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Sexual Metaphors in Rock Music Lyrics

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:55:27 +0000

Rock and roll and sex have always been inseparable bedmates. And it’s been no secret affair. Many musicians admit that they only learned how to sing or play an instrument so they could enjoy the fringe benefits of band membership. They don’t mind sharing the details of these fringe benefits in their lyrics, either. Some lyrics are blatantly explicit, while other lyrics hide their sexuality behind metaphors. Here are some lyrics that seem very suggestive—or maybe we just have dirty minds!

“Brand New Key” by Melanie

Remember this novelty hit from the early 70s? Also known as “The Roller Skate Song,” there seemed to be plenty of innuendo in the lyrics, “I got a brand new pair of roller skates/You got a brand new key/I think that we should get together and try them out, you see.” Also, many listeners interpreted the lyrics “new key” as “nookie.” Although Melanie didn’t intentionally write sexually suggestive lyrics, she did admit that, “I guess a lock and key have always been Freudian symbols, and pretty obvious ones, at that.”

“Knocking at Your Back Door” by Deep Purple

The blatant title, which also makes its way into the song lyrics, needs no explanation. But the band wove more subtle suggestiveness into the lyrics, “So we put her on the hit list/Of a common cunning linguist/A master of many tongues.” If you don’t get it right away, quickly say the lyrics “cunning linguist” out loud several times. Oh, so that’s what he’s saying! The lyrics flew under the censor’s radar, and were played on numerous radio stations. According to the liner notes in the band’s Greatest Hits, they wrote the lyrics as a joke, and never expected the song to get any airplay.

“Little Willy” by The Sweet

This incredibly catchy tune by glam band, The Sweet, initially drew critics’ scorn for its “nursery porn” lyrics, “Little Willy, Willy won’t go home/But you can’t push Willy ’round, Willy won’t go.” The song lyrics were supposedly inspired by late singer Brian Connolly’s nonstop nightclubbing. Since “willy” is also British slang for a man’s you-know-what, there’s also speculation that the lyrics regard that organ’s endless desire for satisfaction. In any case, the song and its lyrics ignited a succession of 14 hit singles, including 11 chart-toppers.

“Cherry Pie” by Warrant

The lyrics of “Cherry Pie” are filled with so many humorous sexual metaphors, where do we begin? Well, here are a few of those lyrics: “She wanted me to feed her/So I mixed up the batter/And she licked the beater,” “If I think about baseball/I’ll swing all night,” and “Tastes so good/Make a grown man cry/Sweet cherry pie.” Singer Jani Lane wrote the song’s music and lyrics on a pizza box in 15 minutes. Talk about a quickie!

“Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel

Influenced by sexually suggestive soul music lyrics, the lyrics of “Sledgehammer” are loaded with innuendo. In addition to “I want to be your sledgehammer,” the lyrics refer to steam trains, bumper cars, pollination, fruit, bees and a big dipper. Regarding the lyrics, Gabriel said, “Sometimes sex can break through barriers when other forms of communication are not working too well.”

That theory may work well in song lyrics, but it’s a line that might backfire if you’re trying to pick up someone in a bar!

From Lyrics to Scripts — Musicians Who Became Actors

admin — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:12 +0000

Some musicians who’ve made the leap into acting have done it with the skill of an Olympic gold medalist. They’ve amazed audiences with such great silver screen performances that their lines could be lyrics. Their acting has eclipsed their musical career to the point where we often forget they were ever musicians in the first place — or that some still are. Here are a few cinema stars whose on-screen performances could rival their best music and lyrics:

Mark Wahlberg

Opening scene: camera pans around an arena filled with music fans. Cut to close-up of musicians onstage: Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Yes, the rapper formerly known as Marky Mark is now the acclaimed, gifted actor, Mark Wahlberg. As Marky Mark, he earned a #1 hit with the platinum single, “Good Vibrations.” And with these lyrics, there’s no way it could be confused with the Beach Boys’ song: “Pure hip hop/No sell out/If you ain’t in it to win it/Then get the hell out.” Wahlberg has seamlessly transitioned from in-your-face lyrics to his subtle, yet powerfully expressive movie dialogue. He also created the hit HBO series, “Entourage.”

