Skip to comments.
The inglorious death of romance
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^
| 6-11-06
| Tom Purcell
Posted on 06/11/2006 1:20:31 PM PDT by Cavalcabo
Hey, pallie, what the heck happened to romance? I use the word "pallie" in deference to the great Dean Martin, whose birthday was celebrated last Wednesday, and whose music will be celebrated at the Dean Martin Festival in Steubenville, Ohio, next weekend -- in the town of his birth.
I ask because I just looked at Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 list. Sitting at No. 1 on the charts is "Hips Don't Lie," by Shakira. It's on her album "Oral Fixation." Her song is a hit, no doubt, because of its eloquent lyrics:
"Nobody can ignore the way you move your body, girl And everything so unexpected -- the way you right and left it So you can keep on shaking it."
No. 2 on the charts is "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire, a rap performer. Here's a little taste of the song's poetry:
"Tippin' down, sittin' crooked on my chrome Bookin' my phone, tryin' to find a chick I wanna (slang expletive)"
No. 3 on the charts is "Promiscuous" by Nelly Furtado:
"You expect me to let you just hit it But will you still respect me if you get it."
Ah, modern romance. Things sure have changed since Dino dropped off the charts. I think I know why: Romance is dead.
Whereas the top three hits above celebrate human nature at its most base -- wiggling one's hips to stoke male arousal, looking for "chicks" to satisfy your urge, or wondering if a fellow will stick around after he samples the goods -- Dino's simple music spoke to the heart. Consider the lyrics to "Amore":
"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie That's amore When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine That's amore."
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: deanmartin; tompurcell
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61 next last
To: Cavalcabo
I am a huge Rat Pack fan for this exact reason (besides I like the way it sounds) - you can't dance with a guy in any meaningful way to todays music. Very sad. My favorite Dino is "Ain't that a kick in the head"- you can hear him smiling while he sings it. She's telling me we'll be wed / She's picked out a king sized bed/ I couldn't feel any better or or I'd be sick... I love it.
21
posted on
06/11/2006 2:35:53 PM PDT
by
lawgirl
(She comes on like thunder and she's more right than rain)
To: T'wit
You can hear it on the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack IIRC. ;-)
22
posted on
06/11/2006 2:36:34 PM PDT
by
lawgirl
(She comes on like thunder and she's more right than rain)
To: Cavalcabo
I spend some time around high school aged kids who are into music, and if they are exposed to these good songs, many of them enjoy singing them.
I wish all music teachers, choir directors, etc. around the country would stand up for quality, and be sure all their students at least HEAR these old standards. I don't think that's too much to ask.
23
posted on
06/11/2006 2:39:32 PM PDT
by
lawnguy
(Give me some of your tots!!!)
To: Excellence
RE: XM 4
For all the quantity of great music of the 30s and 40's, they really seem to repeat a whole heckuva lot (good, but repetitive.)
Or maybe I just listen too much!
24
posted on
06/11/2006 2:41:41 PM PDT
by
sam_paine
(X .................................)
To: Cavalcabo
Yeah, but still... Shakira's hips don't lie... And they don't stay still, either! Yousa!
Mark
25
posted on
06/11/2006 2:52:18 PM PDT
by
MarkL
(When Kaylee says "No power in the `verse can stop me," it's cute. When River says it, it's scary!)
To: MarkL
My hips don't lie, either. They say, "I'm a breeder!"
(Sorry, I couldn't resist ...)
26
posted on
06/11/2006 3:03:18 PM PDT
by
Tax-chick
(I am a daughter of God, a child of the King, a holy fire burning with His love.)
To: T'wit
I have always loved "Stardust". What passes for romantic music today lost me a long time ago. Many thanks for posting the lyrics - still beautiful.
27
posted on
06/11/2006 3:14:23 PM PDT
by
maxwellp
To: Cavalcabo
28
posted on
06/11/2006 3:48:00 PM PDT
by
Old Seadog
(Inside every old person is a young person saying "WTF happened?".)
To: CheyennePress
from your list, I'd say you'd probably like Josh Groban. you should check him out, if you haven't already.
To: maxwellp
I can't think of Stardust without recalling what, to me anyway, is its companion piece.
I speak of course of Deep Purple.
30
posted on
06/11/2006 4:20:56 PM PDT
by
gcruse
(http://gcruse.typepad.com)
To: Old Seadog; Tax-chick; Theresawithanh; marsh2; T'wit; krunkygirl; Excellence; lawgirl; lawnguy
31
posted on
06/11/2006 4:23:59 PM PDT
by
Cavalcabo
(Sancte Michael, defende nos in proelio, contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium.)
To: gcruse
Da Da Da dada Ditda Da Da Da daDa da.
We all came out to Montreux on the Lake Geneva shoreline . . .
32
posted on
06/11/2006 4:27:06 PM PDT
by
Tribune7
To: Victoria Delsoul
I know you love your music! ;-)
33
posted on
06/11/2006 4:29:28 PM PDT
by
HitmanLV
("5 Minute Penalty for #40, Ann Theresa Calvello!" - RIP 1929-2006)
Comment #34 Removed by Moderator
To: Theresawithanh
I think the problem is, we used to have romantic songs, now we have songs, and I use the term lightly, about sex and violence. I detest it too.
35
posted on
06/11/2006 4:35:38 PM PDT
by
ladyinred
(In the case of Ann Coulter, the left can't handle the truth!)
To: Theresawithanh
At one of the local bars closing time is signaled by them playing New York New York by Frank Sinatra. It really highlights the difference between him and so much that followed.
I was excited for summer because at one of the local bars it meant that they would play country (not a big fan, but I'll take it over rap anyday) for whatever reason they have abandoned that practice this year.
36
posted on
06/11/2006 4:42:20 PM PDT
by
Mr. Blonde
(You know, Happy Time Harry, just being around you kinda makes me want to die.)
To: maxwellp
>> still beautiful.
Aren't they? Back when lyrics were... lyrical :-)
37
posted on
06/11/2006 5:05:54 PM PDT
by
T'wit
(This moment of peace and quiet is brought to you by St. Fu, patron saint of sweet silence.)
To: T'wit
"Stardust" is one of the greatest songs ever - melody and lyrics - but, while Hoagy Carmichael wrote the music let's not forget the lyricist:
Mitchell Parish.
What beautiful words they are!
38
posted on
06/11/2006 5:29:52 PM PDT
by
Gigantor
(If bin Laden doesn’t want Bush to be the president, something must be right with Bush.)
To: Cavalcabo
You know you're old when you're watching American Idol with your 20's daughter and she says "Who was Roy Orbison?"
To: HitmanLV
LOL!!! I got all those songs stored on my C program... Shakira's Hips Don't Lie, Chamillionaire's Riding, and Promiscuous by Nelly Furtado and of course I got Dean Martin. Let me upload a few of them. BRB.
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson