Slightly insulting romantic songs

Olishi4 · 24-09-2016 11:33PM #1

Was listening to 10cc earlier today singing "im not in love" and it's kind of a slightly insulting romantic song.

Looked it up and this is apparently the meaning behind the song...

“It’s just a silly phase I’m going through”, sings Eric Stewart, who co-wrote the song with Graham Gouldman. However, the song was inspired by a comment his wife, Gloria – then of eight years, now of nearer 50 – made, that he didn’t tell her he loved her often enough.
Stewart told Sound on Sound in 2005 that he didn’t want to devalue the meaning of the phrase by saying it too frequently, but her thoughts made him “try to figure out another way of saying it, and the result was that I chose to say 'I'm not in love with you,' while subtly giving all the reasons throughout the song why I could never let go of this relationship."

so any other almost insulting romantic songs posters can think of and why are they so effective?

The only other one I can think of now is "Jealous Guy" by John Lennon. He shows a very vulnerable side in that song which is what i think makes it work.

TheQuietFella · 24-09-2016 11:36PM

Diary - David Gates / Bread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24IfD-0VUu4

PARlance · 24-09-2016 11:40PM

Sir Mix A Lot - Baby got back

mzungu · 24-09-2016 11:41PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6UAYGxiRwU

drunkmonkey · 24-09-2016 11:42PM

Juce Newton offering herself up as a fcuk buddy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTzGMEfbnAw

Outlaw Pete · 24-09-2016 11:44PM

Billy Joel's 'Always A Woman'.

She can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
She only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child
She can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth but she'll never believe you
She'll take what you give her as long as it's free
She steals like a thief
She takes care of herself
She'll carelessly cut you then laugh while you're bleedin'

But she's always a woman to me...

Yeah, she sounds like a fcuking nutcase to be me, Billy, tbf.

evolving_doors · 24-09-2016 11:48PM

mzungu wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6UAYGxiRwU

Although by her trying to insult the person, she's ironically insulting herself...

"You probably think this song is about you, don't you...."

of course the song is about him Carly, otherwise you wouldn't be singing about him and his vanity. If it wasn't about him then the lyrics would have to go...

"You're so vain, You probably think this song is about you, don't you....you're so vain..You probably think this song is about you, don't you, don't don't you... ... well it's not it's about the other guy nananananaaaaa".

Olishi4 · 24-09-2016 11:49PM

Oh...can't believe I forgot one of my favourite songs "It Aint Me Babe" -Bob Dylan

learn_more · 24-09-2016 11:51PM

Nothing is insulting unless it targets a specific person, not some notional person.

Thanks to the guys that provided the youtube links. Great songs.

Olishi4 · 24-09-2016 11:54PM

learn_more wrote: »

Nothing is insulting unless it targets a specific person, not some notional person.

Thanks to the guys that provided the youtube links. Great songs.

I like to think that when someone writes a song that they had someone in mind

ahlookit · 24-09-2016 11:54PM

REM - The one I love. Not the happy clappy song the title suggests...

This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the one I've left behind
A simple prop to occupy my time
This one goes out to the one I love

In the last verse it switches to "another prop has occupied my time"

gossamer · 24-09-2016 11:55PM

Engelbert Humperdinck - Please Release Me.

mzungu · 24-09-2016 11:57PM

Gebgbegb wrote: »

Although by her trying to insult the person, she's ironically insulting herself...

"You probably think this song is about you, don't you...."

of course the song is about him Carly, otherwise you wouldn't be singing about him and his vanity. If it wasn't about him then the lyrics would have to go...

"You're so vain, You probably think this song is about you, don't you....you're so vain..You probably think this song is about you, don't you, don't don't you... ... well it's not it's about the other guy nananananaaaaa".

Fair tough going to try and work that line into the melody, though!:D

sadie1502 · 24-09-2016 11:58PM

Two out of three ain't bad mealoaf. There aint no way I'm ever gonna love you. But two out of three ain't bad. I suppose.

Olishi4 · 24-09-2016 11:58PM

gossamer wrote: »

Engelbert Humperdinck - Please Release Me.

Ha so funny, my mam told me that once she had that song on repeat and my dad said to her "here is there something you're trying to tell me"

The Backwards Man · 25-09-2016 12:02AM

I've been around for you
I've been up and down for you
But I just can't get any relief
I've swallowed my pride for you
I've lived and lied for you
But you still make me feel like a thief

Still a class tune though

Outlaw Pete · 25-09-2016 12:03AM

"I'm so ugly but that's okay cause so are you" - Nirvana, Lithium.

