Noise du Jour’s Guilty Pleasures: “Take Your Mama” by Scissor Sisters
Posted by Ross Rosenberg
I think in many ways I’ve done my best to avoid this week’s theme. Rarely do I find opportunities for music to worm its way into my life unfiltered. I’ve insulated myself against the radio, last.fms, and Pandoras of the world allowing me to remain unapologetic about my musical tastes, though that doesn’t stop other people from, perhaps, being embarrassed for me.
Now, I realize that this seems unrepentantly snobbish but much of this defensive attitude towards music comes not from a desire to be shameless in my tastes but is the result of both a disturbing propensity for my mind to latch onto the lyrics of any given song — causing them to repeat themselves endlessly until I am mumbling them to myself and rocking back and forth like an autistic child — and the way I listen to music, which at best can be considered myopic, as I usually listen to an album for weeks on end until I know it so well that I lose all interest in it. My cd collection is actually comprised of a recent purchase and dozens that will most likely never be played again.
With that in mind then I can say that most of my guilt, as far as music is concerned, is relegated to the past. Looking back on the history of my music purchases I shudder, chilled to the bone by my overwhelming shame. The Spin Doctors? Seriously? Oh, gods, the horror! However, try as I might to keep myself safe from ear worms and embarrassment, some things still sneak in.
Take this song for instance. It’s infectious rhythm and insipid lyrics instantly fused themselves to my brain sending me into my usual, meditative fits. The video makes no sense, consisting mainly of imagery from what is most likely a gay man’s acid trip, featuring a man who dresses exactly like Brownlee singing like the unholy, bastard child of Elton John and Barry Gibb. It is truly awful but I can’t help but like it. That said I must go now, the only way to exercise such musical gremlins is to change all the lyrics to something about monkeys and that takes at least an hour.
Scissor Sisters - Take Your Mama [YouTube]
Categories: Guilty Pleasures, drugs!, Noise du Jour
Posted at 2:40 pm on March 13, 2008
6 Comments -
I’m pretty sure the Scissor Sisters entire oeuvre is a guilty pleasure collectively.
Comment by John Brownlee — March 13, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
oh ectomo! for shame! this has been walled up happily in a dark corner in my mind with hopes of never having to deal it again then you with your squiddy sledghammers came and pried out what could be called a sad dilusion of denim and space. still it is quiet a strange video isn’t it.
Comment by the file clerk — March 13, 2008 @ 7:53 pm
You are a very sick man and in need of medication or a lobotomy for what you just did to my braiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiins!
Comment by Vanderleun — March 13, 2008 @ 8:35 pm
Well, that settles it - I do need to listen to more Scissor Sisters.
What?
Comment by racerabbit — March 13, 2008 @ 9:00 pm
Takes you an awfully long time to get to talking about the song, doesn’t it? Your summation isn’t far off– the band members are mostly gay men, and the lead singer does smoke a ton of pot. This isn’t one of their best songs, either. Try “Tits on the Radio,” “Filthy Gorgeous,” or “Lovers in the Backseat.”
Comment by Eros de la Penetralia — March 14, 2008 @ 12:53 am
^^^ Bitter Scissor Sisters fan ITT.
Anyway, yes, this song is one of my favorites too. Although I actually think the lyrics deserve some credit for being rather clever, and for telling a fine story. Checka dis:
When you grow up
Livin’ like a good boy oughta
And your mama
Takes a shine to her best son
Something different
All the girls they seem to like you
Cause you’re handsome
Like to talk and a whole lot of fun
But now your girl’s gone a missin’
And your house has got an empty bed
The folks’ll wonder ’bout the wedding
They won’t listen to a word you said
Gonna take your mama out all night
Yeah we’ll show her what it’s all about
We’ll get her jacked up on some cheap champagne
We’ll let the good times all roll out
And if the music ain’t good, well it’s just too bad
We’re gonna sing along no matter what
Because the dancers don’t mind at the New Orleans
If you tip ‘em and they make a cut
Do it!
Take your mama out all night
So she’ll have no doubt that we’re doing oh the best we can
We’re gonna do it
Take your mama out all night
You can stay up late ’cause baby you’re a full grown man
It’s a struggle
Livin’ like a good boy oughta
In the summer
Watchin’ all the girls pass by
When your mama
Heard the way that you’d been talking
I tried to tell you
That all she’d wanna do is cry
Now we end up takin’ the long way home
Lookin’ overdressed wearin’ buckets of stale cologne
It’s so hard to see streets on a country road
When your glasses in the garbage
And your Continental’s just got towed
Comment by Eliza Gauger — March 14, 2008 @ 12:57 am