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Original poster

Dodgy morals in pop songs

328 replies

Gahhhhereheisagain · 30/08/2023 19:24

I'll start...
Escape (the pina colada song)
I'd be leaving that Irish bar without him. What a tit.

OP posts:
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12
StoatofDisarray · 30/08/2023 21:14

maltravers · 30/08/2023 20:04

A lot of these are meant to be “off” though - like the “Cool for Cats” and “every breath” one. You’re not meant to empathise or aspire I don’t think!

I think Cool for Cats is a lovely pastiche of an awkward club pick-up: nothing dodgy going on, apart from the dog humping the bloke's leg. He gives her "some old chat" but all it means is he's doing that clumsy bit about seeing her again as he leaves.

Cool for Cats is banging and not at all dodgy, pervy or anything bad and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise!

willWillSmithsmith · 30/08/2023 21:15

fruitstick · 30/08/2023 20:32

Ooh can I add 24 Hours From Tulsa if we're talking Hal David.

Nearly made it home love, but then hooked up with a stranger in a car park.

"Oh I was only 24 hours from Tulsa
Ah only one day away from your arms
I saw a welcoming light and stopped to rest for the night
And that is when I saw her
As I pulled in outside of a small motel
She was there and so I walked up to her
Asked where I could get something to eat and she showed me where"

I do like this song though as I really like Gene Pitney’s voice but the lyrics are really awful. Poor wife at home 🙁

category12 · 30/08/2023 21:17

willWillSmithsmith · 30/08/2023 21:04

I was listening to this Whitney song yesterday and thought, this song is about having an affair with a married man? Funny how no one seemed to care when it was released and got to number one.

Show quote history

Lots of songs are about cheating, I don't think it has an effect on their popularity.

Bryan Adams' Run to You

She says her love for me could never die
But that'd change if she ever found out about you and I
Oh but her love is cold
Wouldn't hurt her if she didn't know, 'cause
When it gets too much
I need to feel your touch

illbeinthegarden · 30/08/2023 21:18

3am by Busted! Wasn't till the other day I was singing along in the cat and I though 'hang on you said what?'

All very I don't care what you say I'm getting with you, stop taking for long to decide, driving to your house at 3am to harass you.

Itsnamechange · 30/08/2023 21:19

At break of day when that man drove away, I was waiting
I crossed the street to her house and she opened the door
She stood there laughing
I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more

category12 · 30/08/2023 21:19

I hate the song Grenade by Bruno Mars. So melodramatic and who needs some bloke offering to jump on a grenade for you then wailing how you wouldn't do the same. No I wouldn't, Bruno, and it's weird that that's your go-to.

orangeyeahthatsright · 30/08/2023 21:20

Bit like Substitute by Clout

Crikey yes, I'd forgotten that one.

Just to even the gender score a bit on the desperation front, Backstreet Boys' 'As Long As You Love Me' has the singer wailing that he doesn't care who she is, where she's from, what she 'did' and that it 'doesn't even matter if she's on the run'... I think you need to set the bar a little higher, lads.

greengreengrass25 · 30/08/2023 21:20

Yes Cool 4 Cats is of it's time

Great imagery

The Sweeney's doing ninety 'cause they've got the word to go
They get a gang of villains in a shed up at Heathrow
They're counting out the fivers when the handcuffs lock again
In and out of Wandsworth with the numbers on their names
It's funny how their missus always look so bleeding same
And meanwhile at the station there's a couple of likely lads
Who swear like, "How's your father?" and they're very cool for cats

Magicpaintbrush · 30/08/2023 21:21

A Little Less Conversation by Elvis Presley - basically he's saying "I don't give a shit about anything you've got to say so shut up and suck my dick". It's so misogynistic, I hate it:

'A little less conversation, a little more action, please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and, baby, satisfy me
Satisfy me, baby'

Phos · 30/08/2023 21:22

greengreengrass25 · 30/08/2023 21:20

Yes Cool 4 Cats is of it's time

Great imagery

The Sweeney's doing ninety 'cause they've got the word to go
They get a gang of villains in a shed up at Heathrow
They're counting out the fivers when the handcuffs lock again
In and out of Wandsworth with the numbers on their names
It's funny how their missus always look so bleeding same
And meanwhile at the station there's a couple of likely lads
Who swear like, "How's your father?" and they're very cool for cats

I like the bit about the nasty little rash as well. Like I said I can well imagine the dopey bloke telling the tall tales.

orangeyeahthatsright · 30/08/2023 21:22

Magicpaintbrush · 30/08/2023 21:21

A Little Less Conversation by Elvis Presley - basically he's saying "I don't give a shit about anything you've got to say so shut up and suck my dick". It's so misogynistic, I hate it:

'A little less conversation, a little more action, please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and, baby, satisfy me
Satisfy me, baby'

See also 'Rabbit' by Chas and Dave...

