Guest post: Inconsequential lyrics
In today's guest post, Richard discusses the idiocy of certain song lyrics about his hometown.
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Q: What did you tell me your opinion is about that "Chicago" song by Frank Sinatra?
A: Actually, there are two Chicago songs that were performed by Frank Sinatra, "My Kind Of Town" and "Chicago (That Toddling Town)"Neither song really ( Read more... )
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A.C.E.
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I think that if you interpret not as "saunter," but as Merriam-Webster puts it "to walk with short tottering steps in the manner of a young child" the song becomes much better.
In summary, Chicago is my kind of razzmatazz.
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Wow, I didn't realize that sounded so bitter! Actually I don't mind the songs that much. Then again, I also like hearing my dorm name.
Not sure how to rewrite the lyrics, but let's compare it with "New York, New York" by Sinatra. That song is equally as sparse with city specifics, but the one thing the song conveys loud and clear is the primacy of New York, which IS a way in which the city is unique. (ok, even I concede that as a Chicagoan).
In the two Chicago songs, on the other hand, Sinatra mentions such Windy City novelties as: seeing a man dance with his wife; the city making him "brim like a cload" (??); feeling it's his kind of 1) town 2) people 3) razzmatazz; the city not letting you down (all other cities are liars!); concluding that State Street is a "great street" for reasons unmentioned except that it's where "they do things they don't do on Broadway". Etc!
Damn, that was bitter again. Gotta stop that.
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