Tuesday, 3 May 2011

More Unusual Song Lyrics...

I am a firm believer that in music, it is the rhythm, melody and harmony and not the lyrics that are important. That's not to say that I don't appreciate great lyrics... of course not, it's just I feel that if a song sounds good then it doesn't matter what the words mean.



But sometimes, lyrics stand out in songs not not because they are great, but because they are so confusing! For example, The Jackson 5 wrote a song called "I want you back" where a young Michael Jackson tries to convince a young lady to leave her current partner, and be with him instead. One lyric, early on in the song, reads:

" When I had you to myself
I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you
Stand out in a crowd "
 Maybe I'm misinterpreting this, but is MJ really saying to the girl, "Hey, I never noticed you before, because, compared to the hordes of beautiful girls that I know, you are nothing special?"

Really, Michael? I mean, I know he was young, but this is a very dangerous opening gambit when you're trying to woo a young dame. Or have I misunderstood?

Anyway, this poor choice of words does nothing to detract from one of the greatest songs of the 20th century.
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59 comments:

  1. DubbaDeeDoo3 May 2011 at 15:29

    Whoa, you're right. Kinda mind blowing. I like me some good double entendres. :D

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  2. Maquina3 May 2011 at 15:37

    Check this out:

    "The inhume soils that we left in slags
    Decrepit joy by open wide tracts
    Of the little fermenting recently baptizeds
    Utter necrophilic nocturnal impiety
    Storming diabolic is the search"

    Beauty thru grotesque narrative i guess.

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  3. psychpost3 May 2011 at 15:39

    basically, he did not notice at first but he does now

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  4. zeroskyy3 May 2011 at 15:45

    *cue dramatic chipmunk*

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  5. Anonymous3 May 2011 at 15:46

    really nice post .

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  6. Anonymous3 May 2011 at 15:52

    Harsh!

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  7. Anonymous3 May 2011 at 17:15

    Sounds right to me

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  8. Mike3 May 2011 at 17:17

    Listen to half of Michael's songs and they don't make a giant amount of sense.

    Try "Beat it"

    "Show em how funky strong is your fighter"

    ...

    I'm sorry, wait what? Hahahaha

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  9. B Jeezy3 May 2011 at 17:45

    i like weird al versions of mj

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  10. Bouchequett3 May 2011 at 18:55

    MJ are the king for evah

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  11. Max Redgrave3 May 2011 at 19:27

    Not a MJ fan, personally.

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  12. Jesse Crows3 May 2011 at 20:07

    this brings back memories!

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  13. J.R.3 May 2011 at 23:08

    Never really listened to MJ but that is a really harsh lyric once you really break it down and look at it. So easy to overlook when you actually listen to in during the song.

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  14. Fr8lovers4 May 2011 at 01:31

    sounds good in my opinion

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  15. goat-on-a-stik4 May 2011 at 02:16

    rip MJ

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  16. sewingincircles4 May 2011 at 03:26

    A lot of songs have really strange lyrics.

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  17. Anonymous4 May 2011 at 03:33

    I don't think artists find words always important, but sometimes it sounds so good, it doesn't even mather if the words aren't that great.

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  18. Mysterious Stranger4 May 2011 at 04:02

    Well, you have to consider the context in the song, the put down is part of the plan. By making her feel less special he tries to entice her to chase this mystery man who isn't woo'd by looks.

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  19. sp3nny4 May 2011 at 05:00

    odd Lyrics, but pretty cool

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  20. i am sam4 May 2011 at 05:08

    He was a weird lyricist :S

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  21. Bob4 May 2011 at 05:27

    @Mysterious Stranger - I agree with you. Thats how it came off to me after reading it.

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  22. Spartan0944 May 2011 at 05:29

    MJ has always had a way with words, NOT!

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  23. mindph4 May 2011 at 05:32

    Lyrics is lyrics, without music it can be a poem. Its the unity rythm, groove, melody and lyrics form that makes it special.

