Worst Lyric of 2011

[litlover12]

This dubious honor goes to Lady Antebellum for the following two lines from "We Owned the Night":

We woke under a blanket
All tangled up in skin

Yes, I realize what they're getting at. But it sounds like the result of some mad scientist's experiment gone horribly wrong. An unfortunate lyric that mars an otherwise lovely song.

Runner-up: Luke Bryan, for the following two verses from "I Don't Want This Night to End" (what is it about night-related songs that brings out the worst in songwriters?). Pay particular attention to the lines I've bolded.

Girl, I know I don't know you
But your pretty little eyes so blue
Are pulling me in
Like the moon on your skin

I'm so glad you trusted me
To slide up on this dusty seat
And let your hair down
Get out of town

I know it's only a song lyric, but did no one involved in the writing or recording process ever look at that and think, "Gee, that sounds like a REALLY HORRIBLE IDEA"?

Comments

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

LOL!!!

A good way to judge the strength of a song is whether the lyrics make sense logically or worldview-wise, without the music.

It doesn't always work that way, since a lot of 50s/60s music was silliness but still great music. (Early Beatles, anyone?) But I still find it valuable to do.

(And which is why I love Keane, since they have songs that actually SAY something worthwhile. Shocking!)

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

I agree (including on the Early Beatles thing! I COULDN'T CARE LESS IF THEY ARE SILLY LOVE SONGS). This is why I love Billy Joel. I don't agree with him, but I think he is a really true observer, if that makes sense.

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

You know, I've only recently come to appreciate Billy Joel more. He's a good songwriter and a great showman. I don't know why I took him for granted all these years.

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

I'm always more awestruck by him.

As a lyricist he writes about things that matter (though they are often bleak) with real insight into human nature, and he is absolutely a poetic poet.

As a composer he is... well... he's Billy Joel.

As a singer, he has, to borrow my mom's words, "A really nice voice in the higher range, and a really COOL voice in the lower register."

As a pianist, he can play prelude to Angry Young Man, and the bridge in Italian Restaurant, and Summer, Highland Falls... and he can do each one while giving a rollicking good singing performance!

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

I saw him on some program the other day and was really impressed. He also said he has the best job in the world, and looked like he was enjoying himself and wanting to give the people a great time! That always stands out to me. So many celebs these days act so put-upon. Their lives and jobs are soooooooooooo hard, dontcha know!

[eyeroll]

Anyway, it was good to see a veteran still enjoying himself and being such a professional about it all. I was jealous of the people there. They got a fantastic show!

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

I agree that the Lady Antebellum one is particularly creepy. But I have to say, while I love Luke Bryan's songs like "All My Friends Say" and "Rain," His "romantic" songs are always... really creepy. I mean, he usually sounds like he's doing something between a whine and a howl, so that is already unattractive, but I almost always hate the lyrics as well.

(I saw Lady A (for FREE!) at the New York State Fair last summer, and they sang "Baby do I?" and I didn't hate it quite as much as when Bryan sings it [they co-wrote it] but still...)

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Luke has had some weird ones. For the life of me, I can't figure out why "Shake It for Me" became such a hit. It's catchy, but the lyrics are just . . . bleah.

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

And then the music video... I've not seen the whole thing, but I have to say, Isn't the man married? And if so, what does Mrs. Bryan think?

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

I heard him on TV once -- some GAC or CMT show -- saying she was fine with it. Must have a tough hide, I guess. Or else she just likes the fact that it pays the rent. . . .

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

Well... it's their marriage. I sort of have a problem with her being fine with it... if that makes any sense...

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be thrilled about it if it were my husband, that's for sure.

[2theriver2pray.livejournal.com]

We woke under a blanket
All tangled up in skin

A lyric only Hannibal Lecter could truly appreciate.

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

It's sad that this was my first thought as well.

*shudders*

Oh, Movie! How you ruined me!

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

BWAHAHA!

[msantimacassar.livejournal.com]

O_o Those are awful!

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

Facepalm!Yoda! How adorable!

[msantimacassar.livejournal.com]

Isn't he? I just want to squish him!