Worst Mac Song

[Sorceress]

Originally posted by DownOnRodeo
I agree totally, Sorceress - read by themselves, the lyrics seem to have come off a mental 'production line' (Ol' Mama's Pre-Packaged Song-Words, perhaps? lol). But I find that the impression of the song as a whole rises above the lyrics' often cliche nature.

I find two words describe how this song (and that's 'song' not 'lyrics' alone remember) strikes me:

Pithy and Sexy.

Stevie's voice hasn't sounded as sexy since the Tusk songs (IMO obviously).
And although the lyrics are cliched, they are not as self-indulgent almost every other song she writes these days. And the simmeringly melodious vocal execution rises above mere words on a paper. Like 'Sara' - you might look at the many of the words and go 'Hmm yeah ok' but that vocal arrangement and quality of tenor is one in a million. The song rises above the lyrics (eg 'When you build your house etc'). The instrumentation is equally pithy - the catchy guitar/percussion riffs are sparely used and explosively brief. And that thumping beat drives the song ina similar way to Sara.

Okay, okay. Pithy and sexy, huh? Because I love Stevie as I do, suppose I can try giving her the benefit of the doubt here. Let's try this out:

So Stevie's choices of words were very deliberate--she was stringing together her cliches on purpose. She was trying to convey as much emotion as economically as possible, so she chose words and phrases so familiar that they instantly evoke feelings we all understand. Hmm. I almost buy that! It's better than believing that the lyrics were written in a haze of brain-dead burnout.

I do agree that her vocals are well done--subtle, light, and yes, sexy. The bass drum and guitar riff in the chorus are effective too.

Hmgh. I guess I can't hate NMB as much as I thought I did.

~Amy

ps: I think your comparison to Sara helped alot.

[DownOnRodeo]

Originally posted by Sorceress
Okay, okay. Pithy and sexy, huh? Because I love Stevie as I do, suppose I can try giving her the benefit of the doubt here. Let's try this out:

So Stevie's choices of words were very deliberate--she was stringing together her cliches on purpose. She was trying to convey as much emotion as economically as possible, so she chose words and phrases so familiar that they instantly evoke feelings we all understand. Hmm. I almost buy that!

I wasn't trying to change your opinions But yeah, the way you said it there pretty much expresses how it works for me. It's like... I know most of the lines should be making me cringe, yet I can't help but be sold.
This song and No Limit really excite me about the possibilites for the next (God willing) CD.

Originally posted by Strand
:Moreover and to beat a dead horse, I cannot believe they chose NMB over the brilliant Space Needle!!!!

Speaking of the worst songs .... Yikes.

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by DownOnRodeo
Speaking of the worst songs .... Yikes.

Hey - watch it!!!!!

[David R]

yeah Joe! (rodeo) defend "Not Make Believe" it is a great song overall... music, lyrics, vocals, etc... This song should have definetly been on SYW... "Silver Girl" instead of "NMB" that is the tragedy here...

[dissention]

Originally posted by DownOnRodeo

Speaking of the worst songs .... Yikes.

Your head will be replacing Murrow's in that box pretty soon, buddy!

Except for the tar people (heroin addicts), it's fabulous!!! Imagine what Lindsey could do with it...Ooh, I'm getting chillbumps just thinking about it!

[HejiraNYC]

I'll try to keep it to one song per singer/songwriter:

-Bob Welch- "Forever" Dude, like, I can smell weed when I hear this.

-Christine- "Prove Your Love"- "Heroes" is arguably the worst FM album, and this is the worst song on this album (and there are plenty of bad songs to choose from).

-Rick Vito- "Stand on the Rock" Can you say 'session guitarist'?!

-Billy Burnette- "In the Back of My Mind"- Pink Floyd meets David Cassidy.

-Danny Kirwin- "When You Say" I can imagine this number was popular in the asylum.

-Lindsey- "Make Me a Mask"- Make me some earplugs too!

-Stevie- Whazzamattahbabee!!!!!