HonoriaLucastaDelagardie · 30/08/2023 21:24

Cool for Cats is banging and not at all dodgy, pervy or anything bad and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise!

It's great. And I always thought it was intended as social commentary.

The Sweeney's doing ninety cos they've got the word to go
They've got a gang of villaiins in a shed up at Heathrow
In and out of Wandsworth with the numbers on their names
It's funny how their missis always looks the bleedin' same

TheInterceptor · 30/08/2023 21:29

'I was just a skinny lad
Never knew no good from bad
But I knew life before I left my nursery.
Left alone with big fat fanny
She was such a naughty nanny,
Hey big woman,
You made a bad boy outta me.'

Ah, Queen.

GettingStuffed · 30/08/2023 21:29

Given that homosexuality was illegal at the time the lyrics of Jailhouse Rock are pretty odd,

It wouldn't be the same if there were mixed prisons

MontezumasPuma · 30/08/2023 21:29

Richmondgal · 30/08/2023 20:31

But no one says a f ing word about rap and drill which regularly debase women
if a white person sung this shit it would be all over the bbc and guardian and people would boycott the concerts and downloads

Show quote history

To be fair I never listen to either of those so I couldn’t comment.

Honeyroar · 30/08/2023 21:29

Saving all my love - Whitney
Somebody else’s Guy
Just be good to me
Run to you - Bryan Adams
Secret Lovers

why are songs about cheating posed as huge romantic songs?? Songs i really loved at the time!

And why do so many “I wanna rock you baby” type songs seem to be meaning “fuck” rather than “rock”?

PrancerandDancer · 30/08/2023 21:33

End of the Road by Boys 2 Men

The lyrics are so patronising and a bit creepy....

Verse 2: Shawn Stockman]
Girl, I know you really love me
You just don't realize
You've never been there before
It's only your first time
Maybe I'll forgive you, mmm
Maybe you'll try
We should be happy together
Forever, you and I

[Pre-Chorus: Wanyá Morris]
Will you love me again like you loved me before?
This time, I want you to love me much more
This time instead, just come to my bed
And baby, just don't let me, don't let me down, oh

Sure there's others but this is the first one that comes to mind

Anxioys · 30/08/2023 21:34

TheInterceptor · 30/08/2023 21:29

'I was just a skinny lad
Never knew no good from bad
But I knew life before I left my nursery.
Left alone with big fat fanny
She was such a naughty nanny,
Hey big woman,
You made a bad boy outta me.'

Ah, Queen.

Ah fat bottomed girls no longer make the rockin' world go around.

Queen apparently have dropped it from their set list as newer fans object

greengreengrass25 · 30/08/2023 21:39

Great song though even though not pc

Sang in We will rock you

category12 · 30/08/2023 21:42

And why do so many “I wanna rock you baby” type songs seem to be meaning “fuck” rather than “rock”?

So they can be played widely without being censored.

Anxioys · 30/08/2023 21:49

Yes, putting fuck into your song would guarantee you no radio play in the UK. Matters far less in a Spotify age

SamAndEIIa · 30/08/2023 21:52

HolyHeck · 30/08/2023 21:11

Songs that are about sex aren't a problem - unless they are rapey, misogynistic, or paedophilic.

Exactly 😂

Sex is completely normal and natural. As long as it’s consensual and with someone of a similar age.

Now, listen to pretty much every 00s emo/pop punk hit. Those are not okay.

ReginaPerrin · 30/08/2023 21:57

Iloveanicegarden · 30/08/2023 20:08

Not just modern songs either..............back then was a different time but still unacceptable
Wouldn't it be nice - beach Boys
young Girl - Union Gap
Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood (banned for many years)
Don't stand so close to me - Police

What’s dodgy about the lyrics to Wouldn’t It Be Nice?

Cocorico22 · 30/08/2023 21:58

Beatles - Well she was just seventeen, if you know what I mean… What DO you mean, John and Paul? 🤔

Oh no not my baby - love the Aretha version but of course the whole thing is so dodgy… he mighta had a last minute fling, but I’m so sure it didn’t mean a thing, cos yesterday he gave me a ring

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