Why....
...do only people with poor choice in music feel the need to share it with the entire neighbourhood? No one in Vanier drives around with Radiohead's OK Computer blaring out of their Honda Civic sunroof. What makes you think I want to listen along to The Thong Song? Just because it was on the MuchMusic Countdown (half a decade ago!), doesn't mean it is, or ever was, any good. It just means that the record companies have you exactly where they want you. And do you really want me to know that you're a sheep with no taste? I mean, if you're baby blue Exco track suit didn't tell me that already?
Note: I realise that musical taste, and track suit choice, is subjective. But seriously, The Thong Song? And you turned it up! You felt the need to broadcast it. That just shows mental instability.
Songs that should only be enjoyed as a guilty pleasure to which you would never admit, but that I have recently heard played so loudly I thought the band was living in my teeth:
La La, Ashley Simpson (Because Lala-ing on the kitchen floor is exactly what your 12-year-old fans should be fantasizing about)
This Love, Maroon 5 (Not that anything they released this year was any better, but if you want a "classic", go further back than 2004)
Candy Shop, 50 cent (we get it, it's a euphemism, you're so clever and dirty...)
Let's Go, Shawn Desman (CanCon be damned, you need to get over the whole girl-on-girl allusion in your song lyrics, Sean; it's just not that shocking anymore)
Songs that should be played loudly, and often, to share with the world:
Rebellion (Lies), The Arcade Fire
This is rock music, plain and simple.
Sitting, Waiting, Wishing, Jack Johnson
Poppier than the stuff from Brushfire Fairytales, it still makes you feel sexy just listening to his voice.
Tiny Vessels, Deathcab for Cutie
Sometimes relationships are shallow, and sometimes that's okay, because sometimes, a beautifully sad song can be written in their aftermath.
I'll Find A Way, Rachael Yamagata
And when you are in an unshallow, wonderful relationship, you can appreciate a beautiful love song even more.
Such Great Heights, The Postal Service
Yes, electronic instruments can sound melodic and not be cheesey. They just need to be wielded by actual musicians...
We Will Become Silhouettes, The Shins (cover of The Postal Service)
...so that they still sound good on an acoustic guitar. Isn't that the test of greatness for any song?
Comments
Hey - I am working the Shins show here in town next friday ;-)
Posted by: Timothy :-) at May 6, 2005 09:59 PM
Hey, nice musical choices, at least the ones I know. The Arcade Fire changed my life about 2-3 months ago, I was listening to them nonstop. Now I'm on a different CanadianMusic kick, though, and am listening to naught but Godspeed you black emperor! This is probably why I'm finding it hard to cheer up... :)
Maybe the La La people mock us when we drive around blaring Poulenc, Radiohead, Yo La Tengo or whatever other pretentious music it is we're listening to, but let them. It's still a free country! But that means we all have to suffer along with others' choices, too. (This blather on civil liberties brought to you by midafternoon boredom and two cups of coffee.)
Posted by: Uncle Vinny at May 10, 2005 05:11 PM