Deep Fried Chicken

Driving with Rochelle a few weeks back, 'Drops of Jupiter' came on the radio. I admit straight away that while there are aspects of the song I enjoy (it is quite catchy), I am not really a fan of the song. I think it is the songwriter in me that finds the ongoing melody in the chorus a little... crammed in. It's something I often accuse Alanis Morrisette of - only she pulls it off, i.e. 'Unsent'. But regardless of this, I was still having a nice little sing-along...

Until we reached the bridge, where I finally heard the stupidest line possible:

"Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken"

I suddenly burst into hysterics and decided they should give back their Grammy for Songwriting (which I never agreed with anyway). In fact, I was ready to write a huge rant about how ridiculous a line that is, and that "fried" and "chicken" should never be used in any sort of song unless it's the KFC theme... but then last night, another song was brought to my attention. While rocking my socks off in the car (complete with mad air guitar and air drumming) to 'One Vision' by Queen, the song came to its fantastic ending and sparked this interesting conversation:

Rochelle: "Did he just say "fried chicken"?
Logan: "Yes he did"
Rochelle: "Aren't those the two words you said should NEVER be used as song lyrics???"

I found I had no real argument there. Yes, that is what I have previously stated. And yes, I do still stick to that claim - I feel they are stupid words and should not be used as song lyrics. But I forgot about 'One Vision' - it is possibly one of my favourite rock songs ever. I remember much of my childhood doing things to that song, watching the video and it's pure 80's cliche` coolness, and Freddie Mercury punching towards the camera just as he sings "fried chicken!" in full harmonies , and I have never had a problem with it being used there.

So I guess the answer is this; Train are dumb. Queen are awesome. End of story

And because I know Jeremy is going to use his usual argument about how I don't care about lyrics and stuff, I would like to say that I have known every word of that song for 20 years now. I can't help it if Queen just make every word sound cool.

And speaking of bad lyrics... I tried listening to Anberlin again last week, but their lyrics are just soooo cringe-worthy. I think 'A Day Late' has the coolest hook (although it is missing that cool vocal thing that I add in everytime), but the lyrics are terrible. Reminds me of some high school band singing songs about t-shirts and books. In fact, I'm willing to go on record stating that I think the lyrics in any Hilary Duff song have more substance... although 'Suburbia' by Fast Crew still sits high on the "Lyrics Are So Bad I Fear I May Laugh So Hard That I Throw Up On My Own Shoes Or Just Shoot My Radio Everytime It Comes On And Then Write An Angry Letter To My Local MP To Have It Removed From Our Airwaves And Get More Radio Time For People With Talent That Don't Try To Rap With The Skill Of A Mentally Challenged Old Lady Stuck In A Small Suitcase And Quickly Losing Control Over Her Bodily Functions Due To Lack Of Oxygen And The Fear Of Being Eaten Alive By A Giant Mushroom" list.* Seriously, rapping about how tough life is in white middle-class surburbia makes about as much sense as Lee Ryan from Blue saying he is tougher than 50 Cent


* Fergie would most likely top this list, but I have never found the stamina to listen to more than 1 or 2 lines of her before losing my mind and plugging my ears with ravenous wilderbeasts


I think it should be mandatory for anyone wanting to write a song to first listen to Abbey Road, Revolver & Rubber Soul. Maybe then I won't have to hear songs ruined by inane lyrical content, or have people try and tell me the dude from Switchfoot is the best lyricist ever just because he can rhyme success with excess. Yes that takes talent... must've studied the Rhyming Becktionary all night to come up with that one

I'm just waiting for the hammer to fall