Therapy Thursday (A Little Early): Parade Your Shame
I have been picked on by some “people” lately about some songs I posted that may or may not be devoid of musical value.
I gotta say, I’m not terribly impressed by someone who feels the need to point out the weaknesses in someone else’s tastes. Intimidated, perhaps, but not impressed.
It’s like saying you love the movie Eraserhead. Yes, everyone knows David Lynch is a genius but that thing is the most unwatchable movie ever made. I could only sit through it twice.
So instead of lying and telling you I only ever listened to The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and The Beatles in the 80’s and Weezer, Green Day, and the Pixies in the 90’s, I’m going to air my shame and tell you some of the songs that I love that are completely void of any talent or otherwise redeeming quality. I just like ‘em, dammit.
1. Buck Cherry “Crazy Bitch” (For all my sweet, innocent, mommy type readers – this is a NOT nice song. Consider yourself warned.)
2. L.L. Cool J “Jingling Baby” (Ok, actually I like the entire album. So sue me.)
3. Public Enemy “One Million Bottle Bags” (maybe I don’t need to defend this one)
4. Anything by Prince (This technically doesn’t count since he’s a musical genius.)
5. The Offspring “Self Esteem”
6. Beastie Boys “Girls” (I think I might be painting myself as a misogynist, here.)
7. That song from the end of “Breakfast Club” – you know the one. “Hey, hey hey hey.” It’s Simple Minds “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” and I guess it’s all about timing.
Now for the true embarrassments:
8. Kenny Rogers “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town”
9. Hank Williams, Jr. “Family Tradition”
10. Abba “Dancing Queen”
11. Mighty Mighty Bosstones “The Impression That I Get”
12. Psychedelic Furs “Pretty In Pink”
13. Hootie and the Blowfish “I Only Wanna Be With You” (I know – this is the worst one)
14. Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time” (again, the timing)
15. The whole album by the Clash “Combat Rock” (It was the first record album I asked for and owned. Even before I got my James Taylor album. No, I’m not kidding. I told you I have problems.)
But I’m trying not to care what anyone thinks. I like these songs and I should be secure enough to shout it from the rooftops.
Now it’s your turn. Tell me the song you love that you would be embarrassed to admit is in your iTunes (that’s where I found my list).
Don’t be shy. Got some Liberacci? Some Andrea Bocelli? How about a little polka music? My grandfather’s favorite tune was the Fat Lady Polka. They played it at his 50th anniversary party.
Top it. I triple dog dare you.
Hey, I’ll tell it loud and proud: Engelbert Humperdinck! The Last Waltz and After the Lovin’. And Lil Scrappy “Money in the Bank.”
I LOVE my guilty pleasure. They’re the sweetest of sins. It’s all so subjective, though, isn’t it? (I know, I know, real profound, Alan.)
But… “One man’s meat is another man’s poison” as Fad Gadget sang, and rather well, I might add. For instance, I would never include The Psychedelic Fur as a guilty pleasure, (the first two albums, are, I think brilliant) but thanks to John Hughes, the Furs got a bit sullied (see Flesh for Lulu, below).
Anyway, this is a partial list of some of the stuff off the top of my head. No doubt there are many, many, more terribly great ones that have ear-wormed their ways into my heart.
Blue Zoo – I’m Your Man
Every song by Girlschool
Hip Hop Hoolios – Kike on the Mic
INXS – Devil Inside
Jona Lewe – Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties
Kate Nash – Foundations (extremely guilty pleasure)
Tim Curry — I Do the Rock
Classix Nouveau – Guilty
Fefe Dobson – Bye Bye Boyfriend
Tears for Fears – Shout
Andy Stewart – Donald Where’s Yer Troosers
Dee Lite – Groove is in The Heart
Dio – The Last in Line
Falco – Rock Me Amadeus
Molly McQueen – No Sleep 2nite
Flesh for Lulu – I Go Crazy
Spandau Ballet – Chant No. 1
BTO – Takin’ Care of Business
Flock of Seagulls – I Ran
Marilyn Manson – The Beautiful People
Soundtrack to Phantom of the Opera
Pornos for Pyros – Pets
Focus – Hocus Pocus
Clever Hans – All That
Huey Lewis & The News – all the Sports album
The Human League – Darkness
Senor Coconut – White Horse
Earth, Wind & Fire – Magnetic
Haddaway – What is Love
Kraftwerk – the Computer World album
Billy Idol – Rebel Yell
Spyro Gyra – Old San Juan
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Atrophy
Juno Reactor – Pistolero
Nice post.
There’s no shame in listening to ABBA is there? My husband and I had Abba’s “I do, I do, I do, I do (etc)” played at the moment we were pronounced husband and wife. Euro-tragic, I know.
