Songs that haven't aged well

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33anda3rd
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Re: Songs that haven't aged well

Post by 33anda3rd »

I feel like Neil Young kinda said, too, like "I was kind of a dick to Alabama with that song, and had it coming."

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heyzeus
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Re: Songs that haven't aged well

Post by heyzeus »

Speaking of the Beatles, there was this quip in the upbeat Getting Better
used to be cruel to my woman
I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved
Man, I was mean but I'm changing my scene
And I'm doing the best that I can (ooh)

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heyzeus
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Re: Songs that haven't aged well

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I don't know If I've ever quite grasped the tone of Brown Sugar by the Rolling Stones - ie, whether it condemns or condones the story it tells. It's about slavery and rape and possibly pedophilia? Is it sung ironically and critical of slavery and sex slavery? Kinda unclear, which is troubling. But the fact that it's been used unironically in ads (memorably, Pepsi. Brown Sugar! Why do you taste so good!) makes me feel gross about the whole endeavor and I don't enjoy hearing it on the radio.
Gold Coast slave ship bound for cotton fields
Sold in the market down in New Orleans
Scarred old slaver knows he's doin' all right
Hear him whip the women just around midnight

Brown Sugar, how come you taste so good
Brown Sugar, just like a young girl should

Drums beatin' cold, English blood runs hot
Lady of the house wonderin' when it's gonna stop
House boy knows that he's doin' all right
You should have heard him just around midnight

Brown Sugar, how come you taste so good
Brown Sugar, just like a young girl should
Brown Sugar, how come you dance so good
Brown Sugar, just like a black girl should

I bet your mama was a Cajun Queen,
And all her boyfriends were sweet sixteen
I'm no school boy but I know what I like
You should have heard them just around midnight

Brown Sugar, how come you taste so good
Brown Sugar, just like a black girl should

I said, yeah, yeah, yeah, wooo
How come you, how come you dance so good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, wooo
Just like a, just like a black girl should
Yeah, yeah, yeah, wooo

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heyzeus
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Re: Songs that haven't aged well

Post by heyzeus »

I suspect Axl was being tongue in cheek here. But damn this doesn't age well.


I used to love her but I had to kill her
I used to love her, oh yeah but I had to kill her

I had to put her six feet under
And I can still hear her complain

I used to love her, oh yeah but I had to kill her
I used to love her, ooh yeah but I had to kill her
I knew I'll miss her so I had to keep her
She's buried right in my back yard

Oh yeah, ooh yeah, whoa oh yeah
I used to love her, but I had to kill her
I used to love her, ooh yeah but I had to kill her
She [expletive] so much, she drove me nuts
And now I'm happier this way

Whoa oh yeah
(Take it for what it is)
I used to love her, but I had to kill her
I used to love her, ooh yeah but I had to kill her
I had to put her six, ooh, feet under
And I can still hear her complain

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Smith Corks One
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Re: Songs that haven't aged well

Post by Smith Corks One »

Oh, man. That G'n'R Lies EP spawned a huge hit - "Patience" - but it had some really shady content. Aside from "Used to Love Her," there was the gem "One in a Million." It definitely raised some eyebrows at the time, but I think (and would hope) the response would be 100x worse today. The saddest part is that it's a pretty damn catchy little tune.



Yes I needed some time to get away
I needed some peace of mind
Some peace of mind that'll stay
So I thumbed it, now it's six in L.A.
Maybe a Greyhound could be my way

Police and n*****s, that's right
Get outta my way
Don't need to buy none of your
Gold chains today
Now don't need no bracelets
Clamped in front of my back
Just need my ticket 'till then
Won't you cut me some slack

You're one in a million
Yeah that's what you are
You're one in a million babe
You're a shooting star
Maybe some day we'll see you
Before you make us cry
You know we tried to reach you
But you were much too high
Much too high
Much too high
Much too high

Immigrants and f****ts
They make no sense to me
They come to our country
And think they'll do as they please
Like start some mini-Iran
Or spread some f**king disease
And they talk so many God damn ways
It's all Greek to me

Well some say I'm lazy
And others say that's just me
Some say I'm crazy
I guess I'll always be
But it's been such a long time
Since I knew right from wrong
It's all the means to and end I'm
I keep it moving along
Hey, hey, hey, yeah

You're one in a million
You're a shooting star
You're one in a million babe
You know that you are
Maybe some day we'll see you
Before you make us cry
You know we tried to reach you
But you were much too high
Much too high
Much too high
Much too high

Radicals and racists
Don't point your finger at me
I'm a small town white boy
Just tryin' to make ends meet
Don't need your religion
Don't watch that much TV
Just makin' my livin' baby
Well that's enough for me

You're one in a million
Yeah that's what you are
You're one in a million babe
You're a shooting star
Maybe some day we'll see you
Before you make us cry
You know we tried to reach you
But you were much too high

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BottenFieldofDreams
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Re: Songs that haven't aged well

Post by BottenFieldofDreams »

Remember arguing about facts in the pre internet days? Three years ago we were camping (there's probably service there now) about who played the bad guy in some 90s action movie. It was a trip. Anyway the Sweet Home Alabama myths and legends were such rich, fertile, unverifiable grounds back in the day.

This hits the major points, I think:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... 77-186638/

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G. Keenan
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Re: Songs that haven't aged well

Post by G. Keenan »

Smith Corks One wrote:I have no way of knowing how this song has actually aged, because I'm not old enough to know how it was received when it came out. But holy cow - every time I hear it, I cringe. I happen to think the Beatles are the greatest band of all time, but man does John lay the stalker/creep persona on thick with this one. Just the opening line along..."Well I'd rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man..."

Ha, yeah, John def had the more controlling machismo vibe of the four. Today we might call him a douche. No Reply is a great song, and totally not #metoo approved.
This happened once before
When I came to your door
No reply
They said it wasn't you
But I saw you peep through
Your window
I saw the light
I saw the light
I know that you saw me
'Cause I looked up to see
Your face

I tried to telephone
They said you were not home
That's a lie
'Cause I know where you've been
And I saw you walk in
Your door
I nearly died
I nearly died
'Cause you walked hand in hand
With another man
In my place

If I were you, I'd realize that I
Love you more than any other guy
And I'll forgive the lies that I
Heard before, when you gave me no reply

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heyzeus
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Re: Songs that haven't aged well

Post by heyzeus »

One in a Million is a prime example. Axl and Slash have spoken on that song recently, and their decision to omit it from their boxed set. I believe they've come a long way from an earlier position of ignorance.

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BottenFieldofDreams
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Re: Songs that haven't aged well

Post by BottenFieldofDreams »

Speaking of Enema of the State, Aliens Exist has aged oddly, if not unwell. All the other fart jokes were just fart jokes, but that one became Tom's calling in life.

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Re: Songs that haven't aged well

Post by BottenFieldofDreams »

Malcolm Gladwell did a podcast episode on Randy Newman (who is featured on the new Chance the Rapper album-how cool and weird is that) album written from the perspective of a Southern man with ignorant viewpoints and everything. I don't think anyone could do that in 2019. Liberal Twitter would freak out and hate him forever. And he'd become an alt-right darling. Dummies are too loud and empowered.

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