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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

345 replies

stellenbosch · 21/05/2018 20:33

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? 🤔🤣

OP posts:
Binkytheslug · 22/05/2018 06:15

Sixteen by Iggy Pop- allegedly about an unhealthy obsession with a barely legal teen.
However, it’s one of his songs from the 70’s when his brain wasn’t as clear as it is now.

Sex Dwarf by Soft Cell. About child sexual exploitation, but sung with such sleazy relish by Marc Almond that you want to wash the inside of your head with soap. I can’t cut and paste the lyrics on my phone, but google it and see what I mean. The song’s on Spotify too.

sashh · 22/05/2018 06:30

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'

May I offer Police, 'don't stand so close to me' not just creepy and in no way subtle

TomPinch · 22/05/2018 06:39

Sex Dwarf by Soft Cell. About child sexual exploitation

Citation please.

Binkytheslug · 22/05/2018 06:43

Yup, I agree, sashh. See previous comments about Minipops. It felt wrong then- I can’t believe ANYBODY really watched it, and I dread to think who they thought it’s target audience was, but it lasted a surprisingly long time before vanishing.

Don’t Stand so Close to Me is meant to be creepy- crushes on teachers not a lot older than the pupil. Given that Sting was a teacher, I always wondered if it was inspired by something he saw.

shakeyourcaboose · 22/05/2018 06:44

@sashh yes! Those adverts are awful!!

TomPinch · 22/05/2018 06:49

May I offer Police, 'don't stand so close to me' not just creepy and in no way subtle

Do you mean a parody of DSTCTM sung by a child? That would be creepy. As for the song itself, anyone who finds it creepy either hasn't understood the lyrics or is Mary Whitehouse.

TomPinch · 22/05/2018 06:51

Binkytheslug

So?

lostinsunshine · 22/05/2018 06:52

I'm really old so none of this is news to me. I heard most of it at the time because I was already old when I heard them. I grew up in the 70s when " have a drink/have a drive/go out and see what you can find" was on the radio.

lexiewrites · 22/05/2018 06:53

Many of these songs are just explicit not great for kids to be singing but not creepy. Not sure how you're all Mums when you seem to hate sex.

TomPinch · 22/05/2018 06:58

Don’t Stand so Close to Me is meant to be creepy- crushes on teachers not a lot older than the pupil.

Or possibly a lot older. But I don't think it's creepy at all. It's a warning- and considering what was going on at the time, very much ahead of its time.

I don't see what's creepy about telling teachers to keep their hands off the kids, and reminding the kids that some teachers can't be trusted.

I think the Police wrote good lyrics, but this is one of their better efforts.

Given that Sting was a teacher, I always wondered if it was inspired by something he saw.

I'm glad we can agree on something.

lostinsunshine · 22/05/2018 07:01

I imagine all your parents cringed when some of this stuff came on the radio and you all blithely raved about it. Mine did in the 70s. I'm sure you do now for your kids.
You know that Elvis Presley...? well I heard he gyrates his .....well, you know what when he sings.

TomPinch · 22/05/2018 07:05

Mine just kept a knowing silence. I remember making them play "Sink the Pink" by ACDC on the car stereo. They didn't bat an eyelid dies inside.

StripySocksAndDocs · 22/05/2018 07:05

There's loads of creepy songs and hypersexual ones. It's always a bit mad when these songs are used in inappropriate situations (such as hypersexual ones sang or danced to by children).

There's a Paul Weller sing 'you do something to me' that's repeatedly used as a wedding song or thought of as a love song. Which it isn't!!

KevinTheYuccaPlant · 22/05/2018 07:08

Some of Stock Aitken and Waterman is surprisingly stalkerish.

Sonia - You'll Never Stop Me From Loving You

^Even when you're home you won't pick up your phone and take my call
When I see you on the street you stare down at your feet, you won't talk at all
If only you would see me one more time and maybe some day you will find
That you could really love me, you could really need me, maybe you could change your mind

But you'll never stop me from loving you
It doesn't really matter what you put me through
you'll never stop me from loving you

When I know that you're alone I wander to your home and catch a glimpse or two
It seems that all the time the thought is on my mind of being with you
The times I've tried to see you, you know I would meet you any time, night or day
But still you just refuse and no matter what you do I'll never let you get away ^

I think that would probably get a collective MN 'Log it with 101'. And Kylie would get a rousing LTB for Better The Devil You Know.

^Say you won't leave me no more
I'll take you back again
No more excuses no, no
'Cause I've heard them all before
A hundred times or more
I'll forgive and forget
If you say you'll never go
'Cause its true what they say
It's better the devil you know
Woh woh woh
Our love wasn't perfect I know
I think I know the score
If you say you love me, oh boy
I can't ask for more
I'll come if you should call
I'll be here every day
Waiting for your love to show
Yes it's true what they say
It's better the devil you know ^

KevinTheYuccaPlant · 22/05/2018 07:09

Italic fail, sorry Blush

SinceWhenDid · 22/05/2018 07:11

Not sex related but I always wonder how The Shamen got away with Ebenezer Goode Grin "Es are good"

TomPinch · 22/05/2018 07:14

because lots of people at the time thought they were.

user838383 · 22/05/2018 07:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lostinsunshine · 22/05/2018 07:16

This thread really make me chuckle. Cannot believe how you missed all this. But then, god knows what I missed in the 70s.

sashh · 22/05/2018 07:34

I don't see what's creepy about telling teachers to keep their hands off the kids, and reminding the kids that some teachers can't be trusted.

But that's not what the song says.

lostinsunshine · 22/05/2018 08:00

As I recall at the time it came out Sting said it was about poor ickle NQTs at the mercy of predatory young girls not much older than them and with more sexual experience. No wonder it got a lot of negative comments from parents. Sadly it got a lot of"you just don't understaaaaand" in response.

lostinsunshine · 22/05/2018 08:02

Not much younger than them , I meant to say.

DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops · 22/05/2018 08:03

For those mentioning "too close" by Blue, they most definitely are singing about grinding in night clubs and getting hard ons!

GrumbleBumble · 22/05/2018 08:08

Stripysocks

This definitely strikes a chord in people’s hearts, a song for lovers. I’m told by some many people they had it played at their wedding, the first dance…Ironically, it’s really about unattainable love. But you can interpret it whichever way you want.”
Paul Weller (345)

Not sure what is meant to be creepy 'bout that.

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