Okay, so I was thinking the other day that when I was just a pup there were plenty of dog songs on the radio or in school. So, I started to wonder how many dog songs I could name and here is my top 6 list.

Top 6 Dog Songs

1. Bingo
2. Hound Dog
3. (How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?
4. Me and You and a Dog Named Boo
5. Where, O Where Has My Little Dog Gone?
6. Who Let the Dogs Out?

With the exception of “Who Let the Dogs Out?” by the Baja Men, most of these other dog songs are quite old. Where are all the dog songs of today (outside of barking dogs for Christmas albums I mean)? Do people not love their dogs in the same way they used to? Or is singing about your dog become too sentimental or childish?

Well, Muse Dog wants to bring back the dog song. So, if you know of a hit that I haven’t listed here (especially something recent) sent it in as I would like to expand this list.

Filed under: Songs | No Comments »

Every once I a while I have a reader contact me who has a different opinion than my own, which is Okay since this blog is a place for discussion. Rarely, however, does someone write in with more than one or two sentences to say.

But, this is not the case this time. Enrique M. has many good, well thought out points to make so I thought I would publish his lyrical analysis of the song How to Save a Life.

Here is Enrique’ take on this song:

I don’t think that this sing is necessarily depicting a friend giving advise to a girl. It’s a little simplistic and obvious assumption. A more keener interpretation would be someone’s regret on failing to stop a friend who subjected him/herself to something that has negatively impacted their lives thus resulting in death. When the speaker/singer says, “I lost a friend” it reveals this to us.

Having said this, the more possible interpretation of what this negative impact is is the subjection to the influence of drugs though it is not exactly specified in the song. It certainly isn’t the only possibility; it could also be something in regards to relationships but drugs seem the more potent possibility.

Through out the song there is a switch in Point of Views between first person and second person. By having implemented the first person point of view in the chorus, it demonstrates his personal involvement in the situation which he is talking well in this case singing about. This means that the speaker/singer has gone through the same experience of having lost a friend which explains his great acknowledgment of the situation. It is not directly advice that he gives; it is also a recount of what he had gone through. By placing the first person point of view in the chorus it creates this effect of interruption.

When the song is in the verses, the singer/speaker is recounting the situation but when it arrives at the chorus there is this sense of being cut off while the singer/speaker expresses his regret of having failed to have helped his friend.The chorus gives this sense of blame “Where did I go wrong.” Accompanied with this is regret, which is expressed through the line that says, “And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life.” So, he is regretting not only the fact that he failed to help his friend but also regretting that he did not know how to save him. But now that he knows, he says what he would have done to save his friend “And I would have stayed up with you all night.” This describes that he would have supported his friend with endless guidance and advise.

Since this is a blend of both a recall and advise, the advise is essentially given through this recalled experience. By explaining what happened between him and his friend, he is also allowing the reader/listener to learn from it. This is why the beginning of the second verse sounds more advice. “Let him know that you know best Cause after all you do know best” He also tells the reader/listener what to do to prevent them from falling into the same situation. “Try to slip past his defense Without granting innocence Lay down a list of what is wrong” The singer/speaker then begins to shift back into how he was personally involved. The paragraph for this purpose was set in the past tense.

“The things you’ve told him all along” The “all along” shows how this has been said for an extensive period of time though this is futuristic advice. The last two lines are just for encouragement. “And pray to God he hears you And pray to God he hears you” He is emphasizing the importance of keeping faith to avoid the tragedy of the situation, death.

There are particular moments of the song that also need to be taken into consideration. For example, the switch from saying “And you begin to wonder why you came” to “And you’ll begin to wonder why you came” This shifts enforces how he lived through it and by retelling his experience and error of growing tired of trying, he also gives advice. The first time he says “And you begin to wonder why you came” shows a tone that gives this sense of personal experience. The second time when he addresses it in the future tense portrays a more advisable tone. So that person may prevent it from happening to them, he tells them how he began to wonder why he should he keep on trying.

