Monday, October 27, 2008

The Inquisitive Chicken Atrocious Song Lyric Challenge

Dear Gentle Reader:


Occasionally we come across lyrics that inspire disbelief, consternation, and even nausea. I invite you to submit lyrics that you feel are worse than the two samplings I have for your inspiration today.

Runner-Up: This song was so popular that I had the opportunity to hear it many times on the radio. I remember that first awakening when I started listening to the words instead of just the music and singing. I thought I would never find a more terrible example of rhyme over reason. Sheesh. These words make absolutely no logical sense, but you get the distinct impression that they are somehow supposed to. Disheartening. Very disheartening. Without further ado:

"You're Beautiful"
by James Blount

My life is brilliant 

My life is brilliant, my love is pure 
I saw an angel of that I'm sure 
She smiled at me on the subway 
She was with another man 
But I won't lose no sleep on that 
'Cause I've got a plan 

You're beautiful, you're beautiful 
You're beautiful, it's true 
I saw your face in a crowded place 
And I don't know what to do 
'Cause I'll never be with you 

Yes, she caught my eye 
As we walked on by 
She could see from my face that 
I was flying high 
And I don't think that I'll see her again 
But we shared a moment that will last 'till the end 

You're beautiful, you're beautiful 
You're beautiful, it's true 
I saw your face in a crowded place 
And I don't know what to do 
'Cause I'll never be with you 

La la la la la la la la la 

You're beautiful you're beautiful 
You're beautiful, it's true 
There must be an angel with a smile on her face 
When she thought up that I should be with you 
But it's time to face the truth 
I will never be with you 



Please do not hurl on your keyboard--run quickly to the restroom. Quickly!

Winner: Well, imagine my utter surprise that "You're Beautiful" was edged out by a little emo ditty that I've heard on Pandora for a while without understanding the lyrics. It needs no further introduction.

"Like A Rose on the Grave of Love"
by Xandria

Come like the dusk
Like a rose on the grave of love
You are my lust
Like a rose on the grave of love

I curse the day I first saw you
Like a rose that is born to bloom
Don't look at me the way you do
Like the roses, they fear the gloom

Your thorns, they kissed my blood

Your beauty heals, your beauty kills
And who would know better than I do?
Pretend you love me!

Indeed, reality seems far
When a rose is in love with you
Slaves of our hearts, that's what we are
We loved and died where roses grew

They watched us silently

A rose is free, a rose is wild
And who would know better than I do?
Roses are not made for love



Stunning. Simply Stunning. I'm always on guard when I hear the word "rose" in a song--it makes me listen with a kind of lyrical trepidation. I was particularly moved by the completely nonsensical stanza set off by the "bloom" and "gloom" rhyme. Brilliantly, brilliantly bad. "Like the roses, they fear the gloom." Beat THAT! Ha!

My challenge to you: 

Find something that puts these winners to shame. In fact,

I challenge you
To be true,
Else make me blue
Or want some stew.

I challenge you;
Just a few!
Old-- even new.
Maybe Motley Crue?

It's up to you. 
It's up to you.



UPDATE: 
Although I don't think the "Piranha" lyrics can exceed the horror of "Like a Rose on the Grave of Love," since one is meant to be taken seriously and the other surely not, they are very entertaining, especially in the context of speed metal drumming. Please enjoy the musical stylings of an unknown band singing a song about a piranha. Thanks to Eric for accidentally finding this little gem, and Kami for hooking us up. Indeed--who needs coffee in the morning when you could listen to this? 

Disclaimer: I cannot find who wrote or performed this song, and am unaware of any copyright infringement. If someone can tell me who credit should be given to, I will gladly do so, and if the proven owners of this song wish, I will unhappily remove the link from this site.

6 comments:

  1. LOL love it. Mike and I always said that the James Blunt song sounded like it was some drug-mania-crazed homeless guy on the subway who saw a beautiful woman who smiled half out of polite horror and fear, and imagined that she shared a moment of connection with him.

