To think it's not fluffy 90s pop, but creepy asf?

[stellenbosch]

So, 'You're Gorgeous" (Babybird) was on the radio today in the car. Naturally, I turned it up.
Was singing along, (dc in back) and it struck me that it's actually a very creepy song and not a happy 90s pop tune.. got me thinking, what other songs that were acceptable back in the day probably wouldn't make the cut today?

The 80s song, 'I touch myself', comes to mind... lol

AIBU Or what other old songs do you think are, in retrospect, creepy asf? 🤔🤣

I think so XSquared. I forgot about that lyric.

I'll tell you what's creepy, those albums they advertise on kids tv with kids singing covers of popular songs. Can the people who make these ads not see the issue with a child singing dua lipa new rules esp lines like 'you know you're gonna wake up in his bed in the morning' and 'if your under him you ain't getting over him'

Vile

Rod Stewart's 'Tonight's the Night'.

Yuk!

Agree that they're bad, but back in the 80s we had Mini Pops on channel 4 which was around a million times worse. There were videos of kids singing adult songs, with make up on, acting like adults. It was the creepiest, wrongest thing ever. Just Google 'mini pops YouTube' because yes, on the internet no one can hear you scream. Or indeed hear you rip your face off in order to distract from the terribleness of it.

Yes and the "modern" grime/ rap / hip hop shit is acceptable because?????

Also, in the spirit of making things worse, that Inner Circle track says 'looking in your big brown eye'. Singular. At least once. Yeah, have a think.

It's eyes. Not eye. Eyes.

Freddie M and Mary were lovers - after they were together for six years he came out and started openly seeing men but they continued to be very close (no idea if they still had a sexual relationship). He left her his house and money. He wrote "Love of my Life" about her and often referred to her as the love of his life. It wasn't black and white.

Got to be Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen and Young Girl.

Both creepy/borderline paedophilia af. Ugh.

Yep I remember mini pops!! Hideous!!

As a young teen I remember cringing every time ‘Young Girl’ came on when we were on the car- and ‘Happy Birthday Sweet 16’.

I loved Mini Pops

Young girl, get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run girl
You're much too young girl
With all the charms of a woman
You've kept the secret of your youth
You led me to believe you're old enough
To give me love
And now it hurts to know the truth
Young girl, get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run girl
You're much too young girl
Beneath your perfume and your make-up
You're just a baby in disguise
And though you know that it's wrong to be
Alone with me
That come on look is in your eyes
Young girl, get out my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run girl
You're much too young girl
So hurry home to your mama
I'm sure she wonders where you are
Get out of here
Before I have the time
To change my mind
'Cause I'm afraid we'll go too far
Young girl, get out my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run girl
You're much too young girl (repeat to fade)

I mean c'mon. That's not even subtext, it's just.....text. Rape of a minor in lyrical form.

It's Kidz Bop now isn't it? A bunch of precocious little twerps dressed as adults cavorting about singing inappropriate songs and producing music videos....

In the days when most kids probably have parents who can knock them up a Spotify playlist or similar of the actual songs I'm rather suspicious of who these songs and, more particularly, videos are actually aimed at. Just sayin...

Haha precocious twerps is spot on!

Roy orbison "Drove all night"- basically guy drives to girl's house, wakes her up in the middle of the night to shag her - then asks if thats ok to do ??? Erm, no its not.

I heard that the sweat song was going to be "make you hurt" originally which wouldn't surprise me give the rest of the lyrics. And blurred lines is just awful. It really put me off that pharell(?) Bloke. There was an x rated video in which the models were naked except for plastic see through pants and simulated sex with animals- and it was shown on tv!!! Beggars belief.

what other songs that were acceptable back in the day probably wouldn't make the cut today?

have you not heard any songs lately?

poster maygirl27

I had to check re: Mr Brightside. I think you have been fed false news.

I always heard the song as one about how jealousy and how you mind can imagine maybe far worse than has actually happened when you suspect the slightest hint of disloyalty
So . . . consider the source ...

" Despite its upbeat feel, the song deals with issues of infidelity, paranoia, and jealousy. This is due to Brandon Flowers' heartache when his ex-girlfriend cheated on him while they were together."

genius.com/The-killers-mr-brightside-lyrics

saltandvinegarcrisps1

Why such a bleak interpretation ? I have never heard it like that.

Back in the day , ( 1970's ) my boyfriend and I had not had sex after about 3 months of dating. One night I was leaving a party that I had attended without him and suddenly decided that I missed him , but in any event wanted to let him know that he was loved and wanted and so I drove . . . ( well not all night but a good couple of hours from said party out in the country . . . ) and crept into his bed in the early hours. He was very pleased to see me . . . and the moment meant something.

Most of the creepiness in these songs is entirely intentional and written "in character". I assume it's because bands signed to major labels and on the pop treadmill want to express themselves artistically within the confines of the genre. They probably laugh their heads off that people play them at weddings etc.

This thread is weird.

Songs intended to be creepy are being criticised for being, well, creepy.

Songs about icky subjects (including, it seems, pretty average comments about sex) are icky too.

Honestly. It's like a vicar's wife's tea party in here.

"I drove all night, crept in your room, woke you up to make love to you". It's a bit creepy/stalkerish. Makes me uneasy...

Modern, acceptable rewrite:

I thought about all night top see you as it might be romantic.

Then I got a grip on myself, checked my Consent App, which told me I was being stalkerish. So instead I read the Guardian Online, ate a sandwich, went to bed and had a wank while contemplating the works of Marx and de Beauvoir.

HaroldsSocalledBluetits these days they change the lyrics on those Kidzbop CDs so there is nothing inappropriate. My son loves them! Dua Lupa for e.g. "if you go out with him, you ain't getting over him" and my personal favourite Drake "I need one dance, got both of your hands in my hands".
The originals sound weird to me now!

Babe and Everything changes but you by Take That.

In babe he has basically buggered off for a couple of years and then turns up at her door and says he's back now let him in 😑.

Everything changes - fully admits to cheating but get over it love .

Even as a big fan when I was a teen I knew these lyrics were a big pile of sexist shit.

Rod Stewart - Downtown Train.

I know your window and I know it's late
I know your stairs and your doorway
I walk down your street and past your gate
I stand by the light at the four way

TomPinch:
Honestly. It's like a vicar's wife's tea party in here.
I agree. I Drove all Night, for example was a song that meant so much to an ex boyf and I who lived apart for a year and I once did drive 4 hours to do just that. We loved each other, nothing stalkerish.