rebness

In a previous entry, I threatened to keeeeel and maim pandorasblog for skitting my current band obsession, Franz Ferdinand. Lookee, missus, I wished to point out, they're all cool and British and make jaunty rock and have smart lyrics and... and then I stopped myself, because the main reason I like them? Well, apart from Matinee, because dude. What a song-- Well. Ahem. Harrumph. It's because of their oh-my-gosh referencing of history.

Some little history nerd in me comes to life when a song, or a band, reference historical events or people-- doubly so if they can fit literature into the lyrics.

Hence, my favourite Kate Bush song? Wuthering Heights. My favourite Manics song? If You Tolerate This... My favourite bands, past and present? The Doors, The Boo Radleys, Franz Ferdinand, Savage Garden.

I don't know. Lyrics matter so much to me. A witty or knowing song just kills me. (Sorry for the turn of speech-- am currently re-reading Salinger.)

Which gets me thinking... I bet I would like, even love songs and bands whom I would normally like to set on fire if they would just add some substance or referencing to their lyrics rather than "til the end of time, babe," or whatever.

Take whimsical boyband Westlife for example, in their matching white suits. Let's pretend they're wearing them as an ode to...I dunno... Marcus Aurelius' purity of mind. Then have them spin off tiresome sugary ballad Mandy with re-vamped lyrics:

Oh, Caesar
You came and you saw and you conquered
Then got all stabbed...

See? I could deal with that. And Britney? Let's do away with her neo-trash look and soppier ballads and replace them with an ode to Louis XVIII during the 1830 revolution:

Oops, I did it again
I messed up the throne
And they’re baying for my blood
I’m not that decadent!

Oh, yes. I could dig that. And imagine the video! >:)