-And the worst group collaboration is: "For Your Love," which has absolutely no purpose whatsoever.

[DJM]

Without a doubt - Brown Eyes by Christine. Boring

[WednesdaysChild]

Originally posted by DJM
Without a doubt - Brown Eyes by Christine. Boring

Oh no you don't!!!!!!!!!!! That is the most beautiful song! I just wish it were longer!

[Cristian]

Originally posted by HejiraNYC
-And the worst group collaboration is: "For Your Love," which has absolutely no purpose whatsoever.

Indeed, I had forgotten that one, which I dislike completely. Annoying as hell in a very good album.

But "These Strange Times" and "Lizard People" really have to top the bunch of crap. Mick should stay quiet behind his drum set... They are even worse than "Family Man". No, wait a minute... they are not. But they are still bad.

Oh, and it's Danny "Kirwan".




Song of the moment - Seven Wonders

[dontlookdown]

i must be a phreak -
because all those songs you list as the worst are some of my favorites.

i love Not That Funny - along with the rest of Tusk
That's Alright is probably one of my all time favorite Stevie songs.
I love Warm Ways and Sugar Daddy.
I love Red Rover and think it's one of the most brilliant recordings Lindsey has ever done.

However.....
I hate Don't Stop. It's the cheesiest cheapest piece of garbage. I hated it in 1976 and it still makes me wince. (I was and am a big Clinton supporter).

Wish You Were Here is pretty awful.
as is Silver Girl.
Running Through the Garden is embarrasing. Goodbye Baby was a waste and only added to the bloat of Say You Will. Removing those three tracks makes for a much better Say You Will. Seven Wonders has dreadful vocals. Welcome To The Room Sara is so self-centered and self indulgent and embarrasing in the lyric department.
Aside from that, I absolutely love this band and they can do know wrong - even with those mentioned clunkers.
That bonus Stevie track on the Limited edition about her self esteem hurting is also rather embarrasing. But guess what? I haven't been able to stop listening to Say You Will every day since I got it on April 15th. So I'm able to forgive the few misteps amongst this brilliant record

[The Tower]

"I Know I'm Not Wrong" (yikes)
"Not That Funny"
"Empire State" (the WORST - pretty much ALL of Lindsey's Mirage songs suck ass)
"Brown Eyes" (Ditch the sha-la-la crap)
"Paper Doll" (Stevie at her Klonopin worst...)

[chiliD]

Originally posted by HejiraNYC
I'll try to keep it to one song per singer/songwriter:

-Bob Welch- "Forever" Dude, like, I can smell weed when I hear this.

-Christine- "Prove Your Love"- "Heroes" is arguably the worst FM album, and this is the worst song on this album (and there are plenty of bad songs to choose from).

-Rick Vito- "Stand on the Rock" Can you say 'session guitarist'?!

-Billy Burnette- "In the Back of My Mind"- Pink Floyd meets David Cassidy.

-Danny Kirwin- "When You Say" I can imagine this number was popular in the asylum.

-Lindsey- "Make Me a Mask"- Make me some earplugs too!

-Stevie- Whazzamattahbabee!!!!!

-And the worst group collaboration is: "For Your Love," which has absolutely no purpose whatsoever.

First off, it is spelled: K-I-R-W-A-N

I'll just say, I think your ears have wax in 'em, but if that's how you hear these songs, I pity you.

[joe68]

Awful:
Come
Just awful. Yes, Lindsey...we know, you're so artsy!!!!
Murrow and Red Rover


You and I, part 2

As for Stevie
WTTR...S
Ok, yes...it stinks. Not so much the words, but where's the tune?
Silver Girl
Yeah this sucks too, but i stand by my orignal statement and wonder what John Shanks or even Sheryl Crow would have made of this song!

[WednesdaysChild]

Originally posted by joe68

Silver Girl
Yeah this sucks too, but i stand by my orignal statement and wonder what John Shanks or even Sheryl Crow would have made of this song!

Sheryl must have liked it enough, she did sing backing vocals on it!