From YMCA to Born in the USA: Rock’s most misunderstood songs
Sitting at home in Colts Neck, New Jersey, with his feet resting on the coffee table, Bruce Springsteen thoughtfully strummed his guitar while pondering a new song inspired by a script penned by the writer Paul Schrader. He browsed his notebook, where he had scribbled down lyrics-in-progress that dealt with the tribulations faced by veterans returning from the Vietnam conflict. In the course of his thought process, he drew inspiration from a working title mentioned in the screenplay, which was called Born in the USA.
While 'Born In The USA' continues to indeed stand out as one of my all-time best works, I've come to realize it's often misinterpreted by listeners. Its incongruous fusion of melancholic verses and optimistic choruses, as well as its bold assertion of the right to a "critical" national sentiment with patriotic pride, has left some of my more casual admirers bewildered, perhaps due to their appreciation of music being too taken at face value.
For a considerable period, which was actually 30 years, I thought the line "I was invited in for coffee and I gave the dog a bone," from Squeeze's song Cool For Cats, referred to the protagonist actually giving a dog a piece of bone to eat. Similarly, there was a chap at the Hammersmith Odeon who, during Tom Robinson's performance of Glad To Be Gay around the late 1970s, while the crowd was singing "sing if you're glad to be gay, sing if you're happy that way, hey!", asked his friends, "Do you think he's gay, then?"
In a peculiar case, a song's writer may not fully grasp their own work. This very week, for example, Victor Willis, the creator of the iconic song YMCA, has taken umbrage with anyone referring to it as a gay anthem.
There can be no clearer sign than that really, that she'll be taking legal action.
?”
Considering the significance of "Born In The USA", I think it's worth thinking about how this quintessential song might have been received if it had been a more subdued track on the album Nebraska. Released in 1982, Nebraska is a groundbreaking acoustic album that presents a grim set of characters struggling with their luck in a country that seems to lack compassion for its vulnerable residents. The narrator, frustrated by a lack of opportunity back home in the States, or the soldier who went insane during the Battle of Khe Sahn, would have blended right in with the desolate atmosphere of Nebraska.
Backed by the E Street Band in force when it was released in 1984 on the album with the same name, the track then became a prime example of just how easily songs with clear lyrics can be misinterpreted. The trade magazine Cash Box referred to it as a straightforward anthem celebrating traditional American values, for instance, whereas libertarian commentator George Will wrote he had no idea about Springsteen's politics, despite the Born In The USA chorus being a 'grand, cheerful affirmation'. Will even suggested to Ronald Reagan's team that Springsteen might support their candidate for president in the 1984 general election. This suggestion was, however, turned down.
It's a credit to the impact of popular music that even lyrics that are avant-garde or extremely clever can sometimes be absorbed and accepted with minimal fuss over a long period of time.
Opted for a vegetarian diet that same year, following a documentary about the conditions in factory farming.
Just recently, I had the opportunity to take a tour bus tour around Belfast, during which I recalled that Costello's songs tend to have beginnings that are characterised by elaborate language and imaginative embellishments. As we drove through the northern part of the city, our driver pointed out that we were on the "Murder Mile", an area that was once a Protestant stronghold and the subject of one of the singer's most popular songs. However, Oliver's Army itself does not even reference Belfast. Written after Costello and the Attractions had performed in the city in 1978, this hit single was originally meant to be a non-album track until keyboardist Steve Nieve added the piano riff from Dancing Queen to the song's arrangement.
While I like to think that Elvis Costello is probably content with the idea that the catchy tunes of Oliver's Army distract listeners from words and phrases like "Palestine", "Johannesburg" and "white n_____", other artists tend to get a bit worked up when the point of their song is overlooked.
As a theme song is a pretty straightforward example. After all, this working-class national anthem about the resilience of disadvantaged communities in neglected parts of England isn't exactly a close relative of a firebrand politician whose vocal stance on social and economic matters makes Liz Truss look like Pete Seeger.
-Penrance by dousing him with water from a bucket containing champagne bottles at the Brit Awards in 1998, Winston Peters coursed him into inevitable anger which could have been averted by doing a little bit of research into Chumbawamba themselves. Had he done so, he might have comprehended that the very notion of the group allowing their most famous song to be used by a politician who once voted against the decriminalisation of homosexuality was utterly absurd.
It's essential to understand that Tubthumping was written to pay tribute to the enduring spirit of working-class individuals who never give up, even in difficult times.
Whalley continued to criticise "the new generation of populist leaders who mistakenly believe they can cover up their contradictions of being multi-millionaires with loved favourite songs". He amplified his critique, highlighting that Donald Trump "is particularly uninformed about his campaign song choices; he has had to stop using music by artists such as Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, the Beatles and Elton John. Chumbawamba even had to send our own 'cease and desist' letter when a pre-president Trump thought he could use Tubthumping without realising we would strongly object."
Boff Whalley thinks the real issue is that "the right" doesn't have any good songs, which is why they keep attempting to steal the ones belonging to the left.
the band has been around for ages. “Stop saying you like The Smiths,” the guitarist said, “you're not honest about it, I've told you to knock it off,”
The situation becomes more complicated when a song is well-known and acceptable for use by various political groups. The song "We're Not Gonna Take It", written by Twisted Sister, has been used by diverse groups such as striking teachers, gun control advocates and Conservative politicians. When right-wing groups used the song, lead singer Dee Snider publicly expressed his opposition. "Attention QAnon, MAGAT, fascists, Every time you sing 'We're Not Gonna Take It', remember it was written by someone who despises the values you stand for, a cross-dressing, liberal who supports the environment and is half-Jewish!", he tweeted. "It was your kind that inspired every angry word of that song! So, get lost!"
We should make no mistake, the song We're Not Gonna Take It has been misinterpreted from the very beginning. After a decade of performing in bars on Long Island, in 1985, Twisted Sister found out that their harmless hit single was one of 15 rock and pop songs - including 'We're Not Gonna Take It' - identified as unfit for young ears by the influential PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center), acting on the behest of those in a position of power.
I'd like to share a bit about myself with the committee," he said. "I'm 30 years of age, I'm a married man with a three-year-old son, and from the very beginning, I was raised as a Christian and I still hold onto those values. If you can believe it, I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I don't take drugs.
Enhance your mental clarity with The Telegraph's wide assortment of delightful Puzzles - and feel revitalised each day. Challenge your intellect and lift your spirits with PlusWord, the Mini Crossword, the rigorous Killer Sudoku and even the classic Cryptic Crossword.
Post a Comment for "From YMCA to Born in the USA: Rock’s most misunderstood songs"