Pop Goes the Music Diary: Upbeat With Words

Last week on Glee, the ‘Abstinence Club’ wanted to provide counterpoint to the raw sexuality of Gwenyth Paltrow’s Holly Holiday character, and chose the song ‘Afternoon Delight’ by the Starland Vocal Band. If you are old enough to remember the song, you know that it is amongst the most bright & cheery songs of the 70’s … and also blatantly sexual as it describes grabbing an afternoon ‘quickie’ rather than waiting until the night time.

It is a classic representation of a song that sounds upbeat but is really very different, masking a message with an innocent harmony and innuendo. Apparently actress Jayma Mays (Emma Pillsbury) had no idea about the actual meaning of the song either.

This made me think of one of my favorite acts that offered great catchy tunes, upbeat harmonies and dance-able beats … with grim and dark lyrics that catch you by surprise if you really listen. That group is The Smiths, and here is the classic ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’ – featuring the classic line ‘Sweetness, I was only joking when I said by rights you should be bludgeoned in your head’.

Oh, and while we’re at it … here is the official video for ‘Girlfriend in a Coma’

… and just TRY to tell me you won’t be humming ‘girlfriend in a coma’ all day now …