I’m also a closet “Crowded House” fan and have, in my more unstable moments, contemplated a career as a professional stalker of founding member Neil Finn. Except that I couldn’t handle the hours or the travel.
Hi barelyknittogether! Thought I’d pop over from Anal I mean Alan’s site.
Most of your list and Alan’s work for me. Not feeling fundamental jelly’s so much. Sorry.
My girls do s pretty sweet parody of Paul Revere, but Girls is their favorite. I’m sure you are dying to know what I love. Heh.
Well, here goes:
The Flaming Lips (all of it)
Matisyahu
Nellie McKay
Jane’s Addiction
David Bowie
Neutral Milk Hotel
The Beastie Boys
The Clash
…many more..
Oh snap! Were these supposed to suck? Ah, screw it.
You all didn’t guilty pleasures. You should be embarrassed to tell people. OK the fact that you like BB Girls BKT says something. Here are two guiltys of mine that I dare you to listen to the entire album b/c they have talent beyond their poppy hits:
Aqua – remember I’m a Barbie Girl..
Right Said Fred – I’m too Sexy
Rest of their albums is great!!
Ugh, I hate people who criticize music for it being simple. Rock n Roll is supposed to be simple, it’s not supposed to be like classical music.
“Eraserhead” does suck and all that noise made me want to rip my ears off. And, “Jingling Baby” is an awesome song. I haven’t heard it in forever, I’m going to look for it now.
[...] Therapy Thursday (A Little Early): Parade Your Shame « Barely Knit … [...]
I have the soundtrack to “Take the Lead” on my Itunes. I also have a secret place in my heart for Steve Miller Band and for those sappy old REO Speedwagon and Chicago songs.
That guy you described sounds like a real douche monkey. Don’t listen to him…he’s probably just old and cranky.
LOVE the MMB’s Impression That I Get.
Guilty pick – Tracey Ullman – They Don’t Know
Now, I am off to find this person that assaulted your dignity and kick him square in the sac. You’re welcome.
I like Mandy Moore – Candy. Mum says shes a good, wholesome young lady and that if i could ever love anyone more than i love my mum, that i should aspire to have Mandy Moore!
Bob
Great post, BKT. It deals with some of my favorite subjects. Mainly music, and in the comments, me.
Very brief and subjective guilty pleasure list:
Anything from the David Lee Roth era of Van Halen. (Except “1984″.)
Daddy Yankee – Gasolina (not really a fan of the whole reggaeton scene, or reggae in general – but this song makes you feel like you’re living an episode of “The Shield.” All pumping bass and Puerto Rican lyrics.)
the Proclaimers – 500 Miles (if it’s turned up loud enough, the drums kick some ass, definitely more ass than should be reasonably be expected from the I.T. twins)
Cornershop – Brimful of Asha (definitely a snapshot of its time and place, but the Fatboy Slim mix rocks hard even to this day)
L.A. Style – James Brown is Dead (speaking of dated, but I’ll still crank it now and then)
Duran Duran – Decade: Greatest Hits (NO-NO-NOTORIOUS)
LL Cool J – Walking with a Panther (100% agreement with BKT. My favorites are I’m That Type of Guy and, of course, Going Back to Cali)
Hardknox – Fire Like This (late 90’s, sub-Prodigy breakbeats. If you’ve seen “Me, Myself & Irene,” you’ve heard this track. It plays every time Carrey’s character snaps.)
House of Pain – Jump Around/Cypress Hill – Insane in the Brain (No explanation needed. I hope.)
Let’s see, I have some truly strange stuff that when I tell people I listen to, they get all weird on me.
To whit:
I have fifteen albums plus a box set of The Statler Brothers. Dad was a huge fan, so I would be forced to listen to them and….
The Kingston Trio (got a dozen albums of them too)
And finally, I have a tape of Duran Duran called “Thank You”, which has a bunch of covers on it, most notably “911 is a joke” and “White Lines” (which I found in a Salvation Army thrift store as a 12 inch single by Melle Mel).
Dancing Queen… that’s too weird. I remember driving in the country with the radio on, lost in thought. That song came on and I remeber thinking the key change in the chorus, “You can dance, you can dance…” was really awesome. It caught me off guard and I drove off a bridge.
[...] Barely Knit Together blog posted this week about Guilty Pleasures (referring to songs, not something else pervs). I made the point that a guilty pleasure should be [...]
Okay, since I can’t make fun of you (that would defeat the whole purpose), I will just add a few more to my list:
Deee Lite Theme
Fergie – London Bridge
LOVE Foundations (I agree)
Big Country – In A Big Country
Notorious D.E.A.D. – Mo Money Mo Problems
Harlem Blues from Mo’ Better Blues soundtrack
I can see now quite clearly just how utterly bizarre a person I am.
