# Songs you like that are widely reviled by others **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [March 10, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825 "2022-03-10T14:16:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/181 "2022-03-23T23:59:43Z")
At the time, it was probably a breath of fresh air compared to songs like “Operator”….”WOLD”…….”Taxi” Which I all love but they’re pretty depressing ….another uplifting adulterous song would be “Take a Letter Maria” ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/182 "2022-03-24T00:05:17Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > Which I all love but they’re pretty depressing ….another uplifting adulterous song would be “Take a Letter Maria” “Take a mug of diarrhea, and send it to my wife…” ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/183 "2022-03-24T00:28:58Z")
Just discovered that’s not Tony Orlando ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/184 "2022-03-24T00:52:02Z")
R.B. Greaves, my friend – he also did, “Always Something There To Remind Me.” ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/185 "2022-03-24T01:14:30Z")
I would say that I like about a third of the songs mentioned in this thread. Probably also a third I do not care for, and a third that deserve their reputation. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/186 "2022-03-24T01:56:34Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > I would say that I like about a third of the songs mentioned in this thread. Probably also a third I do not care for, and a third that deserve their reputation So, roughly paraphrasing… _“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/187 "2022-03-24T03:15:06Z")
I wouldn’t have put it that way. Partly because I lack the wit. Partly because even the third I like I don’t want to hear much more often. I will admit to liking Two Princes and Shiny Happy People but don’t think these songs are in the same league as many of the others. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/188 "2022-03-24T03:38:55Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > If it’s that ambiguous, then folks shouldn’t claim with certainty what the song is about. > > I would tend to be skeptical about anything that contradicts Van Zant, though. He was the main lyricist and (arguably) the band’s leader, and he stated contemporarily on the record that the song was _not_ racist. Ed King chose not to contradict him until 30 years after he died, so it seems King is probably fudging history to stay relevant with the only type of fans who care to hear a song about Alabama in the 21st century. It’s not the same band or fans as in 1974. If the song was intended to have a message opposing racists, the lyrics are still terrible because the non-racist (or anti-racist) message is utterly incoherent and badly written. It’s a song I love listening to and has an awesome riff but people need to be reasonable and critical about the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/189 "2022-03-24T10:59:47Z")
> [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > If the song was intended to have a message opposing racists, the lyrics are still terrible because the non-racist (or anti-racist) message is utterly incoherent and badly written. Do you think it’s possible that some songs don’t overtly take a position about racism? Is that okay? > [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > It’s a song I love listening to and has an awesome riff but people need to be reasonable and critical about the lyrics. Sage advice. See above. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/190 "2022-03-24T12:51:58Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Do you think it’s possible that some songs don’t overtly take a position about racism? Is that okay? Of course, but the “In Birmingham” is actually about AL’s racist governor Goerge Wallace and is either a pretty straightforward line supporting him or an incomprehensibly badly written line opposing him. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/191 "2022-03-24T18:19:09Z")
Maximum listener appeal! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/192 "2022-03-24T18:23:42Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > R.B. Greaves, my friend – he also did, “Always Something There To Remind Me.” About a billion other people did that song, too. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/193 "2022-03-24T19:37:59Z")
> [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > Of course, but the “In Birmingham” is actually about AL’s racist governor George Wallace and is either a pretty straightforward line supporting him or an incomprehensibly badly written line opposing him. If we’re being “reasonable and critical” about the lyrics, shouldn’t we consider that there may be a more shaded nuance to the meaning than “I hate racism” or “I like racism”, especially considering that this one phrase is merely six words out of a larger work? Do you automatically consider all literature or songwriting to be badly written if its meaning isn’t immediately obvious to you? I take it as a sign that I need to dig a little deeper. Sometimes there’s nothing there, but often I’m rewarded with a layer of meaning that I overlooked. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/194 "2022-03-24T23:25:57Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > If we’re being “reasonable and critical” about the lyrics, shouldn’t we consider that there may be a more shaded nuance to the meaning than “I hate racism” or “I like racism”, especially considering that this one phrase is merely six words out of a larger work? The line is “In Birmingham they love the governor. Boo boo boo.” If we’re supposed to interpret the boo’s as expressing disapproval the message is literally “I don’t like this racist guy”. It’s not a subtle message it’s just delivered poorly (if that is the intended message). ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2022, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/195 "2022-03-25T00:38:29Z")
> [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > The line is “In Birmingham they love the governor. Boo boo boo.” If we’re supposed to interpret the boo’s as expressing disapproval the message is literally “I don’t like this racist guy”. It’s not a subtle message it’s just delivered poorly (if that is the intended message). You keep repeating the same errors as everyone else does. Folks need to understand: 1. The song has more than one line. This line is not _the_ message, it is _a fragment of_ a message. 2. The song alludes to current events related to racism, but that doesn’t mean the song is _about_ racism. 3. Not every rock song needs to be a sermon. It’s a sentiment with a hook. And the overarching sentiment, I would argue, is: “I like Alabama, and yes, as Neil Young alluded, some negative things have happened here, as they do everywhere, but if you don’t blame me for things I didn’t do and don’t agree with, then I won’t blame you for things you didn’t do and don’t agree with. Having established these ground rules, let’s go back to talking about the nice parts of Alabama.” Maybe that’s a dumb thing to write a whole-ass song about, but many rock songs have been written about far dumber things. Myself, as a southern person who is _very_ critical of the south and its past (and present) flaws, I similarly identify with the annoyance at being lumped in with shitty southerners, and being expected to apologize for them. I mean, look at South Dakota, Wisconsin, Ohio, and similar places. They are _regressing_ in terms of racial equality and equity. Georgia just flipped _blue_, and people want to use us as a punching bag? Come on. I can’t shake this feeling that people want any artist that brushes up against racism to explicitly stage-whisper “and by the way, kids, racism is bad, so don’t do it, okay?” That seems unfair. Art is best when it trusts its audience. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2022, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/196 "2022-03-25T01:00:42Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > I also listen to Rebecca Black’s “Friday” without shame. The first time I watched that video I had a really good belly laugh at the “we we we we so excited” part and also at the “Sunday comes afterwards” line and I rarely laugh at audio-visual stimuli anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2022, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/197 "2022-03-25T14:08:00Z")
Express yourself as to “We Built This City”: [Polls only: No discussion - #908 by Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/908) ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2022, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/198 "2022-03-25T15:52:52Z")
I caught myself humming this this morning. There must be something wrong with me. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/o8ByJ1C0iR4/hqdefault.jpg "Herb Alpert - This Guy's In Love With You") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8ByJ1C0iR4) ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/199 "2022-03-25T16:36:51Z")
My parents were always playing that stuff on the hi-fi when I was a small kid, like say 6 or so y/o. I remember that particular song well: heard it a lot. To my ears though, it was “_The sky’s in love with you_”; ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/200 "2022-03-25T16:53:18Z")
Instant rage. There is not a damn thing wrong with that song!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825.md?page=11)