And I shoulda thought of this one first really:

"You ain't a beauty but hey you're alright" - Thunder Road, The Boss.

learn_more · 25-09-2016 12:04AM

Olishi4 wrote: »

I like to think that when someone writes a song that they had someone in mind

Or course personal experiences come into play in song writing.

What your suggesting is that one wrote and sometimes sang the song specifically with that person in mind.

It that were the case it would be libellous.

mzungu · 25-09-2016 12:05AM

China Girl.

My little China girl
You shouldn't mess with me
I'll ruin everything you are

Bowie or Iggy? Both!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_8IXx4tsus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrR-TFZmwuk

gossamer · 25-09-2016 12:08AM

Another one, Kris Kristofferson's When I Loved Her:

"Well, she didn't look as pretty as some others I have known
And she wasn't good at conversation when we were alone."

deandean · 25-09-2016 12:09AM

More Meatloaf, paradise by the dashboard light.
(As they are hard at it)
Will you love me till the end of time?
aah..
aah..
aah..
aah..
Let me sleep on it.

buried · 25-09-2016 12:11AM

Summer wind · 25-09-2016 12:15AM

Kenn Rodgers with Ruby.
"And if I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground
Oh Ruby don't take your love to town"

Olishi4 · 25-09-2016 12:16AM

mzungu wrote: »

China Girl.

Bowie or Iggy? Both!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_8IXx4tsus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrR-TFZmwuk

Can't post the link but there's an Iggy Pop song called "I'm sick of you"! Would depend on people's perception of the song of whether or not it fits into slightly insulting romantic but anyway a great song

endacl · 25-09-2016 12:16AM

learn_more wrote: »

Nothing is insulting unless it targets a specific person, not some notional person.

Really...?

twill · 25-09-2016 12:17AM

(Edit: can't make the link work either.)
https://youtu.be/VRqY4E-vRyo
Todd in the Shadows has a video on pretty much this topic. (Specifically a list of songs depicting mediocre romance.)

ahlookit · 25-09-2016 12:17AM

Damien Rice - Blowers Daughter

Last line flips the song on its head.

http://youtu.be/5YXVMCHG-Nk

edit: on mobile... Can't do YouTube link thingy properly...

Dolbert · 25-09-2016 12:34AM

"I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are"

Billy Joel strikes again!

bobbysands81 · 25-09-2016 12:41AM

"I'm always going to love you" by the Dexy's. A work of art!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ7F5QKCRtc

"I'm Always Going To Love You"

Oh baby I really love you, I really do now, Oh baby baby,
I got to say one thing (what's that?)
I want you (Oh alright) and for all time (Oh I see!) Yes
Come over here my dear I've got something to say (What's that?)
Do you know how much I care?
Do you know I'll always be here,
I'm always going to love you
(OK)
When I look at you baby, when I touch you (yessss, what?) oh it feels so good,
Put your lips to my face (alright) Let your sweet breath warm my face (mmm)
I'm always going to love you (I love you too!)awwww!(I'm always going to love you)
We're always going to.......
To be completely honest (yeah?)
I walked into this part without thinking (what do you mean?)
I wasn't thinking (about what?) I'm so confused, I'm so confused
(You just said to me that you loved me?)
I know I did (You said you loved me!)
I know I did but I think I'm going around the bend now we must end...
(WHAT!!??)
I'm sorry darling I don't think I can love you
(You're not sorry!)
I'm really sorry I don't know how to love you
(Kevin don't talk to me I don't even want to see you)
(Kevin don't look at me I don't even want to see you)
I understand I don't know what's the matter with me
Maybe I'm incapable of love? I dunno, no?
(Kevin don't talk to me I don't even want to see you)
(Kevin just Go Go GO!! I don't even want to see you)
(It's like as soon as you got me you didn't want me, I was just your next thing, now your off on some other thing,)
No
(I was like a challenge you just wanted to see if you could get me to try and win me over)
No it wasn't like that you were more than that, you meant an awful lot to me
I'm just mean
(You are!)
(Kevin don't look at me I don't even want to see you)
(Just Go......Just.....GO)
ok

irish coldplayer · 25-09-2016 12:44AM

"Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd"
I want you back
Jackson 5

Or
Morrissey
"Youre the one for me Fatty"

Olishi4 · 25-09-2016 12:45AM

Just like a woman - Bob Dylan

Bob has a knack for the slightly bordering on insulting way with words

Slightly insulting romantic songs

Comments