False Cheer

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Which moment of which song best epitomizes it for you?

My nom: The part in Billy Joel's "You're Only Human" where he sings, "Just like a boxer in a tiiiiitle fight!"

Matos W.K., Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:04 (eighteen years ago)

Every one of you long-timers better come out for this one.

Matos W.K., Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:05 (eighteen years ago)

Because I know you've all got an example within 20 seconds.

Matos W.K., Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:05 (eighteen years ago)

Hell, why not even the bit in that song where he makes the fake mistake and pretends to laugh at it?

Ned Raggett, Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:05 (eighteen years ago)

Hell, why not even the bit in that song where he makes the fake mistake and pretends to laugh at it?

I get the part I name looped in my head whenever I think of that song. Drives me nuts.

Matos W.K., Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:12 (eighteen years ago)

Anyway, I'm trying to think of the best Britney moment.

Ned Raggett, Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:13 (eighteen years ago)

I'd go for highest note on the chorus of "Drive Me Crazy," but that's a case where it works to the song's advantage.

Matos W.K., Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:14 (eighteen years ago)

Rockist example courtesy Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers:

Take this tip from me, and you will see
How happy you will be

Ned Raggett, Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:17 (eighteen years ago)

call me Scrooge but: "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town" Bruce Springsteen -- pretty much the whole thing, starting w/the sleighbells

m coleman, Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:20 (eighteen years ago)

an example of to-a-song's-advantage?

Matos W.K., Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:21 (eighteen years ago)

haha I was counting down till Mark showed up. that's a really good one.

Matos W.K., Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:21 (eighteen years ago)

an example of to-a-song's-advantage?

True, true. A fine line.

Mark's example, ah yes. The kid's album it was on comes back to me in a full rush. (Also on said album...Billy Joel!)

Ned Raggett, Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:22 (eighteen years ago)

now Im off to a school parents event speaking of false cheer ;)

m coleman, Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:23 (eighteen years ago)

Oh god, there's a moment of false cheer -- on that Billy Joel song on said kid's album, at the end, he talks in gibberish squeaks to show how wackily cute the conversation between the song's narrator and the imaginary friend is. Christ on a bike.

Ned Raggett, Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:24 (eighteen years ago)

The lyrics if you dare

Ned Raggett, Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:25 (eighteen years ago)

A whole swathe of early 80s British pop, really.

Noodle Vague, Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:30 (eighteen years ago)

God, tough room.

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Sunday, 18 March 2007 23:32 (eighteen years ago)

But it's gotta be one of those Elvis movie songs he despised. "Old MacDonald"? "I Love Only One Girl"?

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Sunday, 18 March 2007 23:34 (eighteen years ago)

Stones, "Rock and a Hard Place": "You better stop, put on a kind face." This doesn't help the song at all, though.

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Sunday, 18 March 2007 23:39 (eighteen years ago)

Sam Cooke, "Havin' a Party," the whole song. It is so damn depressing and draggy, sounds like ol' Sam is trying to talk himself out of swallowing a couple bottles of pills by promising that he'll have such a good time dancin' with his baby. DUDE YOUR BABY HATES YOU, IT IS ALL OVER, DEAL WITH IT.

Dimension 5ive, Sunday, 18 March 2007 23:46 (eighteen years ago)

my dad once observed that on "joy and pain" rob base sounded way more pained than joyed.

tipsy mothra, Sunday, 18 March 2007 23:59 (eighteen years ago)

the cars' "let the good times roll" always sounds so... grim and plodding.

s1ocki, Monday, 19 March 2007 00:05 (eighteen years ago)

maybe it's because of the endless drab wedding receptions i had to work as busboy, but "celebration" has this same vibe for me.

tipsy mothra, Monday, 19 March 2007 00:08 (eighteen years ago)

The conclusion of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" is especially loathesome, given its downcast and sardonic source material. As if the Myth of Sisyphus were appended with Invictus.

M.V., Monday, 19 March 2007 00:58 (eighteen years ago)

Howard Jones, "Things Can Only Get Better." Go fuck yourself.

Stones, "Rock and a Hard Place": "You better stop, put on a kind face." This doesn't help the song at all, though

I just gagged on a glass of wine (include most of Jagger's Expressions of Fun)

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 19 March 2007 02:01 (eighteen years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf800/f852/f85221fsif2.jpg

am0n, Monday, 19 March 2007 02:19 (eighteen years ago)

Sam Cooke, "Havin' a Party," the whole song.

Except he's grinding that groove into his baby's crotch the entire song. I don't think there's anything false about that cheer.

I was thinking of the Buzzcock's "But I know it's OK OK!" on "Everybody's Happy Nowadays", but maybe that's just sarcasm.

AKA Mr. Jaq, Monday, 19 March 2007 03:48 (eighteen years ago)

John Lennon: Whatever Gets You Through the Night

AKA Mr. Jaq, Monday, 19 March 2007 04:03 (eighteen years ago)

three weeks pass...
the harmonica in Supertramp's "Take the Long Way Home"

Matos W.K., Monday, 9 April 2007 04:18 (eighteen years ago)


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