'Harm's Way'
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.
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.
Ron Asheton, RIP!
I feel a disturbance in the Force.
I was never into videos, so if I didn't get it from the song, it didn't exist for me. Aimee Mann sounded hurt about being told to shut up during sex in the song; that was enough for me.
which is why I see it as a "fighting back" song.
Except that there's not so much of the fighting back in the song. I always heard it as textbook abuse victim:
In the dark, I like to read his mind
But I'm frightened of the things I might find
Oh, there must be something he's thinking of
To tear him away
When I tell him that I'm falling in love
Why does he say
Hush, hush, keep it down now, voices carry
I try so hard not to get upset
Because I know all the trouble I'll get
Oh, he tells me tears are something to hide
And something to fear
And I try so hard to keep it inside
So no one can hear
Hush, hush, keep it down now, voices carry
Oh, he wants me, but only part of the time
He wants me if he can keep me in line
Hush, hush, keep it down now, voices carry
Oh, hush, hush, shut up now, voices carry
Oh, hush, hush, keep it down now, voices carry
Oh, hush hush, darling, she might overhear
Oh no, voices carry
He said shut up
He said shut up
Oh God, can't you keep it down, voices carry
Oh, voices carry
I wish he would let me talk
Maybe it's more in the end of the video. For those who haven't seen it (or forgotten), He and She are seated together in an auditorium, fancy dress, very Yuppie. He looks with disgust at her punk-style -- ponytail? rat tail? She then starts mumbling the lyrics of the song, He tries to shush her. She then stands up and shouts the lines, "He said shut up. He said shut up."
That's where I see She fighting back, saying, "Enough. I'm not taking it any more."