DS Forums

 
 

Perfect Day - Why do people think its a good song


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 23-09-2010, 00:33
Anastasia333
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Planet Michael
Posts: 2,427

It made me laugh to read that Susan Boyle wanted to sing this song to the pope, and that she has recorded it for her latest album.

Doesn't anyone listen to the words and remember that it's about taking smack?
Anastasia333 is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 23-09-2010, 00:54
mimicole
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 38,218
I remember hearing this as a kid (It was played all the time..although I was hearing it in the 90s...so this may have been the CIN version?!?) and hating it. Just thinking it was really dull. But it got a lot of airplay. Obviously, being a kid I didn't realise what it was about.
mimicole is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-09-2010, 01:33
ellenpagerocks
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,079
Love it, anyone who's seen Trainspotting will get what it's about
ellenpagerocks is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 23-09-2010, 03:12
Neomysterio
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 9,086
i also love it.
Neomysterio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-09-2010, 07:12
mushymanrob
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: derby
Posts: 14,765
its one of my most hated songs of all time.... im not bothered what its about, not bothered who sings it, its just a horrible song.
mushymanrob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-09-2010, 09:47
Coen
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,653
I think it's a good song, but I'm not sure what its subject matter has to do with whether or not its a good song.

It's not my favourite Lou Reed song though. That's probably "Heroin"...hmm guess what that ones about as well!

(Would much rather see Susan Boyle do a cover of that. )
Coen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-09-2010, 10:32
Mallaha
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: DTG Bunker
Posts: 5,044
I like the original. However, there have been several bad covers of it, and it is a little overplayed.

It's not Lou Reed's best song and not the best song on Transformer (Satellite of Love is my favourite).
Mallaha is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-09-2010, 11:33
eugenespeed
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: HEED ARMY!!!!!
Posts: 32,092
It was used greatly on Trainspotting. I did like the BBC advert version as well.
eugenespeed is online now Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 23-09-2010, 11:49
Sharona68
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,818
I much prefer the Children in Need version.
Sharona68 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-09-2010, 12:14
Agent Krycek
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Stalking David and Neal
Posts: 38,047
It made me laugh to read that Susan Boyle wanted to sing this song to the pope, and that she has recorded it for her latest album.

Doesn't anyone listen to the words and remember that it's about taking smack?
It has been amusing me that the actual meaning behind the song appears to have gone unnoticed by TPTB behind SuBo. Always made me grin at wedding when the bride and groom's first dance was The Las 'There she goes', completely oblivious that the song's about heroin.
Agent Krycek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-09-2010, 12:38
eugenespeed
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: HEED ARMY!!!!!
Posts: 32,092
It has been amusing me that the actual meaning behind the song appears to have gone unnoticed by TPTB behind SuBo. Always made me grin at wedding when the bride and groom's first dance was The Las 'There she goes', completely oblivious that the song's about heroin.
That arguement's been going on for years. The guitarist denied it, and the song writer, Lee Mavers, gave some weird cryptic response when asked about it.
eugenespeed is online now Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 01:38
SuperAPJ
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 9,858
I hate it. Surely a song about a perfect day should not sound so dreary!
SuperAPJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 07:28
mushymanrob
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: derby
Posts: 14,765
I hate it. Surely a song about a perfect day should not sound so dreary!
couldnt agree more!
mushymanrob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 10:57
Josh Pinder
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: A Pirate At Sea
Posts: 23,943
love Lou Reed!! the velvet Underground and his transformer album are absolutely AMAZING!!!

sure perfect Day isn't my all time favourite by him, but i love the song! i don't get the criticism about it, it's a goodun!!!!
Josh Pinder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 11:06
neel
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,332
I hate it. Surely a song about a perfect day should not sound so dreary!
Think about it. Could there possibly be a reason that a song about a perfect day doesn't sound as it "should".

Is the writer using the title to set expectations that the tone of the song then subverts?

Some things in life are not literal, this is not a bad thing.
neel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 11:11
Carmen Queasy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
It made me laugh to read that Susan Boyle wanted to sing this song to the pope, and that she has recorded it for her latest album.

Doesn't anyone listen to the words and remember that it's about taking smack?
I hate it when people take songs at face value. They listen to the chorus and use that as the song meaning. People use the wrong songs all the time. They'll play something at a funeral or a wedding because "it means a lot to them", when they really mean "the chorus is nice and might make people cry".

Perfect Day is one of those songs which people don't really like, but pretend they do when it comes on simply because they can sing along to the chorus.
Carmen Queasy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 11:26
Mallaha
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: DTG Bunker
Posts: 5,044
I hate it when people take songs at face value. They listen to the chorus and use that as the song meaning. People use the wrong songs all the time. They'll play something at a funeral or a wedding because "it means a lot to them", when they really mean "the chorus is nice and might make people cry".
This gets me as well, and I get called a snob because of it.
Even "I Will Always Love You" is about a break-up.
Mallaha is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 11:28
Carmen Queasy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
This gets me as well, and I get called a snob because of it.
Even "I Will Always Love You" is about a break-up.
It's not snobby at all. Those people who call you it probably have no proper retaliation because after they think about it they know you are right.

