Songs with cool stories behind them

[mosdef]

I laugh every time someone says Monster Mash because it reminds me of the old Simpsons where it's Valentine's Day and the DJs keep accidentally putting on Monster Mash.

Man Simpsons used to be so funny. Good time, good times...what was this thread about again?

[tuq]

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Tuq,

I wouldn't expect you to understand... it's meant for my generation, not yours!

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I'm pretty sure I'm in your generation, and that song is [censored] terrible.

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With due respect to FFK, I think this is a gender thing above all. Chicks get creamy crotch when they hear these stupid ballads/tributes, whereas guys are like WTF is with this pussy and his stupid song? Example: Beautiful by James Blunt, truly one of the worst songs ever played relentlessly on the airwaves. Oh, topic: I guess he saw a broad in a mall who was hot but with a guy, so he writes a song about how he's never going to get with her and he's going to die alone. Awesome.

Women like the pedestal that crap songs like this put them on and as such don't bother to notice that sometimes the thing holding it up is a steaming pile of [censored].

[bobman0330]

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Tuq,

I wouldn't expect you to understand... it's meant for my generation, not yours!

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I'm pretty sure I'm in your generation, and that song is [censored] terrible.

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I'd always assumed this song was a parody of awful sappy songs like itself. Is this not true?

[Ronald White]

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I'm going to have to go with "Pinball Wizard," which is about a boy named Tommy who can't see, hear, or speak, yet was the best Pinball player in England. Its really exceptional and amazing. This all took place in the 1920's and 30's. I can understand that pinball machines then were not as complex as they are now and that the tilt mechanisms were not as sensitive. Still, to beat other players when you are blind is really amazing - I guess he really did become "one with the machine!" lol!

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That's pretty cool, but I think the story behind "Monster Mash" is even more impressive. Apparently this mad scientist was working in his lab late one night and his monster got up and started dancing. Then a bunch of other monsters showed up and there was a big party! Really crazy stuff.

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Umm. That sounds made up, please provide a link or something.

Here's another one. "Seasons in the Sun" by Terry Jacks. This one is about a man who is dying and he is saying goodbye to everyone. It is heartbreaking. He actually had cancer at the time and he went on a real "farewell tour," but because of his illness, he only had energy for that one song and he only appeared as an opening act.

In any event, his "tour" lasted only five weeks, until he died. As an added layer, the song "American Pie" is about the day Terry Jacks died of cancer.

[gusmahler]

Sex Pistols, Submission.

Because their manager ran a store that sold bondage and fetish clothing, he wanted the band to write a song called Submission.

In response, the band wrote a love song about being on a "submarine mission" for love (Get it? "Sub" Mission.)

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/sex+pis..._20123533.html

[Kimbell175113]

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Tuq,

I wouldn't expect you to understand... it's meant for my generation, not yours!

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

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I'm pretty sure I'm in your generation, and that song is [censored] terrible.

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I'd always assumed this song was a parody of awful sappy songs like itself. Is this not true?

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Even if it's not, it is, ya know?

Phresh,
what was that, level 3.5? Impressive.

[Fast Food Knight]

I was just trying to give Tuq a hard time. I think you all might be on to something about it being a chick thing... although I do hate 'Beautiful' by James Blunt, as well.

[gusmahler]

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Years later the two remained friends, even despite the fact that Clapton had stolen his girl briefly.

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Briefly? Clapton was married to her for 10 years!

She also inspired Wonderful Tonight (Clapton was waiting for her to get ready for a party).

The whole Layla album is about his love for her. Also poignant is the blues cover "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" about loving your best friend's wife.

According to wikipedia, Patti left George Harrison after George had an affair with Ringo Starr's wife.

[CallMeIshmael]

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Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight

It's about a guy who could've saved that other guy from drowning. But didn't. Phil saw the whole thing and at a show he found him.

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Wrong.

An urban legend has arisen around "In the Air Tonight". According to the legend, the lyrics are based on a tragic event Collins witnessed, usually a drowning (as in the song's lyrics), in which a man could have helped the victim, but did not do so. A common ending is that Collins invites this man to a show and sings the song to him, often with a spotlight pointed at him. Afterward, the man is arrested or, in some versions, is wracked with guilt and commits suicide.

Years later, Collins commented on the legends about the song in a BBC World Service interview:

“ I don't know what this song is about. When I was writing this I was going through a divorce. And the only thing I can say about it is that it's obviously in anger. It's the angry side, or the bitter side of a separation. So what makes it even more comical is when I hear these stories which started many years ago, particularly in America, of someone come up to me and say, 'Did you really see someone drowning?' I said, 'No, wrong'. And then every time I go back to America the story gets Chinese whispers, it gets more and more elaborate. It's so frustrating, 'cos this is one song out of all the songs probably that I've ever written that I really don't know what it's about, you know. ”

The urban legend is referenced in the song "Stan" by Eminem in the following lyrics:

You know the song by Phil Collins, "In the Air of the Night" [sic]
About that guy who coulda saved that other guy from drowning
But didn't, then Phil saw it all, then at a show he found him?
Putting the rumors to rest once and for all, Collins stated on VH1 Classic's "Classic Albums" series that he came up with "99%" of the lyrics on the spot, based on what he felt the vibe was of the dark chords he had improvised over the ominous drum beat. He was "just messing around for fun," completely unaware that what he was creating would ultimately be the staple song from his next album.

Most fans understand the real meaning of the lyrics as: Phil was involved in a separation with his wife Andy. Its almost universally accepted that this was the emotional catalyst for the lyrics in this track and others in later songs and albums including his work within Genesis. Most fans agree that some lyrics are purely metaphorical and not fact as the urban legends espouse. eg "drowning". Most fans see this as saying there was a lack of support within the relationship. Other parts of the song are interpreted as anger, guilt, regret and marital infidelity. The discovery of lies and feelings of foreboding eg. "I can feel it coming in the air tonight". It's believed that Phil simply penned his experiences into a set of lyrics explaining events and actions that took place in a difficult period of his life. No hidden meanings, just an outpouring of emotions; a collection of genuine thoughts and feelings. So yes, a song written while messing around for fun, but generated by strong emotions caused by what most fans believe as real emotional hurt caused by the breakdown of his marriage, leading up to the unfortunate separation and divorce from his first wife Andy.

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LOL

[gusmahler]

Another famous album about a woman is Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks, supposedly about the breakup of his marriage with Sara Dylan (mother of Jakob Dylan of the Wallflowers). Lots of classic songs about lost love.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_on_the_tracks

He also wrote Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands about her.