why can't we be friends-- war

SOUNDS LIKE: a novlelty hit
BUT REALLY... it's a racial protest song disquised as a novelty hit.



imagine-- john lennon

SOUNDS LIKE: a quaint little ballad.
BUT REALLY... it's a call to arms to destroy the very concepts
of religion, nationalism, and capitalism. but it's set to such a
quiet piano tune and catchy melody, that it sticks around
for longer than if he were to start screaming over an electric
guitar lick "destroy this shit NOW!!!

no, john was slick with it.
imagine...
no pressure.
you can even dismiss me if you want to...
(but be warned... 'i'm not the only one' TRANSLATION: our numbers are growing, and soon the dreamers will overthrow your ass.)

and the world will live as one.



the police-- every breath you take
SOUNDS LIKE: a love ballad
BUT REALLY: it's a stalker's manifesto.

every breath you take. each and every single one...
i'll be watching you.

(whether you want me there or not)

because i..er...love you.
creepy.




add on.

SOUNDS LIKE: straightforward gushing love letter to the City of Angels

BUT REALLY: an equivocal approval of the city that notes the class extremes of the city in the geography (Victory, Imperial, 6th) and characters (hot redheads vs. bums on their knees) you see there.

>SOUNDS LIKE: straightforward gushing love letter to the City
>of Angels
>
>BUT REALLY: an equivocal approval of the city that notes the
>class extremes of the city in the geography (Victory,
>Imperial, 6th) and characters (hot redheads vs. bums on their
>knees) you see there.

Sounds like: fun, slow ballad dedicated to a major city.
Actually is: a scathing dismissal of everything vapid about the town and submission to the fact they need Los Angeles to matter as entertainers.

the lyrics are pretty blatantly negative but it's pretty easy to just bob your head to it until the end of each verse when he declares his love.

~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." © Jay Bilas

http://www.last.fm/user/NodimaChee

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Nodima/run_that_shit__nodimas_hip_hop_handbook

n/m.

peace.

one.

i hate this song so much. but at every party im at this song comes on and every one drunkenly chants along, all prideful. im like come on, bro. it's satire.

He wrote it partially in protest to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America". The original version contained the verses at the end:

There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me;
Sign was painted, it said private property;
But on the back side it didn't say nothing;
This land was made for you and me.

In the squares of the city, In the shadow of a steeple;
By the relief office, I'd seen my people.
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking,
Is this land made for you and me?

Of course the irony is that when it got published and covered they leave off the last couple verses and it basically comes out as a song just like "God Bless America"

SOUNDS LIKE: a loopy ass song that makes no sense

BUT APPARENTLY: an extended metaphor about racism, according to Tay Zonday

THATS WHAT I WAS SAYING!!!!

everyone thought I was crazy

In fact, I think that's the point.

Sounds like - A beautiful ass love song that many old folks used at a Wedding

But really - Two mafuckers cheatin on their significant others

It IS a sad song and I loved his reaction when it comes to people approaching him and telling him that they played "Reasons" in their wedding. Like, REALLY? lmfao!

I understand though, its easy to get distracted by the music and the sentiment.

Yea I mean the song is just hella pretty, but lyrically?? Shiiiiit!

Sounds like- classic pop love tune you hear on your oldies station.

Actually- a dude booty calling his ex-wife.

Here's the song with the words printed. STRAIGHT UP BOOTY CALL PIMP SHIT!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqwLjkqj8Gw&feature=related

I've always dug this song too. It's easy to see it could be directed to an ex, but how do you know it's his ex-wife?

(this dude did the Lake Shore Drive joint w/ someone else, right?)

sounds like: basic mid-tempo '90s party jam for the ex new jack crowd
really about: being unable to hide your boner in the club

~~~~~~~~~
I don't check my inbox.

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http://www.last.fm/user/NodimaChee

http://www.potholesinmyblog.com

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517

listening to it now

and I said OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HAHAHAHAHAHHA me too. i didnt know what song it was , checked it out on youtube. Never listened to the lyrics properly, always assumed it was feelings that he couldnt hide. hahahaha this made my day.

This thread kicks ass

And yet the parts of the lyrics that get emphasized make it feel like a basic raunchy sex song. The male vocals are so much bigger than the girl singing "I feel a little poke coming through on you" that you just sort of forget about it if the song's melody already caught you.

But really, it's like a Lonely Island or Turqouise Jeep song on steroids.


~~~~~~~~~
I don't check my inbox.

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http://www.last.fm/user/NodimaChee

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http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517

funny for replacing "poke" with "umph" like three months later

>sounds like: basic mid-tempo '90s party jam for the ex new
>jack crowd
>really about: being unable to hide your boner in the club

TONS of marxist references over melodic feel good tunes

Sounds like- Some more of that hippie shit that De La Soul makes with a crazy ass title.
Actually- One of the most well written songs in the history of Hip Hop, about child molestation and rape.

Don't know if there's a subtext there

**********
the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.

TRUST ME THE TITLE SCARED OF MANY PEOPLE.

