Author Topic: Sinister popular songs (Read 12394 times)

clarion · « **Reply #25 on:** 28 May, 2013, 01:54:58 pm »

So did I.

Incidentally, while not sinister as such, Little Red Rooster is reputed to be about impotence.

perpetual dan · « **Reply #26 on:** 28 May, 2013, 01:56:05 pm »

Does "in every dream home a heartache" count as popular?

clarion · « **Reply #27 on:** 28 May, 2013, 01:58:22 pm »

Good one, but I'd ruled out Roxy Music on the same grounds as Talking Heads. Doesn't do to think too much about the lyrics.

clarion · « **Reply #28 on:** 28 May, 2013, 02:23:12 pm »

Similarly, does Arnold Layne count as a popular song?

mark · « **Reply #29 on:** 28 May, 2013, 02:30:34 pm »

Run For Your Life by the Beatles- domestic violence, spouse/partner abuse. For a group that promoted such a clean cut image in their early days, they've gotten a lot of mention on this list.
Gallows Pole by Led Zeppelin- bribing public officials.
Most of the early '60s pop songs about cars (Little Deuce Coupe, 409, Dead Man's Curve, Little Old Lady from Pasadena) referred to racing cars on public roads.

Brown Sugar is pretty obviously about slavery/rape to me, as well as adultery. Googling the lyrics of Little Red Rooster, I would agree that it's about impotence.

clarion · « **Reply #30 on:** 28 May, 2013, 02:46:09 pm »

Hey Joe by Frankie Laine is a bit dodgy.

Peter · « **Reply #31 on:** 28 May, 2013, 02:59:50 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 28 May, 2013, 02:46:09 pm

Hey Joe by Frankie Laine is a bit dodgy.

But it's great by Jimi Hendrix! (Still sinister, though.)

clarion · « **Reply #32 on:** 28 May, 2013, 03:00:44 pm »

Different song entirely! But yeah, I think it's pretty much a given that Jimi's is quite sinister.

Gary Puckett's Young Girl is a bit like Does Your Momma...

clarion · « **Reply #33 on:** 28 May, 2013, 03:14:16 pm »

Perhaps not sinister, but the slightly saccharine 'I've Never Been To Me' by Charlene may be the only number one to contain the word 'whoring', subtle or otherwise.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #34 on:** 28 May, 2013, 03:34:38 pm »

Obsession by Punishment Of Luxury probably doesn't qualify as popular but it has epic quantities of stalking and the odd threat of murder.

bobb · « **Reply #35 on:** 28 May, 2013, 03:40:08 pm »

Quote from: Peter on 28 May, 2013, 02:59:50 pm

Quote from: clarion on 28 May, 2013, 02:46:09 pm
Hey Joe by Frankie Laine is a bit dodgy.

But it's great by Jimi Hendrix! (Still sinister, though.)

But who actually wrote it though? As far as I understand, nobody knows and it's probably about 100 years old now.....

Eccentrica Gallumbits · « **Reply #36 on:** 28 May, 2013, 03:44:08 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 28 May, 2013, 03:14:16 pm

Perhaps not sinister, but the slightly saccharine 'I've Never Been To Me' by Charlene may be the only number one to contain the word 'whoring', subtle or otherwise.

Slightly saccharine? It's sugarier than Sugar Sugar, Honey and - er - Sugar Baby Love combined.

bikenrrd · « **Reply #37 on:** 28 May, 2013, 03:53:22 pm »

"Where the Wild Roses Grow" by Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #38 on:** 28 May, 2013, 04:01:06 pm »

There's 'Stan' by Eminen, it's doubly sinister because it foisted Dido on us.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #39 on:** 28 May, 2013, 04:04:55 pm »

Stan is quite overt though. I'm thinking of stuff by mainstream poppy artists which might be played on Radio 2, yet is very dark or subversive.

Pickled Onion · « **Reply #40 on:** 28 May, 2013, 04:16:41 pm »

Quote from: mark on 28 May, 2013, 02:30:34 pm

Run For Your Life by the Beatles- domestic violence, spouse/partner abuse. For a group that promoted such a clean cut image in their early days, they've gotten a lot of mention on this list.

That one is quite horrific, and Lennon apologised for it some years later. It has been variously banned, but has stayed on the album re-issues.

Lennon's protestations that is was a one-off doesn't ring true with, as you say, so many Beatles mentions on this list. Especially given Mcartney's interview comments about Norwegian Wood:

Quote

She led him on, then said, "You'd better sleep in the bath." In our world the guy had to have some sort of revenge ... so it meant I burned the place down ....

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #41 on:** 28 May, 2013, 04:18:48 pm »

Quote from: rogerzilla on 28 May, 2013, 04:04:55 pm

Stan is quite overt though. I'm thinking of stuff by mainstream poppy artists which might be played on Radio 2, yet is very dark or subversive.

Quote

Something nasty in your garden's waiting
Patiently till it can have your heart.
Try to go but it won't let you
don't you know it's out to get you
Running
keep on running
they're running after you
babe.
Run for the sun
little one
you're an outlaw once again. . . .
Your world is turning from night to day

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/g8fjeG5oCGQ&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/g8fjeG5oCGQ&rel=1</a>

clarion · « **Reply #42 on:** 28 May, 2013, 04:29:32 pm »

Yeah, Nick Cave/Alice Cooper/Slayer/Eminem et al probably aren't stealthy enough to be sinister.

Bucks Fizz, on the other hand, are gruesome.

Illegal Combat Ant · « **Reply #43 on:** 28 May, 2013, 04:32:54 pm »

Delilah - Tom Jones isn't all that pleasant.

CAMRAMan · « **Reply #44 on:** 28 May, 2013, 04:44:32 pm »

Didn't the Young Ones dissect Living Doll by Cliff ages ago?

ferret · « **Reply #45 on:** 28 May, 2013, 04:46:53 pm »

can't believe we've overlooked Mothers Little Helper, (valium) Rolling Stones

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #46 on:** 28 May, 2013, 04:51:16 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 28 May, 2013, 04:29:32 pm

Yeah, Nick Cave/Alice Cooper/Slayer/Eminem et al probably aren't stealthy enough to be sinister.

Bucks Fizz, on the other hand, are gruesome.

Especially with Cheryl dressed as Kermit the frog.

CAMRAMan · « **Reply #47 on:** 28 May, 2013, 04:53:10 pm »

Was Wet Dreams by Max Romeo about bedwetting?

ferret · « **Reply #48 on:** 28 May, 2013, 04:55:47 pm »

just remembered Christine by Siousxie and the Banshees, inspired by a true story and based on multiple identity disorder.

there will be more

clarion · « **Reply #49 on:** 28 May, 2013, 05:10:18 pm »

Playground Twist, for example.