Posted on 06/17/2024 2:45:19 PM PDT by DallasBiff
The '70s were half a century ago, and that fact is especially apparent when you look back at the media of the time. Watch a movie or TV show from that decade or listen to a song, and you won't just notice outdated fashion, interiors, and slang, but you'll also come across plots, characters, and words that are offensive, especially by the standards of 2023. When it comes to music in particular, there are plenty of songs from the '70s that are offensive to listeners now.
1 "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones (1971)
(Excerpt) Read more at bestlifeonline.com ...
I can think of several Bowie songs that would make today’s liberal snowflake’s head spin. China Girl might alienate some, but if you listen carefully Bowie is admonishing her not to mess with him; he’ll ruin everything she is culturally. (I have a soft spot in my heart for Let’s Dance, as it was the Bowie album that introduced Stevie Ray Vaughan to a world audience.)
Jackyl. Down on Me. Lumber Jack. Dirty Little Mind. Classics. 😂
That one might be a bit cringe-worthy
hot as a pepper but smooth as a Mexican brew
If you want to see stuff around then, go to YouTube and watch “SWing You Sinners” from the Max Fleisher studios in 1930. Also, for a short time in the early 1930’s, animator Ub Irwerks had a falling out with Walt Disney and went to MGM studios and did the Willie Whopper series. Willie Whopper was a boy who told tall tales and he told a story in a 1933 cartoon where he was in a plane race and was kissed by Amelia Earhart. one scene had St. Peter thumbing for a ride from the planes in the race that passed him and no one picked him out so Saint Peter gave them all The Finger.”
Butterbeans & Susie’s discs were regularly played on Dr. Demento’s radio show in the ‘70s.
I remember when that started in 1989 or so, Two Live Crew. I worked for a rent-a-car/truck place and I rented a van out to them.
Play it Cool--The Spaniels (1954)
"China Girl", the song David Bowie had a hit with in 1983, was off his album "Let's Dance". It was indeed 80's Bowie music, which some people dislike or think sucked.
But the song itself was originally released as an Iggy Pop song on his album "The Idiot", which were part of the famous Iggy Pop/David Bowie collaboration in Berlin in 1977. Like all of the songs on "The Idiot" Bowie and Pop are credited as co-authors. In practice Bowie wrote the music, and Iggy composed the words.
It's really interesting to listen to the Iggy Pop version, and realize that the Bowie version wasn't a major reworking, it was really a pretty faithful cover.
Of course the penultimate line of the song says "Oh, Jimmy just you shut your mouth." (Iggy's given name is James Ostenberg) - so Bowie changed that to "baby".
China Girl - by Iggy Pop and David BowieIggy has said the song is about a Vietnamese girl he had a brief affair with. But there is another meaning I've always read into it. Bowie and Iggy went to Berlin to get away from their respective scenes and get clean, both were heavily strung out when they went there. They hoped the strange foreign city would help them get straight and get a new perspective on things. (Which seemed to work).I couldn't escape this feeling
With my China girl
I'm just a wreck without
My little China girlI'd hear her heart beating
Loud as thunder
Saw the stars crashingI'm a mess without
My China girl
Wake up mornings
There's no China girlI'd hear hearts beating
Loud as thunder
And I'd see stars crashing downI'd feel tragic
Like I was Marlon Brando
When I'd look at my China girl
I could pretend that nothing
Really meant too much
When I'd look at my China girl
I'd stumble into town
Just like a sacred cow
Visions of swastikas in my head
And plans for everyoneIt's in the white of my eyes
My little China girl
You shouldn't mess with me
I'll ruin everything you are
I'll give you television
I'll give you eyes of blue
I'll give you men Who want to rule the world
And when I get excited
My little China girl says
"Oh, Jimmy, just you shut your mouth"
She says, "Shh"
At the time the most popular heroin in New York was known as "China Rock". The Dee Dee Ramone wrote the song "Chinese Rock" about it ("I'm livin' on Chinese rock, all my best things are in hock").
And so when read with this perspective, it also makes a lot of sense.
Bowie is merely singing words that Iggy Pop created 6 years earlier.
And it is quite clear that Iggy was the author of the lyrics on this song - as his (the original) version includes line "Oh, Jimmy just you shut your mouth". It's on the idiot, from 1977.
Bowie merely rerecorded the song (which he wrote the music to) for Let's Dance, in part he has said because Iggy was down and out and he wanted to help him out (which the royalties undoubtably did).
See my post above for more gory details. (#110)
That is literally the first thing I thought of when I read that article. I wonder if Garrett Morris got any phone numbers?
Brother Louie was Stories
You Sexy Thing was Hot Chocolate
Illegal Alien by Genesis
“Its no fun being an Illegal alien”
The video has all the band members dressed like Mexicans. Its all time classic.
Rebel Rouser was an instrumental
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