Best/Strangest Songs Glorifying Inanimate Objects

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I'm trying to make a mix of songs about inanimate objects. I've already got the easy ones---soft boys '(i want be an) anglepoise lamp', various kraftwerk selections, etc...I need some more off- the-wall ones. Any ideas? Right now I'm listening to a song with the lyrics "poor sad Mac, born into a plastic age/a time when the world still thought in beige". the song sucks though. Anyway, any suggestions are appreciated.

geeta, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Team Doyobi ~ Push Chairs For Grown Ups

gareth, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Jonathan Richman, "Chewing Gum Wrapper"

Bayonet Bulb, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Max Eider's "Rosemary". It's about a painting, but upon first listen, if you don't realize that, the line, "I'll take you to the basement, I'll pull your frame apart, I'll hang you in the dark" sounds a bit more demented.

Dave225, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Life Goes Off - Jim O'rourke - it's not really about his trousers, but worth mentioning nonetheless.
AUTOBAHN and a good deal of Techno is about inanimate objects (err.. do I have to back this up?)

K_reg aka nick, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'My White Bicycle' by Tomorrow and/or 'Bike' by Pink Floyd. (Possibly, neither of these are about bikes.)

Jeff W, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Talking Heads' Fear of Music is almost a concept album about inanimate objects: "Paper", "Air", "Electric Guitar"...

Is a tattoo inanimate? If so, the Who, "Tattoo".

Curt, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'Burn Your House Brown' by Cardiacs. There's a hoover and a whole kitchen in there. I think there's a download on http://www.mp3.com/cardiacs ... oh, and lyrics here http://www.cardiacs.com/lyrics_burn_your_house_brown.html

Marina organ, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Silver Chain" by Apples in Stereo is pure pop bliss.

o. nate, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Who -- "Odorono".

Lou Reed -- "Original Wrapper"

Elvis Costello -- "Red Shoes".

Sterling Clover, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Who - Heinz Baked Beans

Dave225, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

You could make a mean joke about Andy Patridge's sex life and include XTC's "Pink Thing."

Nitsuh, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Police - "Roxanne". Okay, I'll leave.

Dan Perry, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Magnolias Milan's "Japanese Doll/Song for England('s Sake)" -- two for the price of one.

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

In Every Dream Home a Heartache Roxy Music

Sean, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Stove" by the Lemonheads

Alex in NYC, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"My Girlfriend is a Rock" by, uh..., shoot - can't remember. a little help?

dave k, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

You could include Simon & Garfunkel's "I Am a Rock", unless you wanted to tiresomely contend that this rock is a metaphor.

Curt, Thursday, 7 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"My Blue Anglia" by Cessna

electric sound of jim, Friday, 8 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

David Hasselhof: "David Hasselhof"

Joe, Friday, 8 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

GbV "My Valuable Hunting Knife"

electric sound of jim, Friday, 8 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My own song "You Are My Palimpsest" sort of fits in here, because it's about only being able to accept people if you think of them as though they were inanimate objects.

Robin Carmody, Friday, 8 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My friends The Lozenges wrote a song called "Officemax". It goes, if I remember correctly, in full:

"Officemax! How I love you so!/Officemax! I want to have your baby!/Officemax! I need to buy some folders ... cheap."

Good luck finding it for your mix, but I couldn't get it out of my head after finding this thread, so I figured I'd mention it.

doug, Saturday, 9 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'frying pan' victoria williams 'busy line' rose murphy 'used cars' bruce sprinsteen 'brand new key' melanie 'little honda' beach boys 'one meatball' dave van ronk 'pass you by' gillian welch 'bell bottom pants' loudon wainwright III

olly 360, Saturday, 9 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'Dream kitchen' Frazier Chorus

el wanko, Saturday, 9 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Motorcycle Song - Arlo Guthrie Marvelous Drawers - Cash Money and Marvelous

Ron Hudson, Saturday, 9 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

best = run dmc: my adidas. strangest = edward barton: telephone box

dbini, Saturday, 9 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Gary Numan - Cars, ELO - Telephone Line, The Inbreds - Prince (...was a toy dog, on wheels), Young Fresh Fellows - Taco Wagon, Mojo Nixon - Plastic Jesus, The Clientele - Rain.

static, Saturday, 9 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Daniel Johnston (or Pastels or Yo La Tengo), "Speeding Motorcycle"

Among the "easy ones" I assume you aren't asking about, rumor has it the Beach Boys recorded several songs about cars.

Curt, Saturday, 9 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

They Might Be Giants: "We Want a Rock"

OleM, Sunday, 10 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'Brown Paper Bag' - Roni Size

'Plastic Ashtray' - Urusei Yatsura

'Rocking Chair' - Paul Robeson

'Needles & Pins' - The Searchers

Sorry - this isn't any use at all, probably. Most of these songs aren't really about the objects at all. Titles are rubbish.

N., Sunday, 10 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't know whether is is the sort of answer you are all looking for but Des'ree when she sings about seeing a ghost, eating some toast and a lot more sentences of really stupid lyrics!!!!!

Does that count????

Rach, Wednesday, 13 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)


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