Songs that are often used inappropriately/misunderstood...

[Jessica14]

Funny! I had no idea anyone thought it was about anything other than politics

Same with "Fire and Rain" I am kind of stunned people don't realize it is a sad song--it is so slow you would never miss hearing some of the lyrics.

I was in college at the time and in a psychology class, the feeling was that it was about children whose parents were divorcing, hence, their loss of innocence. I always believed it to be a protest song myself because of the aforementioned line"Tired old man we elected king."

Jessica

 

[wishing4PA]

"I don't like Mondays"
It seems to get played on Mondays just because just about everyone hates for the weekend to end. But it's really tragic.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

There she goes -sixpence none the richer

 

[FlightlessDuck]

"I don't like Mondays"
It seems to get played on Mondays just because just about everyone hates for the weekend to end. But it's really tragic.

Seriously? People don't now what that's about?!?

 

[kate_wdw]

Pina Colada song.

Oooh...that's a good one! "You were going to cheat on me?!? I was going to cheat on you!?! HaHaHa!"

 

[kate_wdw]

It took me until I was an adult to realize Olivia Newton John's "Let's Get Physical" was not about working out.

 

[Robinrs]

I've got a brand new pair of rollerskates

You've got a BRAND NEW KEY...

 

[Disneylover99]

Does anyone remember "Afternoon Delight" by the Starland Vocal Band?

It was a great easy listening tune from the 70's. My parents use to hum along to it every Sunday on there way to church while my sisters giggled in the backseat. Check out these lyrics.

"Rubbin sticks and stone together make the sparks ignite
and the thought of rubbin you is getting so exciting"

As you can tell, my parents never listened to the lyrics!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Seriously? People don't now what that's about?!?

I wouldn't have known what it was until about year ago when I saw the story on I.D. Discovery.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Does anyone remember "Afternoon Delight" by the Starland Vocal Band?

It was a great easy listening tune from the 70's. My parents use to hum along to it every Sunday on there way to church while my sisters giggled in the backseat. Check out these lyrics.

"Rubbin sticks and stone together make the sparks ignite
and the thought of rubbin you is getting so exciting"

As you can tell, my parents never listened to the lyrics!

Haha! They sang that on Glee too. They were like, "We thought it was a dessert!"

 

[bunkkinsmom]

"Love Song For A Savior"
I guess, like "Awake and Alive" by Skillet (totally rockin song btw!), it's meaning could be taken either by love for Christ or love for someone special and inspiring in their life.
I had no idea Skillet was a Christian rock band. not that it matters because I really like them.

Hope I'm allowed to write what I did...don't want to get in trouble!

"Lola" by the Kinks

One of the best live bands EVER! Skillet is amazing. Got to interview them for a local station when they came here. For those of you who don't know Skillet, here's a little treat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aJUnltwsqs

It always amazed me as a wedding planner when people would want to hear Faith Hill's "Cry". First off, it was written by Angie Aparo (who does a much better version, IMHO)
Here is a version of the both of them live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GtekkEbul8

I mean really? "If your love could be caged, honey I would hide the key, and conceal it underneath that pile of lies you handed me"

 

[KBoopaloo]

Agree with both of these. It's truly a sad, sad song and a big reason why I prefer Dolly's version. You can hear the pain and sorrow in her voice when she sings it and so you know that it isn't some romantic power ballad.

One of the first ones I thought of.


I also agree with the OP about I'll Be Watching You. It's not sweet and romantic. It's creepy. And it's supposed to be creepy. Sting once gave an interview where he said numerous people have come up to him and told him that I'll Be Watching You was their and their partner's "song" and he really didn't understand why.



Another song that shouldn't be played at weddings: We've Got Tonite/We've Got Tonight. I was at a wedding where they couple danced to this as their first dance. I couldn't help but wonder why NO ONE who knew about this idea ahead of time didn't suggest that they listen to the lyrics before making it a major part of their wedding.

Ha, "We've Got Tonight" was my junior prom song (in 1996, years after it first came out!) and I still laugh thinking about it. I am sure the school administration would be thrilled to know our prom theme was basically "Let's have a one night stand!"

 

[erincon23]

Thought of this when the local fireworks show played "Born in the USA" as a tribute to those who have served...it's not a patriotic song at all...

"Every Breath You Take" by the Police is not a love song...he's a stalker.

I saw an interview where Idina Menzel was talking about being a wedding singer and people always wanted "Saving All my Love for You" which is about cheating....

Any others you can think of?

I was living in DC when the Challenger exploded, and some lamebrain at the biggest radio station in town played Born in the USA like 4 times in a row. I was listening to the radio in the car on the way to work. AS soon as I got to my office, I called the station manager and told him what the lyrics really were. They stopped playing it REAL quick.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Pina Colada song. I was in my 30's before I realized what that song was about -- had seen people use it alternately as an upbeat romance / vacation song. Yeahhhh, not so much.

The Monster a Go-Go episode of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 has a skit where the 'bots rant about Escape (The Pina Colada Song). It's pretty funny.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

It took me until I was an adult to realize Olivia Newton John's "Let's Get Physical" was not about working out.

This reminded me of how our girl scout troop in the eighties performed this song on stage while singing and doing aerobics at our FATHER DAUGHTER BANQUET!

 

[MomofIndigo]

"Crash Into Me" By Dave Matthews..

It is about a peeping Tom/stalker of his ex-girlfriend whom he wants back. I loved this song so much until I saw an interview from Dave Matthews about it. Yep, now I laugh when friends tell me its on their "baby making" play list.

 

[pixiefairy]

More than Words by Extreme - NOT a love song. Every time we hear this song while reminiscing about our high school days, my DH laughs about how all his friends wanted this on a mix tape to their girlfriends.

 

[wishing4PA]

Seriously? People don't now what that's about?!?

I think more do now, but I have heard it played just because it was Monday. (Or maybe I was the only one in the dark at the time, so that's how I took it, but that's how it was announced.)

 

[DebbieB]

"She Bop" by Cyndi Lauper. I remember dancing to it with coworkers at a wedding in the 80's. I didn't think the words made a lot of sense but was shocked to find out the real meaning later.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/she-bop

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I once was a at a wedding where the grand mother of the groom was in a wheel chair and they played " CAn I HAVE THIS DANCE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE". He wheeled the chair around to the song. OMG I am a bad person because I listened to the words and came down with trying not to " laugh in church" syndrome. HOW STUPID CAN ANYONE BE?

How about when a father dances with his daugther to "You Are so Beautiful to Me" the line from the song that makes it icky is "...you're my fantasy". Sorry I once again bad person because I laughted at this one too. REALLY people need to LISTEN TO THE WORDs BEFORE they choose the song.

I danced with my son to MY WISH by Rascal Flats now THAT one is very appropriate since the singer wrote it for his own daughter. NOt a dry eye in the house including the photographer and the waitresses! Keep in mind it took me 5 hours of listening to the WORDS of lots of songs before I chose that one and I had to listen to it several times in order to keep my self from crying(which did not work)