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  24. brn4 May 2011 at 06:11

    that is very true. i normally don't even pay attention to the lyrics. tbh, 80% of what i listen to is instrumental music. heheh

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  25. Hadders934 May 2011 at 06:57

    It's a shame that lyrics have gone so downhill in a lot of mainstream music nowadays :/

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  26. Triper4 May 2011 at 06:58

    Hey! i like your post, this song must be interesting. I will check this.

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  27. Born_Disturbed4 May 2011 at 07:02

    No. chicks love it when you insult them! i swear its what they love most about guys...

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  28. FunkyDuckman4 May 2011 at 07:21

    hah, kinda funny. I never really thought about it like that, most the the jackson 5 stuff sounds so innocent.

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  29. PackScoot4 May 2011 at 07:21

    R.I.P! good share definatly strange

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  30. Anonymous4 May 2011 at 07:22

    Was never a MJ fan myself, interesting post though man.

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  31. Pony4 May 2011 at 08:02

    I miss MJ, was definitely one of my favorites.

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  32. Unknown4 May 2011 at 08:23

    Sounds like you're on point. Even when read in context it still doesn't make sense.

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  33. Kevin4 May 2011 at 08:59

    R.I.P MJ. Great musician man, shame he had to go so early :(

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  34. Pappa Püllï4 May 2011 at 10:07

    Awesome read, thanks for sharing this! =D

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  35. Anonymous4 May 2011 at 10:13

    "When I had you to myself
    I didn't want you around"

    Hmm, things don't work like that on normal relationships.

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  36. Anonymous4 May 2011 at 11:03

    I find that when I listen to a song the first couple of times its all about the sound, but then eventually I will listen more closely to the lyrics. Lots of the time it is quite the wtf moment when I finally listen to the lyrics.

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  37. baka12364 May 2011 at 11:35

    Harsh MJ... Harsh. No wonder Billy Jean wasn't your lover

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  38. noyou4 May 2011 at 12:41

    had never thought og that

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  39. MikeNeuman4 May 2011 at 13:11

    What a lil' player.

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  40. Copyboy4 May 2011 at 14:49

    I agree except when it comes to Billy Joel...or Def Leppard!

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  41. mindlessfrk4 May 2011 at 14:57

    It's hard to get what an artist really means. xD

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  42. M4 May 2011 at 15:00

    I think it's kinda a message to women, saying we are all special and that, and we shouldn't forgive people like that? Maybe, it kinda paints the song in a bit of a pathetic light!

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  43. 13-c-a-t-s4 May 2011 at 15:09

    you sure it's a girl he's talking about? ;-)
    +following

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  44. Leo`4 May 2011 at 15:17

    Most things about MJ were unusual anyway

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  45. Ponderer4 May 2011 at 15:19

    Wow I've heard it but never thought it out!

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  46. King Elysium4 May 2011 at 15:43

    MJ was a good musical artist

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  47. lasewun4 May 2011 at 16:17

    "special" girl. hahaa

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  48. crispykazza4 May 2011 at 19:33

    Makes you think, eh?

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  49. Lunarchy4 May 2011 at 19:59

    Almost sounds to me like he's calling his girl ugly and annoying! Sounds vaguely familiar lol +follow

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  50. Armagedda4 May 2011 at 22:27

    Yeah sounds like a bad pickup line haha, oh well didn't stop him making a hell of a lot of money.

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  51. I am...4 May 2011 at 23:30

    Poor MJ, he'll be missed

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  52. Andy Stockdale5 May 2011 at 00:51

    i think the lyrics mean millions of different things to millions of different people, they can almost mean whatever you want them to! another good post!

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  53. Dola5 May 2011 at 02:36

    new ipod pic!

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  54. Ante Babaja5 May 2011 at 03:57

    i love that song

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  55. b45 May 2011 at 06:37

    I agree with you. Great post.

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  56. baka12365 May 2011 at 10:35

    @andy agreed with you m8

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  57. Marc D5 May 2011 at 12:52

    Haha great post!

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  58. Wazabiii5 May 2011 at 13:09

    I remember how we used to examine song lyrics in english class a few years back and someone had an MJ song as example. Parts of it were quite contradictive, but hey, that's music I guess

    +following

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  59. PIECOW5 May 2011 at 15:49

    I never really noticed that, great post!

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