February 12, 2008
Either love me or leave me alone
I like untraditional love songs so I enjoyed this list of "meanest love songs".
#1 is "Smile" by Lily Allen but I also enjoy "Under My Thumb" by the Rolling Stones (#19), "Ex-Factor" by Lauryn Hill (#18), "I'm Looking Through You" by the Beatles (#16), "These Boots Were Made For Walking" by Nancy Sinatra (#8) and, of course, Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River" (#9).
I don't do Valentine's Day--I find it corny and cheesy and, worst of all, I think it lets men off the hook to be romantic and buy you flowers the rest of the year because they do it on this one day--so these songs are a good complement to that sentiment.
Leave your own mean love song picks in the comment section. I'll contribute my own later tonight.
Technorati Tags: Meanest+Love+Songs
Don't Think Twice by Bob Dylan
Posted by: VinNay at February 12, 2008 02:27 PMIt's a four way tie for me between Pig Destroyer's one-two punch from TERRIFYER of "Pretty in Casts" and "Restraining Order Blues," "The Broken Vow" by Converge and "The Amphibian in Love" by Into Another.
If really over the top stuff was disqualified I would say the entire Domestica album by Cursive, a third of the songs on every album Bob Mould has made and "The Nurse Who Loved Me" by Failure.
Posted by: Shawn Macomber at February 12, 2008 02:37 PM"Thank God and Greyhound You're Gone" (Roy Clark)
Posted by: See-Dubya at February 12, 2008 02:59 PMGod onlyknows!!! beach boys
i used to love her G&R
Posted by: at February 12, 2008 03:10 PM"Love Will Tear Us Apart" Joy Division
"All About You" Rolling Stones
"Wild Side of Life" Hank Thompson
"Jealous Again" Black Flag
Quite a few songs by Hole...Wire, too
My personal # 1: "I Let Love In" Nick Cave
Whoops--Forgot "Star Star" Rolling Stones
Posted by: JBC at February 12, 2008 03:23 PMOnly one Elvis Costello entry? And not even a top contender:
-- Alison: Sometimes I wish I could stop you from talking when I hear the silly things that you say
-- Lipstick Vogue:
Don't say you love me when it's just a rumour
Don't say a word if there is any doubt.
Sometimes I think that love is just a tumour;
you've got to cut it out
"I Want You, But I Don't Need You" by Momus.
He's the evil genius of indiepop.
Posted by: walter busterkeys at February 12, 2008 03:36 PM"A Love Song (From a Different Point of View)" by Jimmy Buffett
Posted by: Jim Lesczynski at February 12, 2008 04:02 PMIt Ain't Me Babe, Bob Dylan
It's Love and I hate it, Loudon Wainwright III
Delia's Gone, Johnny Cash
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, Lyn Anderson
Posted by: Gerard at February 12, 2008 04:49 PM"That's Right (You're Not from Texas)" by Lyle Lovett
Posted by: Mark Poling at February 12, 2008 05:12 PMI don't do Valentine's Day--I find it corny and cheesy and, worst of all, I think it lets men off the hook to be romantic and buy you flowers the rest of the year because they do it on this one day
Wait a cotton-picking minute. It lets men off the hook? We're the only ones with romance duties?
Posted by: Eric at February 12, 2008 05:47 PM"Once is Enough" by Lyle Lovett
"Just One of Those Things" - Cole Porter
and a Renaissance chanson by Josquin des Prez called "Mille regretz" (a thousand regrets)
Posted by: Fallen Sparrow at February 12, 2008 06:13 PMI don't know if it qualifies as a "love song" per se, but The Offspring's rendition of Feelings is probably the best Morris Albert cover I've ever heard.
Posted by: Gerard at February 12, 2008 06:48 PMFor someone who doesn't "do valentine's Day" I've seen more references to it here than any oter blog that I read regularly. You, sir, are a poseur. That's right. With a u.
Posted by: Not Dawn Summers at February 12, 2008 07:33 PMHey, how did Dawn Summers' Australia trip turn out? I've been checking her for updates for like a week and there's been nothing. The people want to know!
Posted by: Not Dawn Summers at February 12, 2008 07:38 PM"no children" by kiki & herb
Posted by: it's vintage duh at February 12, 2008 07:53 PMDon't Go Away Mad, Just Go Away.