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  2. Okay, this topic strikes a chord (ha) with me. I have always been disgusted with Billy Joel's "She's Always a Woman to Me." Incredibly stupid:

    She can kill with a smile
    She can wound with her eyes
    She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
    And she only reveals what she wants you to see
    She hides like a child,
    But she's always a woman to me

    She can lead you to love
    She can take you or leave you
    She can ask for the truth
    But she'll never believe
    And she'll take what you give her, as long as it's free
    Yeah, she steals like a thief
    But she's always a woman to me

    CHORUS:
    Oh--she takes care of herself
    She can wait if she wants
    She's ahead of her time
    Oh--and she never gives out
    And she never gives in
    She just changes her mind

    And she'll promise you more
    Than the Garden of Eden
    Then she'll carelessly cut you
    And laugh while you're bleedin'
    But she'll bring out the best
    And the worst you can be
    Blame it all on yourself
    Cause she's always a woman to me
    --Mhmm--

    Bridge

    CHORUS:
    Oh--she takes care of herself
    She can wait if she wants
    She's ahead of her time
    Oh--and she never gives out
    And she never gives in
    She just changes her mind

    She is frequently kind
    And she's suddenly cruel
    She can do as she pleases
    She's nobody's fool
    And she can't be convicted
    She's earned her degree
    And the most she will do
    Is throw shadows at you
    But she's always a woman to me
    --Mhmm--

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  3. Ok, I've got a winner! Years back Eric downloaded a song that was mislabeled as a Traci Lords song. It was in fact, the (in)famous Pirana song! He never has been able to find the name of the band . . .

    Swimming in the deep blue sea
    he's after you, he's after me.
    He'll eat you up, oh yes he will.
    Cause he's a baaaaad fish.

    Pirrrraaana.
    Pirrraaaana.
    Pirrrraaana.
    Pirana!

    Swimming in the deep blue sea
    he's after you, he's after me.
    He'll eat you up, oh yes he will.
    Cause he's no chicken of the sea.

    Pirrraana.
    Pirraaana.
    Pirraaana.
    Pirana!

    And that's it. Seriously. Wait, Eric says there's some misc screaming in there too and some speed metal drumming. It's great. Eric and Randy played it every morning for almost two years straight . . . and then Randy and El moved to CO. Hmmmm. Coincidence?

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  4. We just listened to it again - it starts off:
    "This is a song about a fish. And fish are baaaaaad. OOOOOOOOH! BAD!"

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  5. I'm SO glad I was able to hear this one for myself this weekend. It's truly awe-inspiring. I also did some extensive searching to find out if there is anyone claiming this musical genius of a song, but nothing that I can find. Truly disappointing, because it's maybe the most boldly absurd example of post-modern speed-metal which incorporates the theme of man-eating fish that I've ever seen. Inspirational. Thank you, Kami & Eric. (And I want a copy of it, mmmkay? Thaaaanks.)

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  6. Pretty much all Bush lyrics were that bad. Take your pick of ANY of them. Below is their masterpiece Glycerine.

    Also, not to defend the song, it's stupid for sure, but "You're Beautiful" IS about a drug-addled out-of-body experience, which makes the disjointed lyrics a bit easier to swallow. The radio edit changed "she could see in my eyes I was f***in' high" to "flying high," which pretty much changes the entire mood of the song from pathetic daydream to sticky saccharine highschool love.

    Glycerine:

    Must be your skin that I'm sinkin in
    Must be for real cause now I can feel
    and I didn't mind
    it's not my kind
    not my time to wonder why
    everything's gone white
    and everything's grey
    now your here now you away
    I don't want this
    remember that
    I'll never forget where your at
    don't let the days go by
    glycerine

    I'm never alone
    I'm alone all the time
    are you at one
    or do you lie
    we live in a wheel
    where everyone steals
    but when we rise it's like strawberry fields

    If I treated you bad
    you bruise my face
    couldn't love you more
    you got a beautiful taste
    don't let the days go by
    could have been easier on you
    I coudn't change though I wanted to
    could have been easier by three
    our old friend fear and you and me
    glycerine (repeat)
    don't let the days go by
    glycerine

    I needed you more
    when we wanted us less
    I could not kiss just regress
    it might just be
    clear simple and plain
    that's just fine
    that's just one of my names
    don't let the days go by
    could've been easier on you
    glycerine

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