An Idol Question

[vovat]

The theme for this week's American Idol was songs that came out in the years the contestants were born. As you might expect, there were some really bad choices made, including Kristy Lee Cook (whose continued presence on the show never ceases to baffle me) singing "God Bless The USA," because that song apparently hadn't already gotten enough attention on the show. You know, I think the first time I heard it was actually at Busch Gardens in Virginia, which is weird because that's a European-themed park. Come to think of it, I also saw some show about how great the United States is while there. Obviously some theme parks don't much care about maintaining the fantasy. But I digress. My main point in making this entry is that I got to thinking what song I would have chosen, were I participating in this theme. Unfortunately, I was born two months too early to be able to sing anything from XTC's first album, a 1978 release (not that that album is all that great when compared to their other records anyway). Looking at Wikipedia's page about music in 1977, I see that there were two albums released that I don't have, but that I quite like a few songs from: Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell and Talking Heads' Talking Heads '77. Maybe "Don't Worry About The Government" would be a fun choice, even though: 1) I can't sing like David Byrne, and 2) I doubt the Idol judges would have much regard for anyone who DID sing like David Byrne. But hey, it's all hypothetical anyway, since I actually can't sing at all.

Anyway, what song would you choose?

Comments

[slfcllednowhere.livejournal.com]

I remember there was this "post the song that was #1 the week you were born" meme going around awhile ago and mine was "Maneater." :( Anyway, I would do "Come on Eileen."

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I forget what the #1 song was the week I was born, but I'm pretty sure it was worse than "Maneater," which I don't think is a bad song at all.

[loz]

Because I was born December 1983, and you seem to make it we have to have been born before the release, I would have been stuck with something like Slade. But I might just do "Tell Her About It" by Billy Joel.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Because I was born December 1983, and you seem to make it we have to have been born before the release, I would have been stuck with something like Slade.

Oh, sorry. I meant that XTC's White Music was a 1978 release, and I was born in November 1977, two months too early to sing a song from the following year. I changed the wording my post so as to avoid any further confusion.

[loz]

Oh! :D Hee. Okay then.

[annarama.livejournal.com]

i think i'd have to go with "squeezebox" by the who, only for the reason that i gotta represent. :) but if i had to choose a more vocally impressive song perhaps i'd choose "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" or "i wanna rock and roll all night"... i never realized all the rockin' songs that came out in 1975!

[punterschlagen.livejournal.com]

Ooo, fun question! I'd probably pick "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon, but "Mr. Blue Sky" by ELO is a close second.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Ooo, I didn't realize "Mr. Blue Sky" came out in '78! I've been laboring under the impression that 1978 was a terrible year for music!

That said, though, if I was in American Idol, I don't think "Mr. Blue Sky" would be a very good song for me, vocally, so I'd probably go with something a little more, um, soprano-oriented, like... I'll have to go browse that list, so I'll get back to you on that. "You" being Nathan, not necessarily Emily, though you (Emily) are welcome to read my future response on the subject too, of course.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Okay, having looked at that list, I'd probably do something from "Grease." Does it count if, technically, it came out in stage musical form BEFORE the proper year? Well, I guess OF those songs I'd probably do "Hopelessly Devoted to You," anyway, which wasn't in the stage version, so it all works out.

[punterschlagen.livejournal.com]

Sorry, Amy, "Grease" is my LEAST favorite musical of all time. I'm sure you'd sing those songs fine, but PLEASE pick something else.

Anyway, I picked my songs because I liked them, not necessarily because I'd sing them well (can't sing anyway today, I'm losing my voice from a cold). If that's the criteria, I'd pick something from "Evita."

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Hey, if I had to pick something I could sing well, I don't think I could choose anything. :P But then, there are some songs that I could probably sing if I had the proper practice and training, while I'm sure I could probably never pull off some others at all. But I tried to leave the question purposely vague, so you can answer it with one you think you'd be able to sing well, or just one you'd like to sing. I guess you've already done both. {g}

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Oh, but I would be much more awesome at Grease songs because I can sing like Olivia Newton-John!

Sort of.

Well, better than I can sing like Jeff Lynne.

My second choice was "Take a Chance on Me" by Abba. I don't know how much better that is.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Olivia Newton-John has been a guest judge on AI before. Jeff Lynne never has, though.

[1womp.livejournal.com]

FINALLY; an advantage to being ancient! Unlike you poor "youngsters" who are stuck choosing between songs by Spyro Gyra, Debbie Gibson and REO Speedwagon, I was born at the tail end of a year many consider to be the greatest in Pop Music History, namely 1965! Oh, how can I choose from a list that includes Unchained Melody, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, California Dreamin', California Girls, Crying In The Chapel, The Impossible Dream, Eve of Destruction, HELP, I Got You (I Feel Good), I Got You Babe, It's Not Unusual, King of The Road, Like A Rolling Stone, Oo Baby Baby, Mr. Lonely, Mr. Tambourine Man, My Girl, Supercalifragilisticexpialidoucious, My Generation, The Tracks of My Tears, Turn Turn Turn (To Everything There Is A Season), You've Lost That Loving Feeling, What's New Pussycat, What The World Needs Now Is Love, and YESTERDAY? Well, in my one and only (triumphant) turn at a karaoke microphone, I did sing Unchained Melody, I Got You (I Feel Good), and - godhelpme - What's New Pussycat (among others), so I guess I'd have to go with Unchained Melody, if only because I've had some practice.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Simon Cowell has said that "Unchained Melody" is his favorite song, so a lot of AI contestants have sung it for that reason, apparently not taking into account that butchering someone's favorite song might result in harsher criticism than butchering one they don't like as much.

YOIPS!

[1womp.livejournal.com]

OK, OK...then scratch "Unchained." I guess I'd have to go with "Yesterday," although my karaoke take on James Brown's "I Got You (I Feel Good)" brought down the house, resulting in a five minute standing ovation (really!). What can I say? Some have it, and some don't (tee hee).