Pay homage to the Crue.
Posted by: Von Bek at February 12, 2008 08:17 PMIf you like Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walking" let me recommend "Ces Bottes Sont Faites Pour Marcher" by Eileen. It's the same song in French, which for some reason I enjoy more. http://www.last.fm/music/Eileen/_/Ces+bottes+sont+faites+pour+marcher
I don't care if she is a poseur; this is the best otter blog I've ever read!
Posted by: SeaWorld at February 12, 2008 08:56 PMBeatles' "Run for Your Life" and Johnny Cash/June Carter's "Jackson." Then there's the semi-ubiquitous "I Hate Myself for Loving You."
chsw
Posted by: chsw at February 12, 2008 09:54 PMX, "When Our Love Passed Out on the Couch";
Elvis, "Shabby Doll" (actually, Imperial Bedroom in its entirety is the perfect anti-Valentine);
Wire, "Mannequin";
Richard and Linda Thompson, "Don't Renege on our Love" (Shoot Out The Lights is another great soundtrack for a breakup).
Pulp has a ton of great mean love songs and one of my favorites is "Sylvia". He's singing to his girlfriend about how she reminds him of a girl he used to like and the song turns into a song of Sylvia instead of about his current girl. It even has a line "So please stop asking what it's got to do with you...."
As for Valentine's Day, no Eric, I'm not letting women off the hook either. It's just that I'm a straight woman and so my concern will inevitably be that my man is let off the hook by this "holiday".
And Dawn, I don't "do" Valentine's Day (there will be no heart-shaped boxes of candy or staring into each others eyes at a "romantic" restaurant) that doesn't mean I can't observe and mock.
Posted by: Karol at February 13, 2008 10:31 AMElton John's "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"
Posted by: mary at February 13, 2008 11:07 AMKarol,
I'll pick you up at 7:30, Thursday nite. I made 8:00 reservations for us at that romantic restaurant you said you were dying to go to.
Posted by: BadBoyInASuit at February 13, 2008 12:14 PMWhat makes a restaurant "romantic"?
Posted by: Karol at February 13, 2008 12:19 PMWhat makes a restaurant "romantic"?
When it's so dark that you can't see the spaghetti sauce stains on his shirt. :)
Posted by: Shawn at February 13, 2008 02:43 PMI bet you will do some sort of celebrating, but I understand your point.
Check out:
Ween "baby Bitch"
or the male version of "I will survive" by Cake
Posted by: M at February 13, 2008 02:52 PMThe One I Love: REM.
This one goes out to the one I love,
This one goes out to the one I left behind,
A simple plot,
To occupy my time.
Come on. You, IC and an uzi on V's day. What's better then that?!
Check out anything from Garbage, Shirley usually delivers.
Posted by: J at February 13, 2008 03:25 PMKarol asked,
--------------
"What makes a restaurant "romantic"?"
--------------
My suave answer is, "your presence."
Since you recommended the restaurant, I'll take your word that it is a cool place. When I made the reservation, I heard violins playing in the background.
Posted by: BadBoyInASuit at February 13, 2008 03:32 PMThat cover by Cake is phenomenal. It effectively skewers one of the single worst excretions from the disco era.
Posted by: Gerard at February 13, 2008 06:32 PM['Feelings' is] one of the single worst excretions from the disco eraWhile 'Feelings' came out during the "disco era", it properly belongs to a different genre. I'm not sure if it has an official name; they used to call it Soft Rock. Flaccid Rock is maybe more appropriate.
For examples, check out Olivia Newton John's early albums [pre-'Grease'], Barry Manalow, Little Creek Band, Air Supply, and a number of one-hit wonders (like 'Feelings'). Caution: even limited exposure is not recommended.
Posted by: register_allocation at February 13, 2008 07:26 PMAnyone still watching this thread? Anyway, here's another one:
When you know shes no high climber
Then you find your only friend
In a room with your two timer
And youre sure youre near the end
Then you love a little wild one
And she brings you only sorrow
All the time you know shes smilin
You'll be on your knees tomorrow
[Steely Dan, Do It Again]
Posted by: register_allocation at February 14, 2008 08:01 PM
