# I think i accidentally discovered the greatest music genre ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [March 1, 2022, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266 "2022-03-01T06:24:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/21 "2022-03-01T14:36:08Z")
At least some of the hairbands thought about The Children! White Lion’s **When the Children Cry** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/95KRd1PYRkA/hqdefault.jpg "White Lion - When The Children Cry") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95KRd1PYRkA) Sting - **Russians** [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wHylQRVN2Qs/maxresdefault.jpg "Sting - Russians") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHylQRVN2Qs) ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/22 "2022-03-01T17:48:51Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4VgLkk_drx4/hqdefault.jpg "Time Zone - World Destruction (1984)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VgLkk_drx4) I think you’d be hard pressed to find an 80’s act that DIDNT have a nuclear war song. Things I learned today, that North Country Girl was a nuclear war song…and i actually listened to the lyrics of Life During Wartime other then “This aint no disco, this aint no fooling around” ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/23 "2022-03-01T17:53:14Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Bob Dylan’s “Let Me Die In My Footsteps” is about the folly of thinking that private shelters could save you from atomic destruction. And now for something to ease the subject of this thread, here’s Dylan’s “Talking World War III Blues”. It’s really funny: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TYtVc56o9oo/maxresdefault.jpg "Bob Dylan - Talkin' World War III Blues (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYtVc56o9oo) ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/24 "2022-03-01T17:58:45Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > i actually listened to the lyrics of Life During Wartime other then “This aint no disco, this aint no fooling around” I always figured that to the guerilla aftermath to a conventional war myself Transmit a message, to the receiver, Hope for an answer some day I got three passports, couple of visas, Don’t even know my real name Up on a hillside, the trucks are loading, Everything’s ready to roll I sleep in daytime, I work in nighttime, I might not ever get home … Burned all my notebooks, what good are notebooks? They won’t help me survive My chest is aching, burns like a furnace, The burning keeps me alive ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/25 "2022-03-01T18:12:51Z")
From the animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s “The Butter Battle Book”: > To make the world’s most mighty weapon > you take a mess of mook-a-hoo > And you twaddle it and you waddle it a bit > That’s what you do > Now, this sly, unstable substance > dug from deep beneath the land > contains grand evil powers > that we scarcely understand > And when it starts to burp and bubble > you can press it in the scrubs > That precipitates the bluggins > and activates the glocks > And then you squeeze it till it’s squizzen > Then you squeeze it even tighter > 'Cause the tighter that it’s squizzen > makes it’s mighty might more mighter > And it’s just a bloody miracle you’ve got > when you are through > You got a little Itsy-Bitsy Big Boy > Boomeroo! ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/26 "2022-03-01T18:37:22Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I don’t think it’s meant to have anything to do with war, nuclear or otherwise. Sure, that might be what your authoritative source says. But I am quite certain my seventh or eighth grade teacher told me it was about a nuclear explosion!! His in depth study is pretty hard to argue with (despite what the creators themselves have to say about the matter. I mean come on: smoke on the water = fallout fire in the sky = mushroom cloud How much more clear can they be, dudes? (students)? gambling house = wagering upon survival of mankind Now kids, don’t all your parents claim these crazy rock-n-rollers like Frank Zappa and the Mother’s of Invention are the end of civilization?!?! The USSR obviously saw our decedent rock-n-roll Western Imperialist lifestyles and put a stop to it using the most obvious tool (nuclear annihilation). You kids got to expand your minds after school like I do if you want to understand pop culture. Now kids, Swiss time is running out-- what are the Swiss known for?? Being neutral and being anti-war, right? Well that time of peace is almost over! It is “running out”, see? Plus, he was a teacher saying this, so irrefutable. I wonder why Mr. Gold only taught for one year? > [@Tusculan](#): > > No, the song ends with the aftermath of massive missile launch. I looked it up, the English translation is not very clear but also mentions I thought this was a warning song about keeping the government in check while throwing a little shade at the military. But global annihilation makes sense too I suppose. > [@DesertDog](#): > > I always figured that to the guerilla aftermath to a conventional war myself Without any background at all, I had always assumed it was about espionage and cold war spycraft. Why else would one have multiple identities? So they could pass through Checkpoint Charlie at will – none of the border guards know his real name. The loading trucks I presumed to be orders for the double agents he has recruited. He works at night because it is clandestine affairs of state and if he gets caught he will die in an enemy prison (or never get home). His chest burning is the stress of completing the operation without getting caught. Being alert (the burning) is what keeps him alive. They dress like students and housewives because they are in disguise (like spies!) They have to slip through roadblocks, they tap phone lines illegally. This song is not about surviving nuclear war, or even a shooting war. This is pure spy craft shit. The graphic on this video shows the band in various disguises: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jLwZvg46jms/maxresdefault.jpg "Life During Wartime (2003 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLwZvg46jms) ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/27 "2022-03-01T20:40:45Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/sH0Qda32IKM/maxresdefault.jpg "WAR - Why Can't We Be Friends? (Official Video) [Remastered in 4K]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH0Qda32IKM) ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/28 "2022-03-01T20:46:48Z")