The last verse of the song is advice but on what not to do. “As he begins to raise his voice You lower yours and grant him one last choice” This depicts how the singer/speaker began to lose his hope on the person after having tried. “Drive until you lose the road Or break with the ones you’ve followed” He continues to explain how giving up or loss of hope can lead to misguidance and error. The last lines of the verse say, “He will do one of two things He will admit to everything Or he’ll say he’s just not the same And you’ll begin to wonder why you came” As a result his friend begins to conclusively accept his situation and tries to provides reasons so that he is justified and left alone to continue towards his own unforeseen death. The speaker/singer then continues to think about whether or not he should continue to help his friend.

Overall, his friend suffered a terrible fate and having gone through this experience the singer/speaker now recalls it to other people so that they may be able to evade this situation.

Filed under: Lyrics | No Comments »

Bob Dylan who wrote folk songs and protest lyrics in the 1960’s will have a set of his handwritten lyrics up for auction at Sotheby’s in New York City. Many of Dylan’s lyrics in that era were scrawled on random pieces of paper with pencil or pen.

The lyrics up for auction are from Dylan’s iconic song, The Times They Are A-Changin’ were written on notebook paper in 1963 and the song was released in 1964.

The handwritten lyrics are expected to command around $300,000 at Sotheby’s. Dylan gave the lyrics to fellow folk singer Kevin Krown in the 1960’s. Since this time, the page of lyrics has traded hands several times.

Even though the times may be a changing, Dylan is still performing for eager audiences around the world.

Filed under: Lyrics | No Comments »

In a jazzy style and power vocals Christina Aguilera sings Burlesque in a way that is distinctly her own. Even though this is called Burlesque this is no typical pole dancing song.

The Burlesque lyrics are about sexual power that many women feel on a smaller scale and only a few feel on a large scale. The line about “They know I got that certain savoir faire” reminded me of Pepe Le Pew but otherwise these stinkin’ lyrics are actually pretty decent.

Burlesque Lyrics

It’s a cold and crazy world that’s ragin’ outside
Well baby me and all my girls are bringin’ on the fire
Show a little leg, gotta shimmy your chest
It’s a life, it’s a style, it’s a need, it’s burlesque

E-X-P-R-E-S-S.
Love, sex, ladies no regrets
E-X-P-R-E-S-S.
Love, sex, ladies no regrets

Been holding down for quite some time
And finally the moment’s right
I love to make the people stare
They know I got that certain savoir faire

Fasten up, can you imagine what would happen if I let you close enough to touch?
Step into the fantasy, you’ll never want to leave, baby let’s give it to you
(Why?)

It’s a passion, and emotion, it’s a fashion, burlesque
It’ll move, goin’ through you, so do what I do, burlesque
All ladies come put your grown up, boys throw it up if you want it
Can you feel me, can you feel it? It’s burlesque.

I tease ‘em ’til they’re on the edge
They screamin’ more for more and more they beg
I know it’s me they come to see
My pleasure brings them to their knees

Fasten up, can you imagine what would happen if I let you close enough to touch?
Step into the fantasy, you’ll never want to leave, baby let’s give it to you
(Why?)

It’s a passion, and emotion, it’s a fashion, burlesque
It’ll move, goin’ through you, so do what I do, burlesque
All ladies come put your grown up, boys throw it up if you want it
Can you feel me, can you feel it? It’s burlesque.

It’s a passion, and emotion, it’s a fashion, burlesque
It’ll move, goin’ through you, so do what I do, burlesque
All ladies come put your grown up, boys throw it up if you want it
Can you feel me, can you feel it? It’s burlesque.

Filed under: Lyrics | No Comments »

In music and in acting there is a certain stage persona a person takes when giving a performance. The fans want the person and the persona to be basically the same, yet the artist is playing a role that may be far from whom they are in real life.

In a recent article in MLive two such examples have surfaced including Eminem and Insane Clown Posse. Eminem says that he doesn’t swear at home – I swear. He says his cussing on stage including homophobic remarks are an act and at home he is a dad who doesn’t go all ghetto on his kids. One can understand that.

The Insane Clown Posse, however, is another matter which is more subversive. In a recent interview they claim to be evangelical Christians who put on an act of violence and hoe chasing in order to draw in the younger crowd.

Then the lyrics change from demonic to despotic trying to get the message of God out in not so obvious ways. Don’t be surprised if the Insane Clown Posse shows up at your door on Halloween. And don’t be surprised when they hand you a Bible and wish you a good evening.

Filed under: Lyrics | No Comments »