Comments on: Green Day

By: blamanj

blamanj — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 00:58:08 +0000

The word to google is “Mondegreens”. Occasionally covered by Jon Carroll of the San Francisco Chronicle, the word was actually introduced in 1954 by Sylvia Wright.

There are a series of books was written by Gavin Edwards listing popular mondegreens.

By: T.A.

T.A. — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 15:56:41 +0000

“Industrial Estate” passes my admittedly low hurdles to being considered a pop tune—verse/chorus structure, hummability, etc.

By: Uncle Kvetch

Uncle Kvetch — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 12:57:13 +0000

Alan, some years ago there was an entire paperback book devoted to commonly misheard pop lyrics. I don’t remember the exact title; it was either “’Scuse Me While I Kiss this Guy” or “There’s a Bathroom on the Right.” Seriously.

By: peterw

peterw — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 04:31:01 +0000

not just the best pop song, but one that is is perfect?? Furthermore, “most perfect”?? OK. lets not be pedantic, but for what its worth, I am hearing the jangling guitar opening., the simple up and down bass line, the clever and sly lyrics it adds up tp “19th Nervous Breakdown” for my nom. Though I have to agree with the comment above that ” I Say a Little Prayer” is an amazingly good song

By: Alan

Alan — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 23:23:03 +0000

This raises interesting questions concerning the ontology of works of art. Suppose that the majority of listeners to “Crimson and Clover” misheard it as “My mind’s such a sweet thing?” Suppose that the song’s cultural impact (assuming it had any) was based on a certain understanding of the line in that way? Couldn’t it be argued that the SONG ITSELF contains the line the way we heard it and makes sense, and that the recorded version is an imperfect attempt at realizing the Ideal Song? Isn’t that how a lot of folk art works? Blues lyrics, for example (or the Homeric epics, for that matter.) Each artist takes what the tradition passes on to him and improves it in accordance with his own vision of aesthetic perfection.

So whadddya say we try to get a copyright on OUR version of C & C?

By: Uncle Kvetch

Uncle Kvetch — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 22:27:14 +0000

“My mind’s such a sweet thing.”

I always heard it the exact same way…I just figured that the song was written on the cusp of teenybopper pop and psychedelia, so my misreading made perfect sense…to me, anyway.

By: Alan

Alan — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 21:20:51 +0000

(This one goes down in the annals of “misheard rock lyrics”:)

Intending to defend the genius of Tommy James and the Shondells in this forum, I googled on “Crimson and Clover” to make sure I had the lyrics correct. Imagine my dismay when I discovered that it does NOT say “My mind’s such a sweet thing.” It’s just “My, my such a sweet thing.”

My worldview is shattered.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 21:04:31 +0000

Rik,

Punk was over before 1972? That would be a surprise, wouldn’t it? I don’t follow Green Day much these days, but they come out of a perfectly good punk tradition, that of Look0ut records from the east bay area, the gillman st. club and Maximum RocknRoll. Even just before they made it big, they were quite willing to hang out w/ the local punks before and after shows played in tiny clubs that they drove to in their own chevey panel van. And they’ve been playing for at least a good 13 years or more.

By: Rik

Rik — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 18:41:19 +0000

Everybody knows the best pop singer is Cliff Richard!

(Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

Only trouble I have with Green Day – besides their antics on stage – is the tag they have in the States as being a “punk” band. Because, um, punk was over before those kids were even born.

But I’m not sure if they call themselves punk, or if that’s just CNN, Fox shorthand for “not an American Idol/boy band”.

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 18:00:49 +0000

Love “Industrial Estate”—but is it a pop song?

By: T.A.

T.A. — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 15:11:42 +0000

Some perfect pop songs in no particular order:

Lou Reed, “Perfect Day”
Syd Barrett, “Terrapin”
Teenage Fanclub, “The Cabbage”
Nico, “These Days”
The Fall, “Industrial Estate”

By: rbyrne

rbyrne — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 13:55:47 +0000

Slaphappy’s Acnalbasac Noom has the three best pop songs ever, all on one album: “Casablanca Moon,” “A Little Something” and “The Secret.” The fact that they made the record with avant-rockers Faust gives it extra bonus points. The first song begins as a rumpled tango (think Piazzolla being squeezed out of a music box)—and then Dagmar Krause kicks in:

“He used to wear fedoras
Now he sports a fez
There’s kabbalistic innuendos
In everything he says
Sucking on a cigarette
Picking up the dregs
Underneath the Casablanca Moon”

That said, “Brass in Pocket” is an excellent candidate. May I also suggest “Kid?” That drum breakdown and breathy Hynde vocal is pretty stunning.

By: Uncle Kvetch

Uncle Kvetch — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 13:36:02 +0000

No, no, Belle! “And Your Bird Can Sing” is the Most Underrated Beatles Song.

Whereas the Perfect Pop Song is “Brass in Pocket” by the Pretenders. Everybody knows that. 8^)

By: Belle Waring

Belle Waring — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 13:22:30 +0000

“Another Girl Another Planet” is one of the greatest songs ever, but surely the perfect pop song must be by the Beatles. may I suggest “And Your Bird Can Sing”? think about the harmonies in the bridge, people.

By: Ginger Yellow

Ginger Yellow — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 12:56:42 +0000

Surely everyone knows the perfect pop song is the Ronettes’ Be My Baby.