'Shells'
There's a lady plays her fav'rite records/On the jukebox ev'ry day/All day long she plays the same old songs/And she believes the things that they say/She sings along with all the saddest songs/And she believes the stories are real/She lets the music dictate the way that she feels.
Once upon a time in pop music, there was always somebody (one or more) whose oeuvre was grounded in sap. (See my comments above on Bobby Vinton and Connie Francis. Most of Barry Manilow's pop heyday also qualifies.)
That era has ended. I'm not sure when, but I think it happened during the later '90s.
For anyone who has Sirius/XM satellite radio, a new station premiered in the last couple of days, Cinemagic, playing, as you might guess, all film scores. On the Sirius receivers it's channel 81-- not sure what it is on XM.
It's really nice.
I thought it was a come-on and was DEEPLY offended in the way only a teenager can be.
The song that I always thought should offend the recipient (ok, aside from "Age Of Consent" and "She's Having My Baby") was Ronan Keating's "When You Say Nothing At All". Yeah, that's quality high-sucrose sap in the music, but it doesn't disguise the fact that he's basically telling his love interest to shut the hell up already.
the fact that he's basically telling his love interest to shut the hell up already.
Same with 'Til Tuesday's "Voices Carry". Nice melody, but the sentiment sucks.
Yeah, but you can't blame "When You Say Nothing At All" strictly on Ronan. It was originally sung by Keith Whitley and then, the most famous version, at least in the U.S., was sung by Alison Krauss on a tribute album to Whitley.
So the sentiment, while accurate, might well be in keeping with the finest traditions of country music.
Same with 'Til Tuesday's "Voices Carry". Nice melody, but the sentiment sucks.
Well, yeah, but in Voices Carry the sentiment is *supposed* to suck.
So the sentiment, while accurate, might well be in keeping with the finest traditions of country music.
See also: "Understand Your Man".
Well, yeah, but in Voices Carry the sentiment is *supposed* to suck.
!eeH I don't think my teenaged self knew that. Grown-up self does, though!
Ron Asheton, RIP! [link]
The sentiment in "Voices Carry" sucks because it's from the POV of the one told to shut up. As the video brings out very, very well, which is why I see it as a "fighting back" song.