"_____________ Says"

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Not sure if Lou Reed originated the idea of the "______ Says" song ("Candy Says," "Lisa Says", etc.), but he certainly perfected it. It's an interesting narrative technique, offering a portrait of someone by putting words int their mouth. How many such songs does he Reed have, anyway? Did anyone else do it first? And what are some great ones by other artists?

Mark (MarkR), Saturday, 2 November 2002 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Gareth Brown Says by McLusky comes roaring into my mind...

Mr Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 2 November 2002 18:05 (twenty-two years ago)

"Simon Says" Phroahe Monch and hence "Pitman Says" by MC Pitman.

Nick H, Saturday, 2 November 2002 18:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Terry Waite Sez

dave q, Saturday, 2 November 2002 20:57 (twenty-two years ago)

(ts: "John Waite Sez" vs "I Am John Waite")

dave q, Saturday, 2 November 2002 20:57 (twenty-two years ago)

does "Say Say Say" count?

brg30 (brg30), Saturday, 2 November 2002 21:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Jane's, Jane Says

Kim (Kim), Saturday, 2 November 2002 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

"Jenny Says," Cowboy Mouth

j.lu (j.lu), Saturday, 2 November 2002 21:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Lou has the following, from what I can see:
Candy Says
Stephanies Says
Lisa Says
Caroline Says 1 and II

Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Saturday, 2 November 2002 23:09 (twenty-two years ago)

"Theresa Says," God Is My Co-Pilot. (Theresa, a.k.a. Tara Ball, is also the subject of "If I Were Theresa." Also, their "Lead W/ Yr Chin" starts "Sharon says: you set your own limits!")

Douglas, Saturday, 2 November 2002 23:25 (twenty-two years ago)

"Danny Says", by the Ramones!

Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Sunday, 3 November 2002 00:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Jackie Wilson Says

electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 4 November 2002 00:15 (twenty-two years ago)

There's "Sylvia Said", by Lou's pardner John Cale

Joe (Joe), Monday, 4 November 2002 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

And the upcoming "Laurie Says" by Lou Reed.

Laurie says
I have to walk the dog
as she's writing
a performance art
monologue

Laurie says
she likes kissing
when Metal Machine Music
is playing

Laurie says
I should be
in another Wim Wenders
movie

aperitivo siesta, Monday, 4 November 2002 02:01 (twenty-two years ago)

And "Andy's Chest" which kinda sounds like Andy Says.

Or not.

dave225 (Dave225), Monday, 4 November 2002 12:30 (twenty-two years ago)

The Beatles started it. She Said She Said.

Roger Fascist (Roger Fascist), Monday, 4 November 2002 12:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Pharcyde and Longpigs also did 'She Said'

does Charly (sez) by Prodigy count?

blueski, Monday, 4 November 2002 13:01 (twenty-two years ago)

"Bill Drummond Said" - Julian Cope
"Christian Says" - Tones On Tail

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 4 November 2002 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

"Drive She Said" by Stan Ridgway

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 4 November 2002 15:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Right said Fred, put the last support in, one more tyre and that'll do the trick. The wind was blowing, the chimney wasn't going etc etc.

Clearly Lou Reed's real inspiration.

James Ball (James Ball), Monday, 4 November 2002 15:41 (twenty-two years ago)

"Mr Churchill Says" - The Kinks

kate, Monday, 4 November 2002 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I have:
As My Wife Says or She Says - Only Ones
Charlie Says - Original Concept
Christopher Mayhew Says - Shamen
Danny Says - Ramones
Everybody Says - Kevin Coyne
Jesus Says - Gary Panter
Mama Says - Beach Boys
My Boy Says - Tallulah Gosh
Sandy Says - Flying Saucer
Simon Says - Sappho
Umi Says - Mos Def
Jennifer She Said - Lloyd Cole
Like Leila Khaled Said - Teardrop Explodes
Mama Said - Shirelles
She Said - Hasil Adkins/Nirvana/Tricky
What Ruthy Said - Cockney Rebel
What She Said - Smiths

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 10 November 2002 12:52 (twenty-two years ago)

"Julia Says" by Wet Wet Wet.

Nick H, Monday, 11 November 2002 16:48 (twenty-two years ago)

"Mama Said Knock You Out"

Curt (cgould), Monday, 11 November 2002 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Mamma Said -- Lenny Kravitz

christoff (christoff), Monday, 11 November 2002 21:32 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...
"Kaiser Says" by Horst Ulricke and the Zwei Flyers, circa 1916 actually sounds more like "Lisa Says" than anyone want's to admit.

Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

eight years pass...

So damn cold in Alaska

Welcome to the Geirordome (Pillbox), Wednesday, 27 April 2011 04:43 (fourteen years ago)

You sayyyyyyyyy
I only hear what I wanna

Four Shouters Shouting (Eazy), Wednesday, 27 April 2011 05:14 (fourteen years ago)

So Says I 2:49 The Shins
Someone Says 4:15 Editors
Jane Says 4:19 Jane's Addiction
Who Says 2:56 John Mayer
She Says 4:39 Howie Day
Candy Says 4:04 The Velvet Underground
Stephanie Says 2:50 The Velvet Underground
I've Got A Dark Alley And A Bad Idea That Says You Should... 3:11 Fall Out Boy
Napoleon Says 3:12 Phoenix
Baba Says Cool for Thought 0:46 Lupe Fiasco
UMI Says 5:06 Mos Def
Lisa Says 2:58 The Velvet Underground
Caroline Says II 4:12 Lou Reed
Who Says You Can't Go Home 4:41 Bon Jovi
The Body Says No 3:56 The New Pornographers
Simon Says 4:07 Pharoahe Monch
What It Says On The Tin 3:45 Katie Melua
Danny Says 2:51 Less Than Jake
Caroline Says I 3:57 Lou Reed
Sing, Theresa Says 3:58 Greg Laswell

Moka, Wednesday, 27 April 2011 11:12 (fourteen years ago)

^ Most popular "says" songs according to last.fm

Moka, Wednesday, 27 April 2011 11:12 (fourteen years ago)

"Judy says she's gonna knock you in the head tonight" - The Vibrators

Mark G, Wednesday, 27 April 2011 11:17 (fourteen years ago)

uk chart placings:

12, Doris Day & Johnnie Ray, Ma Says Pa Says, Apr 1953,
2, 1910 Fruitgum Co, Simon Says, Mar 1968,
3, Wet Wet Wet, Julia Says, May 1995,
15, Ash, Jesus Says, Oct 1998,
24, Pharoahe Monch, Simon Says, Feb 2000,
20, David Bowie, Everyone Says Hi, Sep 2002,
5, Bon Jovi, Who Says You Can't Go Home, Jun 2006

standing on the shoulders of pissants (ledge), Wednesday, 27 April 2011 11:20 (fourteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbIowf6VSZI

lex pretend, Wednesday, 27 April 2011 11:28 (fourteen years ago)

has ned raggett says been recorded yet.

Spikey, Wednesday, 27 April 2011 11:45 (fourteen years ago)


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