The "Song That Defines _____" Thread

[DaveInDenver]

Heard a song the other day and the thought that jumped to mind was that it could not have existed in any other time than when it did.

So here's a thread to post one with a story as to why it might have only worked in an era or defines something in the zeitgeist.

 

[Hulk]

RUN DMC's version of Walk This Way with Aerosmith opened the gateway to hip hop for all the white kids. It could only happen once, then the door was forever open. I bought the CD in college and played it non-stop. I remember thinking, "Damn, Walk This Way isn't even the best song on the album."

 

[CardinalFJ60]

I got one. My daughter quickly and scornfully asked me to change song ‘cuz, “dad, you know this is super racist, right?” I guess things were different in the 70’s and the kitschy hook on the disco song is great, but lyrics might be different today.


View: https://youtu.be/Bt4D8oA3mxU?si=prmK6yve36ytC8No

 

[CardinalFJ60]

I know half of you will be karate chopping and round house kicking in the kitchen as you crank this up. Ya just can’t not.

 

[DaveInDenver]

The song the DJ played that sparked this was "New Age Girl" by Deadeye Dick. You may have heard of it in Dumb and Dumber. What I had in mind is that it kind of speaks to me as defining a sound that only MTV's 120 Minutes in mid-1994 might be.

Same with "Kim The Waitress" by Material Issue. I like both but I can't really think anyone who wasn't 20-something at the moment would. And the videos. What the heck?

I can't remember ever seeing either of them live but there was a dozen local bands much like them, just one catchy song away from MTV, in every city. Material Issue had a few on the charts and they had a little better luck staying around.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL5ofVC0EDQ



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS5oa5IPSX0

 

[DaveInDenver]

I got one. My daughter quickly and scornfully asked me to change song ‘cuz, “dad, you know this is super racist, right?”

Yeah, the 9-note stereotypical 'Oriental riff'. Historically apparently there's no evidence of it musically in east Asia but in the modern western era it seems to first be used exactly with Terrytoons "Chop Suey" in 1930.

The Musical Cliché Figure Signifying The Far East: Whence, Wherefore, Whither?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTv-STZZXS4


Another pop use of it. You know, just to pile more to bury myself. In for a penny, in for a pound.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGy9uomagO4

 

[nakman]

@DaveInDenver so what was the song, Dave?


And here's one- not only is MTV no longer a thing, but you're not supposed to use that word anymore, even if your friend is acting like it.


View: https://youtu.be/wTP2RUD_cL0?si=jWacCmST0KhuyH9G

 

[DaveInDenver]

@nakman, look up a couple of posts. It was "New Age Girl" by Deadeye Dick. Thought to myself that it was a very specific mid-90s alt, neo-hippie, kind of sound. "Money For Nothing" is a good one, very MTV feel.

 

[nakman]

@nakman, look up a couple of posts. It was "New Age Girl" by Deadeye Dick. Thought to myself that it was a very specific mid-90s alt, neo-hippie, kind of sound. "Money For Nothing" is a good one, very MTV feel.

ok got it. just watched that cartoon... man a lot to unravel there!

 

[Johnny Utah]

Goonies


View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LxLhytQ67fs&ra=m

 

[DaveInDenver]

Submitted for consideration, the song that defines alt.country.


View: https://youtu.be/yUJbT89wKHI

And I think it's fair to say very much literally in this case.