Old Man Jacob's Well(Boogiemonsters) is another feel bad molestation rap. Bizarre of D12's punchlines about using his niece to clean up ejaculate... well, I do not know what to say about his jokes. Was rap-a-lot's Gangsta N.I.P. hemmed for child molestation? Revenge for sexually abused children's a recycled theme in EL-P's lyrics. Totally Insane, rap group from east palo alto, california (early-90's) had a child abuse revenge song that ended in gunshots.

Sounds like: A dinky little late '70s AOR song where Michael McDonald sings lead

Actually is: A story of a sad sack who can't get the hint that the woman that left him ain't taking him back

Sounds like: a fun pop song

But Really: dark meta-commentary on culture and emptiness

Here's the long version: http://www.guante.info/2009/12/why-hey-ya-is-best-song-of-decade.html

--------
Guante: www.guante.info
Tru Ruts/Speakeasy Records

but that was quite an interesting breakdown.

Sounds like: pre-Stankonia Gasoline dreaming

What it actually is: a bitter fuck you to the closed minded commercial industry that caused one of the most innovative hip hop groups to toil with their blood to the point of doubting themselves only to emerge from the rite of passage victorious and head unbowed. From "rats, snakes..." etc. to Pimp Trick, they can barely contain their fury at the small minded audience they are trying to "liberate". They could have called this album Exodus.

Been watching Arrested Development which got me thinking about Afternoon Delight. Sounds like an innocent pop song but it's really about a nooner.

Also, Grease Lightening. It's all about using your car to get pussy and it's fairly explicit.

Sounds like: Goofy little pop punk song.

Actually about: Jerking off when you're bored at home.

Sounds like: a love song
Reality: A song about Jesus dying for mankind

Sounds like: A song about care-free partying.
Really about: Nuclear war/the end of the world.

Prince has a whole gang-load of tracks that would fit on this list (e.g.: Lady Cab Driver)

how i could i forget that one

sounds like: a stripper anthem, double-clutching women using their body parts to get what their want
but
in reality: its a song about women having self confidence/respect

>Prince has a whole gang-load of tracks that would fit on this
>list (e.g.: Lady Cab Driver)

also "Little Red Corvette" ... LMAO. 1999 is basically an album of Prince doing that for every song

Its about life's disappointments and prince fucking his way to clarity (this is for....) aka a warped 22 year old's path to enlightenment.

Looking at the lyrics I don't even think it qualifies as subtext. I'm just really bad about paying attention to lyrics. That post made me feel like a dummy.

Sounds like: Another Paul silly love song
But Really: Paul wants to be a stoner

was about heroin

almost like it's a compliment...without realizing the song is talking about a lil girl getting raped. And they dance and sing along like Annie just fell and scraped her knee.

I mean...I always got the impression that Annie was hurt when he goes "Annie are you okay?" But I never thought that it was about her being molested, never crossed my mind. Actually, this whole post is very eye opening!

Sounds like - a person telling someone how to drive
Actually- A women telling a dude to hit it form the bizzack!

for house goodness:

http://djrsenalsopenhouse.podOmatic.com

ahhh, why the hell not:
www.myspace.com/thedjrsenal
www.twitter.com/djrsenal

for house goodness:

http://djrsenalsopenhouse.podOmatic.com

ahhh, why the hell not:
www.myspace.com/thedjrsenal
www.twitter.com/djrsenal

i always thought this song was about period sex.

pretty much the whole thing

sounds like: a song about lust
realy a song about a jewel theif

Francis Scott Key "Star Spangled Banner"

Sounds like: All-American patriotism and romanticizing of what our Founding Fathers went through.

Really is: the first American "gangsta rap" song ever written.. talking about flying colors and bustin' on fools.


Dr. Richard Shuckberg "Yankee Doodle"

Sounds like: A fanciful patriotic American children's tune.

Really is: The British calling Americans a bunch of fanciful faggot hipsters.


Every Wham! or George Michael Song pre-coming out the closet..

Sounds like: A dude singing to a girl about love/sex.

Really is: A dude singing to another dude about love/sex.


Prince "I Would Die 4 U" (edit: Didn't see the above post.. sorry!)

Sounds like: Synthed out 80's pop funk rock love bliss

Really is: born again Christian propaganda


Afro-Rican "Give it All You Got (Doggystyle)"

Sounds like: Bassy dance rap song with cool scratches and funky samples about partying and dancing

Really is: a pro-anal sex anthem.










White Bronco.

Sounds like - a song about a bunch of pussy
Actually- a way of saying sex sells. Commentary on advertising and marketing.

"glamour Profession" Steely Dan

ribbon in the sky Stevie Wonder

that's what you get for being Polite the Jacksons

voyage to Atlantis the Isley Brothers

afternoon delight Starlight band

you remind me of my jeep R.Kelly

Jeep???"

But hmm, what's the subtext in Stevie's song? I know it's not about a literal ribbon in the sky but is it somethin else?

>"glamour Profession" Steely Dan
>
>ribbon in the sky Stevie Wonder
>
>that's what you get for being Polite the Jacksons
>
>voyage to Atlantis the Isley Brothers
>
>afternoon delight Starlight band
>
>you remind me of my jeep R.Kelly

until very after the fact.

**********
the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.

but an actual XMas song???

isn't that about the record industry?