Topic: Song meanings and origins (Read 7652 times)

Method of Madness · « **on:** 13 Sep 2016, 18:42 »

I'm pretty sure that even if "Every Breath You Take" was meant ironically*, plenty of people took it face value as a romantic song, and things really haven't improved since.

*I have no idea if it was or wasn't...I really hope so?

Edit: Just looked it up, apparently it wasn't meant ironically so much as the protagonist is a stalker who's not meant to be appreciated by the listeners...but yeah, people missed that one.

sitnspin · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Sep 2016, 19:20 »

The average listener doesn't really listen all that closely to the music they enjoy.

Thrillho · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Sep 2016, 14:04 »

Quote from: sitnspin on 13 Sep 2016, 19:20

The average listener doesn't really listen all that closely to the music they enjoy.

Which is what leads to Born In The USA being used by Reagan as a campaign song and "Heroes" by David Bowie being used to help a wounded veteran charity.

oddtail · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 Sep 2016, 01:42 »

Quote from: Thrillho on 14 Sep 2016, 14:04

Quote from: sitnspin on 13 Sep 2016, 19:20
The average listener doesn't really listen all that closely to the music they enjoy.

Which is what leads to Born In The USA being used by Reagan as a campaign song and "Heroes" by David Bowie being used to help a wounded veteran charity.

And don't forget people wanting the song "I will always love you" played at their wedding

Method of Madness · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 Sep 2016, 04:20 »

Quote from: oddtail on 15 Sep 2016, 01:42

Quote from: Thrillho on 14 Sep 2016, 14:04
Quote from: sitnspin on 13 Sep 2016, 19:20
The average listener doesn't really listen all that closely to the music they enjoy.

Which is what leads to Born In The USA being used by Reagan as a campaign song and "Heroes" by David Bowie being used to help a wounded veteran charity.

And don't forget people wanting the song "I will always love you" played at their wedding

Or "White Wedding".

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 Sep 2016, 05:57 »

I don't know. I wouldn't mind White Wedding to be played at my theoretical wedding. But then I'm a huge fan of Billy Idol.

Thrudd · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 Sep 2016, 06:44 »

White Wedding by Billy Idol. Despite rumors to the contrary, this song is not about Idol's actual little sister. "Little sister" is slang for girlfriend. He is singing about a woman/girl he loves marrying someone else while he still loves her.

Quote from: Mr_Rose on 14 Sep 2016, 14:05

Also, who the hell is "Quentin?"

I can lay good odds that his phones automatic spelling correction did that.
The original thought behind the post?
That lump of modified fats behind the eye-holes fault.

Quote from: jheartney on 11 Sep 2016, 17:27

• It turns out that not all the members of Bubbles' squad were killed; out of nowhere her CO turns up with news that the others may secretly be POW's.

~~POW's~~ Cyborgs masquerading as AIs because full conversion has an even bigger mess of social issues to deal with.

Oh crap - that would be even more of a twist if Bubbles is a full conversion 'Borg [volunteer due to comparability, health issues, lack of close family and required security clearances] and the trauma of loosing her squad had her slip into the illusion that she is an AI like in that one anime I can't think of the name at the moment.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 Sep 2016, 11:45 »

Quote from: Thrudd on 15 Sep 2016, 06:44

"Little sister" is slang for girlfriend.

What the absolute fuck? That's literally the LAST thing "little sister" should be slang for! Also I have no idea how that interpretation is backed up by the lyrics.

Even if it's not literally Billy Idol's sister, the protagonist of the song is clearly* singing to his little sister or close friend lamenting her shotgun wedding.

*clear to me at least, although my interpretation might not be the best one

Method of Madness · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 Sep 2016, 20:50 »

@Morituri - Heh, no problem.
@spin- Those aren't much better, but...little sister? (shudders)

sitnspin · « **Reply #9 on:** 16 Sep 2016, 00:39 »

Quote from: Method of Madness on 15 Sep 2016, 20:50

.
@spin- Those aren't much better, but...little sister? (shudders)

I'd argue that the power imbalance inherent in a parent-child sexual relationship makes in way more squicky than a sibling one.

Tova · « **Reply #10 on:** 16 Sep 2016, 03:36 »

Thinking about songs like "White Wedding" became so much easier when I finally realised that so many songs are songs that were designed primarily to scan, secondarily to sound cool, and only as a distant third to mean something. Hopefully lots of different somethings.

Thank you, Paul Simon.

I wouldn't waste energy trying to work out what it "means."

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #11 on:** 16 Sep 2016, 06:38 »

That's kind of how I feel about a lot of Evanesnce's songs. Beautiful songs, very moving. Amy Lee has a fantastic voice... Then you pay attention to the lyrics and it's... umm I have problems here.

jwhouk · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 Sep 2016, 17:55 »

I have my opinions about Ms. Lee and Evanescence. Most of which I think I'll keep to myself.

Gyrre · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Sep 2016, 07:06 »

Quote from: Method of Madness on 13 Sep 2016, 18:42

I'm pretty sure that even if "Every Breath You Take" was meant ironically*, plenty of people took it face value as a romantic song, and things really haven't improved since.

*I have no idea if it was or wasn't...I really hope so?

Edit: Just looked it up, apparently it wasn't meant ironically so much as the protagonist is a stalker who's not meant to be appreciated by the listeners...but yeah, people missed that one.

Oooh oh! I can field this one!!!
It was supposedly orginally going to be about the government spying illegally on US citizens, but their agent wouldn't allow it. So they reworked it into a "romance" song.

Also here's a version that's switched to a minor key.

Tova · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Sep 2016, 20:21 »

Quote from: Gyrre on 17 Sep 2016, 07:06

It was supposedly orginally going to be about the government spying illegally on US citizens...

You mean it's not??

Because it totally works as something sung by the US government about Julian Assange.

Gyrre · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 Sep 2016, 15:39 »

Quote from: Tova on 17 Sep 2016, 20:21

Quote from: Gyrre on 17 Sep 2016, 07:06
It was supposedly orginally going to be about the government spying illegally on US citizens...

You mean it's not??

Because it totally works as something sung by the US government about Julian Assange.

It's from 1983.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 Sep 2016, 15:40 »

Some songs are just timeless like that.

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #17 on:** 19 Sep 2016, 19:21 »

Is there enough interest for a topic split? The song discussion has been self-sustaining for quite a while.

Tova · « **Reply #18 on:** 19 Sep 2016, 20:07 »

Quote from: Gyrre on 19 Sep 2016, 15:39

Quote from: Tova on 17 Sep 2016, 20:21
Quote from: Gyrre on 17 Sep 2016, 07:06
It was supposedly orginally going to be about the government spying illegally on US citizens...

You mean it's not??

Because it totally works as something sung by the US government about Julian Assange.

It's from 1983.

https://youtu.be/BMwhECJPuYY

FWIW, I was surprised to find out that some people thought the song romantic. But hey, I've heard of stranger songs played at weddings.

bhtooefr · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Sep 2016, 20:37 »

I'm thinking a split would be valuable, in terms of having a thread for generally discussing examining music, the meaning behind its lyrics, and assumptions.

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #20 on:** 19 Sep 2016, 20:48 »

Global Moderator Comment Sorry everybody. This didn't split cleanly. Did what I could.

Kugai · « **Reply #21 on:** 20 Sep 2016, 16:50 »

Speaking of stalkery sounding songs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JVhbusBDi4

Storel · « **Reply #22 on:** 20 Sep 2016, 23:24 »

I don't think that's nearly as stalkery-sounding as this one:

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Song meanings and origins (Read 7652 times)