Bar Humbug

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I wrote a lengthy piece about bar DJs only to have it wiped out when like an idiot I clicked on a link in an email. The gist of it is that they may have a thankless job playing music nobody really cares about it but they're still twunts who seem to think their tasteful funky house music is the most exciting in the world. I say 'funky house music' and of course I really just mean 'bar music', it has long since become its own genre.

Anyway it's Tuesday and the barometer of orgafun points to WIZZO. Three wins in a row for "Biology", increasing its average score to 7.68 and seeing off Kelly Clarkson's 6.96. So "Biology" stays on and its new challenger, still raiding the '2005 pop' drawer, is "Be Mine!" by Scando act Robyn, "this year's Annie" if you believe the pigeonholers. This one suggested by juror8. Which one will go through to Friday's meeting with the Frog? (or whoever else you suggest) YOU DECIDE.

[Poll #632917]

ALSO ALSO advent calendar bonus: THE SINGING DOGS! (direct MP3, not a YSI)

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I think "Be Mine!" is Robyn at her worst really - horribly sugary vocals and a very flimsy production, if it wasn't for the OK chorus I'd have given it a 1.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

:O

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

if it was Avril you'd all bloody love it! Pah.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

If it was Avril it would be sung by someone with a bearable voice.

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

If it was Avril it would sound EXACTLY THE SAME! Because she has exactly the same voice. Be Mine is no Who's That Girl though.

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

Although I remember Stevem scoffing at that Avril comparison in the pub....

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

& it might rock a bit rather than pirouette prettily to not much effect.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I think you have gone MAD WITH POWER.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

i think it's the only one of her songs with genuine emotional impact - the lyrics are really, really brilliant. and by comparison to, oh, the entire rest of the album (especially 'konichiwa bitches'!) the production is verily monolithic.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

i do hate that ridiculous exclamation mark at the end of the title though, and refuse to acknowledge it

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

but the point of the exclamation mark is that ! is used to signify a COMMAND, and this is in ironic contrast to the lyric "you never will be mine". so it's a GOOD exclamation mark

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

i never thought of it like a command! i always assumed it was kind of overly and inappropriately excitable. this makes more sense

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I've never paid attention to the lyrics at all, maybe I will try a bit harder, all I can remember is the old Motown tears/rain trick.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

i love the line about how "there's a moment to seize every time that we meet, but you always keep passing me by" - perfectly captures a moment slipping away from her. also the certainty with which she sings "you never will be mine", and it's not just cos of the other girl, it's because of her own indieness shyness and self-doubt.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

If I want woe-is-me indieness I will listen to, you know, indie.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

but 'be mine' isn't woe-is-me! she's just stating facts, but she doesn't expect us to feel sorry for her. fiona apple does this very well too.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I think this is where that horrible voice comes in - there's something so "please wuv me" about it that the matter-of-factness just doesn't come across for me. ANYTHING Robyn sings is either going to sound smug or passive-agressive.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

i completely agree on most of her other songs (fucking 'handle me' aargh terrible)

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

this song does have cliched indie passive-aggressive love-lorn lyrics

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

'Anytime You Like' has some emo impact. Maybe even 'Keep This Fire Burnin' too.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

is 'anytime you like' one of the acoustic ballads? i don't even remember the other one.

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

!

This is CRAZYTALK!

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I am genuinely stunned that so many people like this drippy record.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

But you like countless drippy songs!

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Yeah, probably. This one just seems so weak somehow. Like I said above, if I want indie, I'll listen to indie.

Now I know how The Lex feels about those GA songs :(

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

If I want indie I will listen to it amalgamated into other more desirable forms ;)