Post
by michduncg » Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:32 am
Golly - not had the chance to get on here for a long time! Combination of work and a addiction to Microsoft Flight Simulator! Ho hum - anyone miss me?
WELL - Bad songs! Where to start! As a child we had Barbara Streissand singing 'I'm five! I'm five! (I'm a big girl now I'm five)' OK - so it was a novelty record, maybe it wasn't supposed to be serious. You could say they same for Timmy Mallets diabolical remake of 'Itsy beeny teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini', but given that it was around at the same time as Sonia was singing 'Counting every single minute', you'd be hard pushed to decide which one would make you scream running from the room faster! Actually, I have a soft spot for Sonia, probably due to French and Saunders mickey taking and her cheeky Scouseness!
My Mum has always had to leave the room if Connie Frances happens to come on (not a frequent occurence these days) but I think thats a bit harsh! Although I do think 'Where the boys are' is one of the most morose songs ever sung. Talking of morose, how about 'Honey' by Bobby Goldsborough, and if death discs are your thing then who how about 'Ebony Eyes' by the Everley Brothers, complete with angelic choir over the 'spoken bit where Don (or was it Phil) goes into ask the airline clerk where his beloved's flight is, before the loudspeaker announcement asks all those with relatives on flight 53 to report to the chapel across the street. Hmmm - thats subtlety for you Nashville style
I am surprised that no-one has mentioned St Winifreds School Choir and their 'I'm only a poor little sparrow' as a bad record, but I suppose it had a certain charm! But what abouut Cilve Dunns 'Grandad'? Or the Goodies 'Funky Gibbon'. Or 'Fancy Pants' by Kenny? Bill Wyman's song 'Je suis un rock star' was a truly awful piece of early 80s pap, and just shows why he was never the lead singer in Rolling Stones!
I have to say though, and I hope I am not about to upset any of the older crowd, but why did anyone, with or without a heart, every buy a Cilla Black record? Seriously, if you had a choice of hearing Dionne Warwick singing 'Anyone who had a heart' with her lovely honey smoth voice, why would you want to listen to a version that sounds like an animal is dying on it - sorry that was Cilla reaching the high notes! And compare Chers film soundtrack tune of Alfie (and she is not the most gifted of lyricists!), to Cillas - more smoothness v screeching!You can actually hear the lyrics of Alfie when Cher sings it, which is important because they tell a story. I think I am on failry safe greound criticising her on a site dedicated to a true lyricist. But I'll stop short of criticising Cliff Richard, and some of his songs. Cos I actually quit elike him!
Don't stop me now - I'm on a roll! Anyone remember that hyper-annoying 80s ditty - 'Don't mess with my toot toot!' - with the immortal lines 'When I was in my birth suit, the doctor slapped my behind, he says you're going to be special, my sweet little toot toot!'. Hmm - actually it kind of makes sense when you right it down!
But I have to disagree with YMCA! I have been dancing to that at church discos; weddings, work functions, holiday bars and gay bars since about 1977! It is part of every night out, and even today in any town fiull of students or older folk, they will play that back to back with 'I'm in the mood for dancing' by the Nolans! I would also query the Sugarbabes appearance but would have no hesitiation in raising James bleeding Blunt and any of his songs as prospective candiates!
What a fantastic thread tho Hilary - I'll keep a pad next to my bed in case I think of any more!