This was inspired by the “Songs you liked better before you knew the lyrics” thread. There are songs that I still like or don’t mind, but it annoys me when people sing/refer to part of the song and haven’t really listened to the whole thing.
To me, “Vacation” by the Go-Gos is not really about being excited for a fun vacation. The narrator is already home from vacation and is upset about someone who she met while she was away. Maybe they live too far away, one/both of them cheated on someone with their “fling”, etc. Now she is less satisfied with her regular life.
But the “Vacation, all I ever wanted / Vacation, had to get away” part is used in a lot of ads and I’ve heard people repeat that part only.
[Moderator Note - Lyrics removed. Please follow fair use guidelines.]
Interestingly, I thought it was about a breakup from a long-term partner, and the singer went on a literal, but maybe figurative, vacation to forget, but she can’t, rather than a holiday fling.
For the OP, Iggy Pop’s Lust For Life, being used for cruise ship ads!
The song is about a very possessive lover or possibly a stalker. As Sting put it, “I think the song is very, very sinister and ugly and people have actually misinterpreted it as being a gentle little love song, when it’s quite the opposite.”
Indeed, it is (or was) frequently played at weddings! Anybody who would play it at a wedding is not actually paying attention to the lyrics.
One of my favorites is the Sex Pistols’ “Anarchy in the UK”. People take it as an anthem for anarchy. It’s actually poking quite a bit of fun at self-styled anarchists.
With some death metal, it is not so much that I do not pay attention to the lyrics (about demons, corpses, blasphemy, violence, etc.) as much as sometimes they seem hard to make out. Could be a me problem.
Indeed. That’s definitely the other one, with demonstratively patriotic U.S. politicians (especially Republicans, starting with Reagan) frequently playing it at political rallies. It’s evident they’ve never heard anything but the chorus.
Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville” - Song about a spiraling alcoholic played as a party anthem. To be fair, Buffet didn’t exactly do anything to deter that.
This discussion leads me to the inappropriate use of beloved songs as commercial jingles. Several years ago, Kohl’s Department Stores used “Turn! Turn! Turn!” to promote their Fall White Sale. Because, as we know, to everything there is a season, and Fall is the season to buy new sheets and pillowcases.
One day in a store I passed a TV playing a commercial on an endless loop, using the old Gospel tune “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” as a jingle. The product was cat litter.
I immediately began thinking of new lyrics: “He took a big dump, in his pan. He took a big big dump, in his pan. He took a big dump, in his pan. He took a big dump in his pan.” My lyrics were at least appropriate for the product.
Seriously, ad agencies were paid big bucks for these ideas. Apparently, no one along the line had the brains (or the nerve) to say “Hold on a minute…”
My friend and I were listening to the new remix of Rubber Soul, which happens to be her favorite Beatles album. I was surprised when she said her favorite song was “Run For Your Life”. As it played she was singing along, obviously loving it. I didn’t ask her what she thought about the lyrics because…why ruin someone’s joy? Besides, she also loves “Goodbye Earl” by the Dixie Chicks, so maybe that balances it out.
I often see people posting short videos on the beach with Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins playing in the background. It’s like yeah, you never paid attention to what that song is about, did you?
One of the funniest ones was when Apple decided to use Gigantic by the Pixies for one of their iPhone commercials. Many people were quick to point out that the song is actually about a black guy with a huge penis.
While not beloved, in fact I assume the people involved assumed no one would know the actual song anyway, but I once saw a Marshall’s commercial featuring the Pom-Pom’s song “Watch Me”, with a repeated chant of “Watch me… Watch me…”
I laughed because the song itself says: Keep on lookin’ if you’re lookin’ for unique
'Cause I’m an Ambercrombie-looking ass bitch
And I don’t give a fuck
Disney used the bouncy “doot-doot-doot” refrain from “Semi-Charmed Life” - a song about crystal meth addiction and oral sex - in a trailer for The Tiger Movie.