| Duran Duran – A View to a Kill Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I like the songs by Garbage, Tina Turner, Nancy Sinatra, Shirley Bassey (x2), and hell, even the one by Rita Coolidge (All Time High from Octopussy). The problem is, what metric are we going by when we define the best Bond song? The one that exemplifies what Bond was about? Or the best song period? No one can even agree on which Bond was better -- the goofy/campy Moore, serious Dalton, neutered Brosnan, or classic Connery. No need to bust on any particular song. Let's just talk about each song in its own context. It's energetic, with classic Bond brass stabs (though synth-generated). What a contrast to the previous Coolidge song, which was a light music snorefest (although it did match its own movie)! Bassline and thumping percussion help move it along. I agree with Kez, it's 80's New Romantic, with overtones of secret agents. A perfect fit to the movie. Come on, it had Walken in it! AND Grace Jones. |
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| Tom Tom Club – Genius of Love Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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This song is pure genius. Tom Tom Club, as one of the pioneers of hip-hop, espouse their philosophy here. "Funk mutation" is the thesis: take what's out there and help it evolve. The roll call covers the gamut of influences (R&B, funk, soul, reggae, rap, rock), which should be obvious, except perhaps Jim Bohannon, a pop culture radio host who used bumper music. The fact that Mariah Carey sampled it, rappers have covered it, and Jim Bohannon uses the song as the lead-in for his bumper music, shows the cyclic nature of hip-hop. Also, it's a love song. Weymouth is singing about Frantz. Considering the influence of the song, he really is a maven of funk mutation. |
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| LL Cool J – I'm Bad Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Despite Def Jam's sparse production common to LL Cool J's records, his battle-style rhymes stand out as perhaps the best recorded. Starting with a fierce statement, "No rapper can rap quite like I can," and alluding to Charles Atlas advertisements, except turning it around and putting the physical prowess down, we're in for a deft lyrical ride. You can imagine him tugging on his gold nameplate, wishing you would. Eating is a motif, in which he is called Jaws, and he partakes in cannibalism, evocative of the fierceness emanating from his mouth. This is topped off by referencing food, Cool J Cookies, in which you receive his lyrics and are completely satisfied. He says when he retires he will be worshipped, but previously says he will never retire. His longevity in this genre is a testament to his skill. It is unfortunate that most of the rest of the album does not really stand up with this song, but rather rehashing many of the same themes from his first album. |
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