A Musical Consipiracy Theory: Pre-Flight

[Caravan Ray]

(Shall I ask why people are so offended? Is it cos msot Americans are still cutely naive about the fact that politicians are with few exceptions complete shits? Do I care?)

I've got to admit - I am likewise totally perplexed at why people are offended. Must be an American thing....

[Teplin]

Of course, you don't have to write a song espousing the viewpoint that 9/11 was an inside job. You could write a song expressing why you disagree with that view. Or a sarcastic song that mocks that view. Someone in the chat room suggested writing about an event that happened on a different historical 9/11. There are many to choose from.

[rone rivendale]

Not the best topic ever, but I did a song anyway. Gotta keep that streak going.

Plus, I actually agree with the viewpoint given what I saw in the documentary Loose Changes.

[Caravan Ray]

Someone in the chat room suggested writing about an event that happened on a different historical 9/11. There are many to choose from.

You made a mistake. You linked to 11 September. These are the events that happened on 9/11
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_9

And I'm telling you right now, Albert Einstein being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work with the photoelectric effect was totally an inside job. He was shagging half the judges. Everyone knows that. Electrons are emitted from matter after the absorption of energy...pffftttt...yeah, whatever Albert, it's the moans that were being emitted that matter, after the absorption of your energy.


...add a chorus. There's your song. My work here is done.

[furrypedro]

Rone's got the right idea. Shitty title or not, write a song anyway. If you wanna play it live you can always change the title to simply "Inside Job" to avoid persecution. Spud ain't gonna sue you for it. Even so, with so many heavyweights opting out that increases the chance of me winning, swell.

[Caravan Ray]

Based on the lyric thread alone, Denyer's already got one vote.

[Mostess]

Not a biggie and I wasn't going to do a song anyway. The 3rd kid took up all the recording time. I'm not outraged or anything and I don't feel personally affronted. I even had a couple ideas that would have been fun, but I really don't want to write a song by this title. And I felt a responsibility to put it on the record that I've never seen a SongFight title this tasteless before, and hope not to again.

As to what makes it offensive: It probably is an American thing. Like someone ragging on your wife. Everyone else may find it funny, and maybe you can see why. But blood still boils. Not cool, man.

[jb]

I don't find it funny at all, but I do find the reactions interesting, in that all it takes is invoking the date to get some of our blood to boil. Mine included. But the fact that the title is what it is doesn't mean, as others have said, that the song has to espouse precisely that sentiment. And anyone who's going to judge your content by its title is an idiot-- although Jim I do understand that their money still spends, and from what I can tell from most of your catalog, your target audience is not inclined to bend too far towards provocative subjects, so I understand your hesitation to put your name up under the title.

I think it's good to be provoked every once in a while. Maybe next week the title will be "Love Hurts Me" or "Orange Parka" or something blandly generic again. This week it's not. But just remember that what's up on the site is a title, not an announcement. When the songs come in and expose someone's rampant anti-americanism, then we can have ourselves a real flame war.

[The Weakest Suit]

i plan on going way too far with this one.
sorry to inform you.
i will offend you with my lyrics.
i will offend you with my performance.
and i will offend you with my production values.

[tbuk00]

From now on all songs will be written on rainbows and butterflies... nothing offensive is allowed due to the fact that it might take some people out of their comfort zone... and we can't have writing exercises doing that, now can we?...

[frankie big face]

First of all, I'm not surprised someone was offended by the title. But I am surprised it was Mostess because....well, I don't know--I just am. Second, as JB sort of said, it's a title not a proclamation. We've had far stupider titles than this (Punctuation Island anyone?) and plenty of super-offensive songs written from the most innocuous of titles. I understand not wanting to have a song in your catalog with a certain title--I've used that excuse plenty of times to "veto" SF titles--but I'm also glad I wrote the songs Pooch Quick Start, Crinkle Binkle, Schadenfreude, and So Long, Atticus, none of which pass my knee-jerk reaction test.