Will Smith

Superstar Will Smith manages to give an accessible “everyman” quality to every role he plays, often tinged with perfectly timed touches of sly humor. But before the silver screen turned Smith into box office gold, he was part of the rap duo, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, known for lighthearted lyrics. Even when he was rapping in songs like “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” the lyrics about a teenager shopping for clothes with his mom reflected his sense of humor: “She said, ‘What’s wrong/This shirt cost 20 dollar’/I said, ‘Mom, this shirt is plaid/With a butterfly collar!’ “

Queen Latifah

It’s good to be the Queen — especially when your riches include a royal assortment of esteemed music and film awards. From the projects of Newark, New Jersey, Latifah first achieved fame as an MC dishing out rap lyrics. Later, she transitioned to singing the lyrics to jazz and soul standards. Latifah starred or co-starred in various sitcoms before stunning audiences with her breakout role in the movie, “Set it Off.” Adeptly handling both serious and comic movie roles, as well as stints on Broadway, Latifah has established herself on the acting throne. She continues to record music for her loyal subjects, as well.

Ice Cube

It’s hard to believe that the man who helped establish Gangsta Rap, with its violent, hardcore lyrics, has also turned in endearingly comic performances in films, but Ice Cube is one multitalented guy. Cube founded the rap group, N.W.A., and wrote half of the lyrics to their groundbreaking release, “Straight Outta Compton.” His first, critically acclaimed performance in the movie, “Boyz N the Hood,” led to roles in action films, and hits including “The Three Kings,” and the rollicking comedy, “Are We There Yet?” Cube also wrote and directed “The Players Club,” and wrote and starred in the three “Friday” movies. And he still manages to find time for his music!

These performers’ music, lyrics and movie roles have given audiences many ways to enjoy their talents — and many vehicles for their own turbo-charged creativity.

The Power of Music

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 03:46:48 +0000

Music’s power influences the human spirit and emotions should not be underestimated. Music has a great influence in all cultures and religions. Who has not had the experience of suddenly humming or moving to the rhythm of a tune heard for the first time long ago?

Many of the most important events in our lifes are commemorated with music. Those who have served in the military never forget the stirring cadence of a military march. Even decades later the sound of a military band will take the old veteran back to the days when his step was sure and strong and his new found confidence in his ability to defend his country and his buddies from harm knew no bounds.

Tunes often are associated with important events in our lives. Perhaps it is the song that you danced to at the high school prom with the person who later became your lifetime partner that still fans your passions. Perhaps it is the tune that was playing as you danced with your new spouse at your wedding party. It may be a song or two that was sung by a famous entertainer whose performance you were lucky enough to hear on your 30th birthday.

I still vividly remember seeing Elvis Presley perform near the end of his career. It was my friends birthday present to herself. I was her date for the evening and never expected to be so moved by ‘The King’s’ performance. But I was, and am still grateful to my friend for asking me to escort her to the live show.I wasn’t that much of an Elvis fan prior to his performance but had a far greater appreciation of his talent after seeing the master at work. What a show!

The Internet has created a new important venue for music. Lyrics to just about every song that has ever been written have been archived and can be easily accessed with an Internet search. The sharing of music files has been controversial all be it widespread. Legal means of gaining access to any type of music from Internet sources are under development and have lead to an entirely new growth industry.

The power of music can be a strong unifying force in a world that badly needs unification and cooperation on issues that affect us all. Peoples of the world should rejoice in the rich heritage that music brings to every culture. The sharing of ideas and music over the Internet only adds to the significance of music as a universal medium of communications.

People all over the world love their music. You can bet there is as much enthusiasm for a new Eminem rap song among Eminem fans as there is for classical jazz or a classical piano performance among more conventional music fans. There are different strokes for different folks as they say in Dixie and nowhere is this better illustrated than in the field of music.

However varied musicial tsstes may be amoung individuals we should consider the common thread that music weaves between all peoples and build upon that common ground to achieve a better understanding of how we are connected in our humanity.

People the world over have common basic needs and music is one of them.