Many pop songs are meant to be taken on face value, especially the dross which is taking over the charts at the moment, but it's funny listening to songs at a wedding talking about love, but they're actually about breaking up or cheating
Carmen Queasy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 13:28
maninthequeue
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,431
This is one of my all time favourite songs. Personally my second favourite Lou Reed penned song behind the Velvet Underground's Rock'N'Roll.

And I agree with Lou that the best version of this song was Duran Duran's interpretation from their (deservedly) critically panned Thank You covers album. Only their covers of Lay Lady Lay & White Lines are also worth listening to IMHO.

Still I look forward to SuBo's third album released in Nov 2011, if it carries on the same theme then maybe the tracklisting will look something like this:

1. Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd)
2. Mother's Little Helper (Rolling Stones)
3. There She Goes (The La's)
4. Fire & Rain (James Taylor)
5. Hurt (Nine Inch Nails)
6. Never Let Me Down Again (Depeche Mode)
7. Electric Feel (MGMT)
8. The Universal (Blur)
9. Golden Brown (The Stranglers)
10. Under The Bridge (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
11. Got To Get You Into My Life (The Beatles)
12. White Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane)
13. Ashes To Ashes (David Bowie)
14. Running To Stand Still (U2)

maninthequeue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 14:26
Vivadiva
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,764
Such a lot of music snobbery on here! It's rather narrow-minded to just think a song is about one subject, it's all a matter of interpretation.
Vivadiva is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 14:35
maninthequeue
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,431
Such a lot of music snobbery on here! It's rather narrow-minded to just think a song is about one subject, it's all a matter of interpretation.
No it is not. You're attitude is typical of X-Factor fans who think Run is a Leona Lewis song; and not a Snow Patrol song; etc.

When the songwriter himself has gone on record to say the song's lyrical subtext was displaying his own romanticized attitude towards a period of his own addiction to heroin; then how can the song be about any other subject matter as he wrote the song.

Based on your views then I guess you fully support this Danish far right party ahead of the original songwriters in this scenario:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11403230
maninthequeue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 14:41
Carmen Queasy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
How is it snobbery?!?! Even thinking that a song is about one subject has nothing to do with snobbery

Snobbery would be to dismiss a song for various reasons.

Simply, most songs are written with a subject in mind. If they're not they're probably lyrically weak.

I mean, everyone thinks "Shiny Happy People" is a nice, friendly kind of song, when it's actually written to be the opposite.

(Upon typing thing thread, for some reason I can't help but type the word written as "writeen"! Argh)
Carmen Queasy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 14:50
Vivadiva
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,764
No it is not. You're attitude is typical of X-Factor fans who think Run is a Leona Lewis song; and not a Snow Patrol song; etc.

When the songwriter himself has gone on record to say the song's lyrical subtext was displaying his own romanticized attitude towards a period of his own addiction to heroin; then how can the song be about any other subject matter as he wrote the song.

Based on your views then I guess you fully support this Danish far right party ahead of the original songwriters in this scenario:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11403230
Thank-you so much for leaping to this conclusion!

Lou Reed has also gone on record to describe 'Perfect Day.' Tim de Lisle once wrote in The Independent (Yes, I know, an XF reading that?!) the following:

Reed firmly denies that "Perfect Day" is a drug song. He would, wouldn't he - but he always did. When Transformer came out, in 1973 (on RCA), he gave an interview to Nick Kent of the NME, which contained several references to narcotics. Kent mentioned a recent poll in another magazine, which had asked its readers to name the person most likely to be the next rock'n'roll casualty. Reed had come second, behind Keith Richards. "Perfect Day" was touched on, but not in connection with drugs. Unpromted, Reed said: "That's a lovely song. A description of a very straightforward affair."

Ultimately, I have my own idea what the song is about. That is one of the beauties of art in all its forms. It creates debate and stirs up different feelings in different people. For cold hard facts I prefer science.
Vivadiva is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 15:48
maninthequeue
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,431
Thank-you so much for leaping to this conclusion!

Lou Reed has also gone on record to describe 'Perfect Day.' Tim de Lisle once wrote in The Independent (Yes, I know, an XF reading that?!) the following:

Reed firmly denies that "Perfect Day" is a drug song. He would, wouldn't he - but he always did. When Transformer came out, in 1973 (on RCA), he gave an interview to Nick Kent of the NME, which contained several references to narcotics. Kent mentioned a recent poll in another magazine, which had asked its readers to name the person most likely to be the next rock'n'roll casualty. Reed had come second, behind Keith Richards. "Perfect Day" was touched on, but not in connection with drugs. Unpromted, Reed said: "That's a lovely song. A description of a very straightforward affair."

Ultimately, I have my own idea what the song is about. That is one of the beauties of art in all its forms. It creates debate and stirs up different feelings in different people. For cold hard facts I prefer science.
Indeed, and as you probably know from a Q magazine interview carried out in January 2003 for his Raven album, he again confirmed that the song "Perfect Day" was indeed a song written about a very straightforward affair .......... with a narcotic called heroin.
maninthequeue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2010, 15:54
mushymanrob
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: derby
Posts: 14,765
someone will be claiming that the shamens 'ebeneezer goode' is not about that colourful character the video displays (and the songs lyrics would alude to) ... but is about 'e's ! lol.
mushymanrob is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 15:49.