People who write television shows and movies(and people who dedicate songs), really should listen to ALL of the words before doing so.
Just because a song has a touching chorus, that does NOT mean that it's a love song, or an appropriate love song anyway.
I was watching Gilmore Girls last night(yeah, I watch Gilmore Girls, you got a problem with that ?- though let me add, after the way this season has gone, I am glad it is ending), and they discussed something that actually happened on LAST week's show, but it bothered me then as well, and now with them actually bringing it up AGAIN, I just felt the need to say something about it.
Last week, there was karaoke, and Lorelei Gilmore sang Dolly Parton's song "I Will Always Love You". While she was singing it, Luke(whom she was engaged to, and broke up with, but is still clearly in love with) came in, and there was this "moment" where they looked at each other, and all that. And we all just KNOW that they will end up together.Very romantic, right ?
Well, here's the catch on that, if you actually listen to the VERSE to the song, the woman is LEAVING the man, because it is what is best for her(and perhaps for him.)
I Will Always Love You(Dolly Parton)
If I should stay,I would only be in your way.
So I’ll go, but I know
I’ll think of you every step of the way.
And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
Bittersweet memories
that is all I’m taking with me.
So, goodbye. Please, don’t cry
.We both know
I’m not what you, you need.
And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you’ve dreamed of.
And I wish to you,
joy and happiness.
But above all this,
I wish you love.
And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
So, not really all that appropriate a song for that moment, right ? But of course the chorus is "I-eeeee-I-eeeeee-I wil always love yooouoooououuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.", so of course, it's a love song about people meant to be together.
WRONG !!!!
Here is my all time favorite, though.
I cannot even count the number of times I heard on the radio back in the old days
"Yeah, I love the Zeppo and Bingo show and I'd like to dedicate R.E.M.'s "The One I Love" to my girlfriend, Cara. Cara, you're the best, I love you."
Again, check out OTHER words to the song, pal:
The One I Love(Berry,Buck,Mills,Stipe)
This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the one I’ve left behind
A simple prop to occupy my time
This one goes out to the one I love
Fire (she’s comin’ down on her own, now)
This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the one I’ve left behind
Another prop has occupied my time
This one goes out to the one I love
Yes, Cara, you are a simple prop to occupy my time. What a touching expression of undying love. I can almost gaurantee that someone used this song as their wedding song.
I also loved Reagan co-opting "Born In The U.S.A." in '84. Yeah, Ron, that's real pretty picture of America Bruce is painting there, isn't it ?
Born In The U.S.A.(Bruce Springsteen)
Born down in a dead man's town
The First kick I took was when I hit the ground
End up like a dog that's been beat too much
Til' you spend half your life covering up
Born in the USA
I was Born in the USA
I was Born In the USA
Born in the USA
Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hands
Send me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man
Born in the USA
I was Born in the USA
I was Born In the USA
I was Born in the USA
Born in the USA
Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man said "son if it was up to me
"Went down to see my V.A. man
he said "son don't you understand?"
I had a brother At Khe Sahn fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in his arms now
Down in the shadows in the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm 10 years burning down the road
No where to run
Ain't got no where to go
Born in the USA
I was Born in the USA
I'm a long gone daddy in the USA
Born in the USA
Born in the USA
Born in the USA
I'm a cool rocking daddy in the USA
Though that one worked, so I guess that's more sad than anything else.
What are some of your favorite misinterpretations/misuses of songs and their lyrics ?
9 comments:
I understand what you're saying about GG, but I think she's just telling him how she feels, and if he doesn't want her back, that's fine, but she's just letting him know what's in her heart.
But, yeah, they totally brain-farted when talking about it last night. And did they forget that he came in AFTER she started singing, and that, in fact, she started singing it to Rory?
C2- that was part of my problem. Last night, she amde it out to be this very significant moment, and if that was the case, then the writers should have done some research and picked a better song.Like...say... "Talk Dirty To Me" by Poison, or something of that nature.
That would have put a whole new spin on the Lorelai/Rory relationship.
I'm behind on the last few episodes of GG, but it needs to end. The last two seasons have not been up to the standards I expect.
I always thought that the INXS song was "Every single woman has the devil inside."
And the Kenny Loggins's song from Caddyshack? I had no idea what he was saying, and I always thought, since I was a little kid that, for some reason, he was singing "Admiral" instead of "I'm All Right". Sigh.
OK, this wasn't my high school, but this rich-kid school in Omaha. . .in 1994 (or 1993?) they had "Total Eclipse of the Heart" as their prom Let's celebrate prom to perhaps the most depressing radio hit ever.
theme. How awesome is that? My best friend was dating a boy from there and she went. And I remember she brought home a program from the prom, where they reprinted the lyrics. I have no idea what that was about, maybe the student council was dominated by a bunch of kids who had recently been dumped.
To be fair, Luke walked in right as she was getting to this point:
"I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you’ve dreamed of.
And I wish to you,
joy and happiness.
But above all this,
I wish you love.
And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you."
So, techincally, that was the part she started singing to him, which implies that she hopes, despite everything, that all goes well for him and she still loves him. Regardless of the other lyrics.
C2 was correct to identify that it was initially to Rory she was drunkenly and humorously singing about walking out the door.
I'm ticked that GG, despite its recent lack of zip, is not going out with the she-bang it deserves.
One of the most misused songs of all time is "Every Breath You Take" by the Police, clearly about stalking someone.
C2- it certainly would(can you see my arched eyebrow ?)
Avitable- Yeah, it's a done show, that's for sure.
I like that interpretation of the INXS song.
*jaime- That is awesome! I would have loved that to be our prom theme, as I was dumped right before the prom !!
Lauren- Who ever said I was fair ? They were wrong, and it was simply another example of the poor writing that has befallen a formerly crisply written(if never particularly believable) television show.
Jeff- Yes !! I forgot all about that one !!
Celine Dion's "My heart will go on" is also played at weddings. It's about someone dying.
Pearl Jam's "Better Man" used to be treated as a romantic song too. It is of course about spousal abuse.
When someone I sort of knew died, I remember the grieving family members played Rod Stewart's "Forever Young" at the funeral. Hardly appropriate.
Gladiators playing Queen's "Another one bites the dust" when people were eliminated.
And Springsteen(again). I can remember being younger and having people actually use it as a party piece.."Glory Days" that is! There were actually people happily singing along(wrong lyrics of course) to the effect of "These are glory days"!
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