim Deluxe.

If you're not familiar with OCD, you might not know that people with OCD often suffer from highly repetitive and annoying thoughts. Just won't do is a highly repetitive song that was put on high rotation by a number of music stations. More specifically, it was played on high rotation - i.e. 3 - 4 times per shift - by the radio station listened to by one of my work colleagues. i can honestly say this 'song' contributed to the fact that i entered into a major suicidal episode whilst working at that workplace.

3. We built this city, by Starship.

Musically incoherent, and lyrically try-hard: MOR music trying to pass itself off as being the voice of rebellious youth. Extra demerit points for bringing the Jefferson Airplane legacy into disrepute.

4. My humps, by the Black Eyed Peas.

Inane. Outrageous in its apparent attempt to pass off the notion of women using their bodies to manipulate others as somehow being an instance of "girl power". Ammunition for the plethora of "men's rights" groups that have sprung up in response to feminism.

5. All I want to do is make love to you, by Heart.

i actually don't know why i detest this song so much, particularly given my positive attitudes towards casual sex . . . . all i know is that whenever i hear it, it raises my hackles.

Finally, a (dis)honourable mention: the Australian National Anthem. Stirs as much patriotic passion in me as a slap in the face with a wet fish. Roundly mocked for its lyrics: comedy group "The D-Generation" did a version which contained much mumbling interspersed with the odd utterance of the word 'girt', and the Am I Right? Web site lists the following as one way of interpreting what one actually hears when the anthem is sung:

Australians all own ostriches
Four minus one is three
With olden royals, we're fair and loyal
Our home is dirt by sea
I learned to bounce on nature strips
In booties stitched with care
In mystery's haze, let's harvest maize
And plant azaleas there
Enjoy full trains and let us in
And dance Australia, yeah!

Comments

[not-in-denial.livejournal.com]

The hump song makes me laugh hysterically. I find the best way to deal with it is to take a trip to denial-land and pretend it was written as a joke. *nods*

[flexibeast.livejournal.com]

Heh, well, i remember there being a debate amongst feminist acquaintances of mine when Barbie Girl by Aqua came out: was it serious, or satire? My feeling was that it was satire.

i don't get that feeling from My humps. But then, maybe i'm not familiar enough with the My humps's musical genre to really make a call . . . . *shrug*

[not-in-denial.livejournal.com]

Oh no, it's a perfectly serious song. Which is why I have to pretend it's not - otherwise, I'd just have to cry.

[cheshire-bitten.livejournal.com]

I loved Barbie girl, that entire Aqua album was satire and most of it was great.

[weibchenwolf.livejournal.com]

Can't quite agree on American Pie, but then I've had a lot of fun reading various websites about what it all (supposedly) means :)

All I want to do is make love to you gets me because she deliberately (given the "Is the one little thing that you can" line) went out to find someone to get her pregnant, without any kind of negotiation or consent.

[flexibeast.livejournal.com]

Can't quite agree on American Pie

Fair enough! These sort of lists are almost invariably controversial; everyone has their own ideas about what should and/or shouldn't be included, which is why so many Web sites like putting up "Top 50" lists - it's a great driver of traffic to sites as people argue over the list makeup. :-) Having said that, this is a meme, not a claimed "The five songs that everyone should loathe" thing - i'm hoping to read other people's lists also. :-)

I've had a lot of fun reading various websites about what it all (supposedly) means :)

Heh, so what are some of the hypotheses?

All I want to do is make love to you gets me because she deliberately (given the "Is the one little thing that you can" line) went out to find someone to get her pregnant, without any kind of negotiation or consent.

Good point! i also had that issue with All that she wants, by Ace of Base, too, even though i liked the music and the way the lyrics were delivered . . . .

[weibchenwolf.livejournal.com]

http://oldies.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.understandingamericanpie.com
:)

[cheshire-bitten.livejournal.com]

And dance Australia, yeah!

Now I would have liked to sing that, even if I did have to stand out side in the cold every morning of my primary school days.

I want my ostrich.

[porcineflight.livejournal.com]

I hate the National Anthem, I don't think "fair" is an appropriate description of Australia. However, the anthem is improved dramaticaly by singing it to the tune of Gilligan's Island theme song, or even Cold Chisel's Working Class Man lol

[flexibeast.livejournal.com]

Heh. :-)

i agree with you re. the word 'fair' if we're talking about social and/or political fairness, but insofar as it refers to the aesthetic 'fairness' of this continent, well, i definitely think the land is beautiful. :-)

It's interesting that most people don't know about the second verse, which refers to "gallant Cook", the English flag being the "standard of the brave", and the notion that "Britannia rules the waves" . . . .

[flexibeast.livejournal.com]

*laugh*

[superbbluewren.livejournal.com]

I expect if you include panentheism in your interests, and can spell it, we may have something to say to one another. ;-) I am adding you as a friend. I look forward to reading your posts. Mal

[flexibeast.livejournal.com]

Heh, thanks - i've friended you also. :-)