I'm mostly disappointed in the lack of imagination. You don't have to take the title so literally. Scanning the lyric archive, it looks like one person seems to have taken the position that the events of 9/11 were the result of our government engaging in essentially non-stop killing for what seems like forever. I think that's pretty clever. I also think that's why the non-US folks aren't offended. Perhaps the idea that maybe we as a nation sort had it coming isn't all that far-fetched to them.

[Mostess]

First of all, I'm not surprised someone was offended by the title. But I am surprised it was Mostess because....well, I don't know--I just am.

Yeah, I'm surprised that I was motivated enough to speak up. But it sounds like we had the same reaction: it's an offensive title. In that it is likely to offend.

Second, as JB sort of said, it's a title not a proclamation. We've had far stupider titles than this ... I'm mostly disappointed in the lack of imagination. You don't have to take the title so literally. Scanning the lyric archive, it looks like one person seems to have taken the position that the events of 9/11 were the result of our government engaging in essentially non-stop killing for what seems like forever. I think that's pretty clever. I also think that's why the non-US folks aren't offended. Perhaps the idea that maybe we as a nation sort had it coming isn't all that far-fetched to them.

If I did one, it would have described a long string of planning meetings going back to a pact between the Loch Ness Monster and Robin Hood ("You'll never run out of rich to rob / 9-11 was an inside job." Which would have been fun to write and record.

But that doesn't make the title any less offensive or stupid.

Anyhow, I think I've been clear that I'm not upset. Just suprised. That's all.

[rone rivendale]

If a song title, not an actual song, but just a song TITLE offends you then it's time to take a time out. Take a deep breath. And lighten up.

[frankie big face]

First of all, I'm not surprised someone was offended by the title. But I am surprised it was Mostess because....well, I don't know--I just am.

Yeah, I'm surprised that I was motivated enough to speak up. But it sounds like we had the same reaction: it's an offensive title. In that it is likely to offend.

Just to be clear, I'm not at all offended by this title nor do I find it offensive or stupid. I just said I'm not surprised that someone was offended by it. I wouldn't say the title is "likely to offend" as much as I would say people (especially Americans) are likely to be offended. In general. About just about anything.

No offense.

[roymond]

From now on all songs will be written on rainbows and butterflies... nothing offensive is allowed due to the fact that it might take some people out of their comfort zone... and we can't have writing exercises doing that, now can we?...

That would be cool as long as it's not fucking rainbows.

[roymond]

predictably we wrote a song that is in 9/8 and 11/8 for the verses. I'm quite fond of our ridiculous prog-pop tune. We'll see how the recording progresses.

I've done something similar, but not sure if it will see the light of day. And, it has nothing to do with "that day".

[inevitableguy]

I would call the title more unsettling than offensive. On the surface, it suggests something rather unsettling about our government. Even though I don't believe a word of it, I tried to explore some of that feeling in my entry, although I'm sure I failed.

A song that makes you feel a little bit strange inside is genius.

[Bjam]

I didn't like the title.

Then I just had a fantastic idea for a possibly very funny song. I'd probably change the title if I was to put it on a CD or something though.

Maybe I'll stay up and write the song and just record it on webcam and shove it on youtube or something.

Hmmmm.

Interesting title, nonetheless.

[tbuk00]

That would be cool as long as it's not fucking rainbows.

You know what would be cool, if the title was just "fucking rainbows" Haha I think that could turn up some interesting songs..

[Future Boy]

Well, I wasn't sure if I was gonna commit to it, but I went ahead and finished the song I started. All up late on a school night, too. Gonna be a bit of a zombie tomorrow and it's all for you, Songfight! Ultimately, I think my song is supposed to communicate a particularly American brand of adherence to extreme beliefs. Hopefully it doesn't come across as me personally believing them.

[Sheail]

I am deeply offended by this title; it has American date format in it.

[LML]

What's sad is if this song was in any way anti-liberal it'd be a blood bath. You guys can give it, but you sure as hell can't take it.


BTW I'm libertarian, so all republican bashing doesn't really do any good here.