Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Phrases That Are Now "Owned" By Pop Songs

In musicals people seem to break out into song all the time. People (at least the ones I hang out with, sappy folks that they are) are always saying things like that they wish they lived in that kind of world, the world where people are always just bursting out into song. But sometimes, in my mind, I sort of feel like I live in that world. Sometimes I hear something and have to do all that I can to hold myself back from "bringin' the noize" at an otherwise unmusical moment. Allow me explain.

You know how there are certain phrases that sometimes come up and you can't help but just bust out into song when you hear them? Well, with the help of the friends around me, I've been compiling a list of these phrases for a while now, and I think that by listing them I might just get a better sense of how infectiously musical life really is. I won't say what the songs are, because if you don't know, then maybe these phrases aren't as synonymous with these songs as I thought. This is a test. Here goes:

  • I'm so excited.
  • It's been a while.
  • Taking care of business.
  • Say my name.
  • Isn't it ironic?
  • You're so vain.
  • Straight up.
  • That's just the way it is.
  • Help!
  • I think we're alone now.
  • Wake me up.
  • It was good.
  • All night long.
  • What's goin' on?
  • That's what friends are for.
  • You can't touch this.
  • You're never gonna get it.
  • It's too late.
  • I like big butts.
  • There goes the neighborhood.
  • Cry me a river.
  • Alright, stop.
I forgot a few. Some were written on a napkin at the Super Bowl. Others were written on my hand and have since washed off. Remind me. Or make suggestions. Good ones. Ones that show that you "get it," if at all possible.

Do some of these totally not ring a bell? If so, let me know. This is important research I am doing here.

P.S. The first person to tell me who the guy with the accordion is in that picture gets a special prize. I can tell you this much, he is certainly proving that one song from Ishtar to be wrong:
Telling the truth can be dangerous business;
Honest and popular don't go hand in hand.
If you admit that you play the accordion,
No one will hire you in a rock 'n' roll band.
Of course we all know that bands like The Decemberists (a band whose popularity I have never understood) have made accordions cool again. This will be my next list: What are some bands who everyone else seems to go ga-ga for but that you just don't get? Go ahead, be mean, it's ok. We live in a sphere of buzz, and you vocally not liking them will not do anything to make them less popular. I'll get things started with an obvious one: The White Stripes. Or oh, what about The Polyphonic Spree. Ew, I know.

12 comments:

Kino said...

ditto on polyphonic spree. maybe the gimmick is what ruins it for me? nah, it's more.

i was at a taping for a live herbie hancock show last weekend (check yahoo music live sets april 1st if you wanna see). he really layed it down. it was a great show. there was a Q&A session. one lady asked him what advice does he have for younger stars like RHIANNA. i know the dude does some production and collab work so maybe they worked together, but i wouldn't be surprised if herbie and 85% of the people in the room watching knew who rhianna was or cared for that matter. i saw one video and wasn't that impressed. not much diff than tlc or beyonce or that modern pop R&B right? i guess she won a grammy, so did herbie.

on that note feist is one. she got a grammy too i guess. i don't get her.

rachel said...

Jared Leto?

And I instantly heard the song in my head except for these: it was good, all night long, it's too late, there goes the neighborhood, cry me a river, alright stop. Was that last one a real one or were you telling yourself to stop?

M. H. D. said...

That last one is Vanilla Ice, if that is any kind of hint.

Liz said...

Is the guy playing the accordion Lars Ulrich?

M. H. D. said...

No, it's not Lars. But I'll give you a hint, one of the songs on that list is his.

Unknown said...

That's Bruce Hornsby.

Spoon. Sara Bareilles. Sheryl Crow. Modest Mouse. Beck. Amy Winehouse.

You shouldn't have gotten me started.

"All right, stop, collaborate and LISTEN." What does that EVEN mean???

davor said...

Nice idea for a post! Ditto on Polyphonic Spree. I'll add the Microphones to that. Seriously, I finally heard The Glow Pt. 2 and it did nothing for me. And I've heard Justin compared to that guy, and to me it's like Justin is SO much better. I know there are a lot more, but I'm too too tired... Oh. Wait, count me in on Feist, and throw in the Blow. Actually, most K artists. Not into it. L8r!

davor said...

Actually, I'm still up, and I was just thinking that Jim Steinman seems to have made the idea of taking phrases and making them his own, his own. So I would like to add:

Bat out of hell
Two out of three ain't bad
You took the words right out of my mouth
Heaven can wait
For frying out loud
I would do anything for...
Out of the frying pan
Dead ringer

There are more, I'm sure. But hearing these phrases instantly brings Meat Loaf blasting into my skull.

TORLANDO said...

vampire weekend

what is Help!?

and "don't speak" (commonly said in real life or in movies with a 'shh' first and then putting your pointer finger over the other person's lips)

Anonymous said...

"TO THE LEFT"

M. H. D. said...

Ooh! Good one.

davor said...

For the record, I am into both the White Stripes and the Decemberists. At least "Picaresque." The new stuff I've heard, not so much. Just figured I should belly up to the bar with that.

Torlando, I would also say Vampire Weekend, but I have yet to hear a single person say something even remotely positive about them. I know they're allegedly something to talk about... but everyone seems to think they suck.

Ahem,

"Something to Talk About"
classic!