I don't know why I read this stuff. Here's the quote of the day, from Wilson Bryan Key, Media Sexploitation:
The question of who is saying what to whom in rock music is one of the most intriguing aspects of lyric symbology. Ostensibly, boy vocalists dominate the industry and often appear to be singing to girls - possibly the ones who might reasonably be the marketing targets. But this would seem to leave the boy audience out in the cold. In fact, both girls and boys identify with the vocalist, however, suggesting something far more complex and devious is involved.Posted by Dr. Frank at March 22, 2004 05:00 PM | TrackBackThe boy singer does not aim his lyrics directly at the gum-chewing, vacant-eyed teeny-boppers. This would invite disaster at the record shops. The singers and their lyric writers often project their sentimentality at the singer's mother - a symbolic subliminal identification. The girl record buyers can then unconsciously identify with their hero's mother, whom their hero worships and loves. The boy record buyers support the records as they unconsciously perceive the singer suffering the same maternal rejections they believe themselves to have suffered. They have no reason, therefore, for jealousy or envy when girlfriends boost the record...
The designation "baby," as used in popular music, is often a direct maternal reference. The euphemism for mother, sung by a quivering, immature male voice... is frequently at the bottom of a song's financial success... The formula is proven and successful. Dad, of course, is totally ignored in this matriarchal game...
That's pretty twisted. How many times did you use the word "baby" on ELS? ;-)
Also from the same author/king of all things subliminal:
Subliminal Adventures in Erotic Art,
The Clam-Plate Orgy and Other Subliminals the Media Use to Manipulate Your Behavior
Yikes!
Posted by: Lynn at March 22, 2004 05:30 PM
sounds altogether too Freudian....
I always prefered B.F Skinner anyways...
but in regards to music...I don't know.
its weird.
Posted by: just me at March 22, 2004 07:07 PMpop music as a matriarchal game? ha, that's a good one. the matriarchy has nothing to do with this, kids...
Posted by: r a e d y at March 22, 2004 07:12 PMHmmm... that must explain "Baby Got Back."
Posted by: Chrees at March 22, 2004 07:17 PMThat is the biggest load of bullshit I've read since the Starr report.
Posted by: Zaphod Beeblebrox at March 22, 2004 07:26 PM
however...if this guy is talk about music
in general and not just modern music,he hasn't
listened to many old fifties tunes.
there are SO many daddy complex love songs
where the girl longs for her "daddy" i.e.
love interest to come home or songs from the
guy assuring such will happen.
I love WBK. And he's not wrong. And I know Kevin Army mixes in subliminal suggestions in MTX records.
Seriously, "The Clam-Plate Orgy" is a classic of western civilization.
Only one of the above statements is false.
Don't forget "Subliminal Seduction," either, as great fun to read. Why not take in the whole WBK trilogy in one night and really fry your brain?
Posted by: Don at March 23, 2004 04:34 AMnothing beats academics. for some real depressing academic fun, check out the journal called "Humor," which it is anything but. It's a series of articles that dissect what humor is - i.e., rather than reading the latest Dave Barry column, it will instead break it down and tell us why it's funny. in other words, it is your annoying friend who explains the joke after it's been told.
nick
www.nickcarr.com
i'm tugging on her apron strings
but she just wants to put me down
she's a few of my favorite things
she's seen me naked and she's still around
so don't get annoyed and starting invoking Freud
you can't come between a Self and its Other
she'll be lying with me beneath the family tree
'cause a boy's best friend is his mother
Wilson Bryan Key's unique brand of kookery is great fun, unless people actually take him seriously. Unfortunately I once saw a copy of "The Clam-Plate Orgy" at a university library that someone had heavily marked up with serious underlinining and highlighting and notes and annotations, which made me worry about the value of that anonymous individual's formal education.
Posted by: Combustible Boy at March 23, 2004 07:37 PMCombustible Boy -- that was probably me. I mixed it all into a rollicking paper that also (somehow, miraculously) was able to incorporate the Trilateral Commission, the CFR, and a dash of McLuhan's "Understanding Media" for proper grounding.
Worst essay grade I ever got. Freakin' academic establishment.
Still, Sweet Baby's (hmm) "Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, I Love You," did help me heal a lot of the psychological pain from my childhood with a distant and unaffectionate mother. And my mother was born in Dallas. Coincidence?
Posted by: Wes at March 23, 2004 10:24 PM
I just heard "...And I Will Be With You" at the beginning of an episode of MTV's Made about a girl with stage fright wanting the lead in her school play. Is that right or am I losing it?
Way to go David! We need to alert Frank every time we hear one of his songs played somewhere, because I'm sure that they're trying to screw him on the royalties. Now, if they can play MTX on the Real World or whatever shit-show MTV is playing instead of music, then surely they can play an MTX video instead of some garbage by Nellie, Brittany or No Doubt!
Posted by: Zaphod Beeblebrox at March 24, 2004 12:29 AM"Mommy mommy mommy! Take a look at your son!
You might have loved me
But now I got a gun "
-the dicks, later mudhoney, "hate the police"
Posted by: mike at March 24, 2004 01:33 AMSingled out the kids who are mean to me
Get straight a’s but they still make fun
I don’t give a, I’ll laugh last
Stayed in every night
Do my homework so I’ll be smart
Girls all say I’m a little fucked
Mommy I’m a good boy
Mommy I’m a fuckin’ savior
Mommy I’m alive
Mommy, can I go out and kill tonight
Rip the veins from human necks
Until they’re wet with life
Razor-blades love teenage flesh
An epidermoty
I’ll bring back a souvenir
For it’s my mommy’s dream
Can I go out and kill tonight, kill tonight
Killed a girl on lovers’ lane
I kept her toes and teeth
Every night I stalk around until I find my keep
I’ll bring back a souvenir
For it’s my mommy’s dream
Can I go out and kill tonight, kill tonight
Killed a girl on lovers lane
I kept her toes and teeth
Every night I stalk around until I find my keep, mommy
I’ll bring back a souvenir
For it’s my mommy’s dream
Can I go out and kill tonight, kill tonight
Kill tonight, kill tonight, kill tonight, kill tonight
Kill tonight, kill tonight
Can I go out and kill tonight, kill tonight
Kill tonight, kill tonight, kill tonight, kill tonight
Kill tonight, kill tonight
--Misfits--"Mommy Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight" Earth A.D. 1984
Posted by: Kevin at March 24, 2004 01:52 AM"Where's your band?"
"They switched from Christian music to regular pop. All you do is change 'Jesus' to 'baby'."
Someone lost the obscure song quoting game.
Posted by: Mike at March 24, 2004 04:49 AM
darn your eyes! i hate him nonetheless...
because what is that from,I know
I should know?!
So be sweet and kind to mother,
Now and then have a chat.
Buy her candy or some flowers,
Or a brand new hat
-- But maybe you had better let it go at that
Or you may find yourself with a quite complex complex
And you may end up like old Oedipus
(I'd rather marry a duck-billed platypus)
Than end up like old Oedipus Rex.
- Tom Lehrer
Posted by: Wes at March 24, 2004 07:59 PMjeez...don't read that shit.
I guess foutains of wayne decided they'd skip all the subtlety and just sing directly to the mother?
Posted by: Dave at March 25, 2004 06:09 AMNever drink a wine cooler made by hillbillies, that's the lesson we take from Bartles and James.
Posted by: mkei at March 25, 2004 08:06 AMSAM HALL is the tune, just
Posted by: myke at March 25, 2004 08:09 AM