Forever Young - Alphaville [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oNjQXmoxiQ8/maxresdefault.jpg "Alphaville - Forever Young (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNjQXmoxiQ8) ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/29 "2022-03-01T20:49:22Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Also from Tom Lehrer > [@](#): > > So long, mom, > I’m off to drop the bomb, > So don’t wait up for me. > But while you swelter > Down there in your shelter > You can see me > On your TV. > > While we’re attacking frontally > Watch Brinkally and Huntally > Describing contrapuntally > The cities we have lost. > No need for you to miss a minute of the agonizing holocaust. Yeah! > > Little Johnny Jones, he was a US pilot, > And no shrinking violet was he. > He was mighty proud when World War III was declared. > He wasn’t scared, no siree! > > And this is what he said on > His way to Armageddon: > > So long, mom, > I’m off to drop the bomb, > So don’t wait up for me. > But though I may roam, > I’ll come back to my home > Although it may be > A pile of debris. > > Remember, mommy, > I’m off to get a commie, > So send me a salami > And try to smile somehow. > I’ll look for you when the war is over, > An hour and a half from now! ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/30 "2022-03-01T20:56:19Z")
The other day I was thinking of the “Ayatollah” song by (I looked it up and it’s hilarious) “Steve Dahl & Teenage Radiation.” In it, the singer threatens to nuke the Ayatollah if he gets us too upset. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inQiIkz7J5Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inQiIkz7J5Y) ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/31 "2022-03-01T21:11:02Z")
**XTC, “This World Over”** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yQbFPNbxenE/hqdefault.jpg "XTC-This world over") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQbFPNbxenE) **Translator, “Sleeping Snakes”** Technically about the arms race, but I’ll call it close enough. Plus it stomps. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xYab49JDCmQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Translator - Sleeping Snakes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYab49JDCmQ) **XTC again, “Living Through Another Cuba”** “Get on your knees and pray, and while you’re down there, kiss your arse goodbye!” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AZFCyMPvLd8/hqdefault.jpg "XTC - Living Through Another Cuba") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZFCyMPvLd8) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/32 "2022-03-01T22:24:33Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/U7s5pT3Rris/hqdefault.jpg "McCain Sings "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7s5pT3Rris) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/33 "2022-03-01T22:25:39Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cVCruZYQXsc/maxresdefault.jpg "Cold War Suite from How It Happens (The Voice of I.F. Stone) , Perfect Weapon") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVCruZYQXsc) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/34 "2022-03-01T22:41:32Z")
perhaps a bit surprising that no one mentioned how [Last night I had](https://youtu.be/NQEve-69r6I) the stranoest dream I ever had before ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/35 "2022-03-01T23:45:05Z")
Camper Van Beethoven, Sweethearts [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dLt4e-l4DxQ/hqdefault.jpg "Camper Van Beethoven - Sweethearts") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLt4e-l4DxQ) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/36 "2022-03-02T00:03:46Z")
Morning Dew, a real toe tapper. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aawu-kPl5p8/hqdefault.jpg "bonnie dobson - morning dew") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aawu-kPl5p8) And speaking of fallout 4, Atom Bomb Baby. A toe tapper in its own right. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6oGGLpl18rs/maxresdefault.jpg "Atom Bomb Baby") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oGGLpl18rs) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/37 "2022-03-02T01:32:09Z")
“Do You Hear What I Hear.” Yes, the Christmas song. The star “with a tail as big as a kite” were nuclear missiles. > **['Do You Hear What I Hear' Is Actually About the Cold War](https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/12/the-apocalyptic-fear-within-do-you-hear-what-i-hear/420459/)** > > In 1962, “a star dancing in the night with a tail as big as a kite” couldn't help but remind of a rocket. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/38 "2022-03-02T03:24:25Z")
modern day cowboy tesla [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/avAvkdYa3qM/maxresdefault.jpg "Tesla - Modern Day Cowboy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avAvkdYa3qM) ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/39 "2022-03-02T03:26:24Z")
Gods of War Def Leppard [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ENJGhyADs1M/maxresdefault.jpg "Gods Of War (Remastered 2017)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENJGhyADs1M) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266/40 "2022-03-02T03:32:03Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Randy Newman - “Political Science”. In its own way, possibly the darkest of them all. /thread closed That’s the best song about the subject. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-accidentally-discovered-the-greatest-music-genre-ever/960266.md?page=3)