Rules Of The Game #20: Fleshy Women, Slimy Men, Smart Teens

[koganbot]

Robyn, Paula, Enrique, Beyoncé, Heidi Montag, Mira Craig, Beth Ditto, Yung Berg, Ashley Tisdale, and lots about Aly & A.J.

The Rules Of The Game #20: Fleshy Women, Slimy Men, Smart Teens

Two questions: (1) Of all the songs I've been championing, why is "Potential Breakup Song" the one that's struck the biggest chord with you folks, that's become our miniature cause célèbre? (2) Why do some of us care so much that it gets airplay and breaks through to the general pop audience? What does it represent? What's at stake?

I read this column to the people in my writers group last night, some of whom got excited when I quoted the line from "Potential Breakup Song," and thought the song was terrific when I played it for them (at least the women did). My friend Ken said that it's got elements that remind him of Del Shannon. (When I think about it I can hear a family resemblance between its opening riff and the opening to Runaway. And PBUS's bass line does have something of a rockabilly boogie in it.)

EDIT: Here are links to all but three of my other Rules Of The Game columns (LVW's search results for "Rules of the Game"). Links for the other three (which for some reason didn't get "Rules Of The Game" in their titles), are here: #4, #5, and #8.

UPDATE: I've got all the links here now:

http://koganbot.livejournal.com/179531.html

Comments

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I think Paris got her plaudits! Maybe not that single in particular but 'Stars Are Blind' certainly, and 'Screwed' got played at the last Poptimism.

'Boyfriend' would have got just as many people behind it as 'Potential Breakup Song' had Poptimists been then what it is now. And I think because of your pushing, Ashlee's next single - proper single to lead her next album rather than random mediocre-quality leak - will get at least lots of attention.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I'm more concerned at Poptimists' insistence on not getting Ciara :(

[koganbot]

But if it's "Murder," well, I don't know what I think of it yet, maybe I'll end up liking it as much as Britney's "Gimme More," which I like more than "Potential Breakup Song" (speaking of cause célèbres). I'm still pissed at the evasiveness of the lyrics (in which regard maybe she'll end up resembling post-1966 Dylan, I hope not).

And I think she is capable of doing well w/ Timbaland, using her dark guttural throat, but it's still not what I want from her.

Still, Lex, the general question, what do you think is at stake here, our wanting so bad for "Potential Breakup Song" [and other stuff] to hit?

[koganbot]

And what do you think of Del Shannon? I love his falsetto.