Delightful list! I considered adding Rebel Yell. And I used to listen to Spyro Gyra as a kid at the same house that had the Bread albums. Weird.
I’m going to have to check out some of these other songs. Nice to see you, FJ.:)
I, for one, could hardly consider “Pistolero” a guilty pleasure. It’s amazing. Name one other song that makes you want to drive recklessly into the sunset, firing pistols out the window.
(OK. Well, name one non-rap tune, then.)
Marissa, Marissa. How very confusing and intriguing. I hope you are seeking proper care.
I have a great therapist if you want his number.
Just sayin’.
One day last summer, Sus and I once had a 20 minute drive to make. The first song that came on the iPod was Foundations. We both looked at each other, laughed, and without saying anything knew that we’d be playing it, and only it, for our short voyage. A delightfully guilty pleasure drive and Foundations played 5 times.
Isn’t it great when dysfunctions mesh like that? You are so lucky to have found each other. (This might be funny if I hadn’t already confessed that I like the song.)
I was at a wedding reception once where the groom danced (solo) to I’m Too Sexy. It was…mildly amusing and disturbing at the same time.
He was quite the dancer, though.
Thanks for stopping by and bolstering my self-esteem. Ladies Love Cool James, you know. And yesterday I heard Soul to Soul on the radio. SOUL TO SOUL! I forgot all about them.
I’m having a totally early 90’s flashback week. Catch ya later, Mike.
Am I the only one amused by some of my spam comments? I just think they are so random, I occasionally let the more amusing ones through. Like the one above. “Drivel hang your head in shame?” Priceless.
This is a test to see if I can link to my friend Jamie’s list, which is way too long to post in its entirety. I SO hope it works!
Someone tell me if it doesn’t (I think you have to log in, but I don’t know if you have to be his friend).
Love you too, Tannerleah.
Glad you took it in the way it was intended. Which was to make a mockery of you and your judgment, but in only the most affectionate way.
And wow – get a photo of that kicking in the sac thing. Do you do yoga?
Most songs make me want to drive recklessly into the sunset, firing pistols out the window. But maybe that’s just my temperament.
No – definitely no explanation needed. In fact, that’s a cheat, since it is a kickass song. I dare anyone to disagree. Great list. I love that 500 Miles song too. This is good; it’s reminding me of music I liked and had forgotten. Thanks, CLT.
And G has just won the prize!
Unfortunately, the prize is our puzzled looks and concern for your mental health.
Thank you for playing!
Statler brothers? *shakes head*
I just spit all over my keyboard, RR (laughing, I mean). Caught me a little off guard with the bridge thing. But Abba is such happy music – there are numerous bands much more appropriate for base jumping shenanigans. Take This Mortal Coil or Dead Can Dance. Maybe some Grant Lee Buffalo.
And thanks so much for joining the fray.
Yeah. :-[
Dad was a college professor, so whenever he would grade papers, he would put on a record album.
Thus, I developed an affinity for The Statler Brothers, The Kingston Trio, Peter Paul & Mary, The Seekers, etc. etc. etc.
I spent my later years trying to go as far in the opposite direction that I could go. Thus, listening to all types of punk and metal from time to tim has been a definite cure-all.
Howevery, Olivia Newton-John has been a mainstay of mine at work. You want to talk about odd responses….
Okay, okay. I give up, you’ve dragged it out of me. I don’t actually have any of these songs, but if they came on the radio I would crank it up and sing, and it’s all because of my mom’s bad taste:
John Denver – Take Me Home, Country Roads [Also, For Baby (for Bobbie), which I sing to my kids as a lullaby. But I can be forgiven for that since I also sing Van Morrison's "Crazy Love"]
Kenny Rogers – The Gambler (you know you love it, don’t lie!)
The Mamas and the Papas – Dedicated to the One I Love
And my mom listened to ONJ, too. In fact, it sounds like your dad and my mom might have known each other. But my rebellion involved cheesy peace music, but also drugs. Then I came around and started listening to hardcore and rap, which really threw everyone for a loop.
Now I listen to all of it, and more: 1940’s jazz and swing, classical, punk, funk, folk…you get the idea. If we met, I might pretend I was all horrified at the idea of ONJ, but secretly inside I’d be saying, “Wow. What an intriguing fellow.”
I actually love “Take Me Home, Country Roads”. Love it so much that I wrote two chapters around it for a book that is only 33% done.
Kenny Rogers: Got a Reader’s Digest boxed set, plus three albums.
The Mama’s and the Papa’s: got the second most worthwhile copy of “If you can believe your eyes and ears” (shows them in the bathtub with only the toilet bricked out on the cover. if you got the cover with everything showing and it’s in relatively decent condition, it’s worth about $100 or so).
As for everything else on your list, I get all of that while listening to college radio.