People?
Did you check out the post I put up earlier about the new Featured Bloggers?
Amy, Julie, and Allie . . . three amazing writers.
Back here, the girls have been listening to a song by Cee Lo Green called F-U.
Yes, I know . . . that’s not even appropriate.
I have no good explanation. The song played perhaps 25 times before I really focused on the lyrics. I generally do listen to lyrics, but this song was like a piece of cotton candy. I was not the least bit concerned about my inattention.
Cotton candy does not tell you to fuck off, people.
Anyway, if you don’t listen to the lyrics, this song sounds all bubble-gummy and G-rated and bouncy. Love Cee Lo Green!
Wait . . . what did he say?
Actually, I never had that moment of “What did he say?”
I just wasn’t paying attention. Too busy being on guard against Rihanna’s latest . . . I smell sex in the air and it’s all yummy and also yes please hurt me with whips and chains because that sounds way sexy I want to be a bad girl and pain makes me happy you naughty boy.
Could someone please tell Rihanna that it is possible she is just slightly fucked up?
Thank you.
So Cee Lo Green’s song is playing happily in my car and in my house and I do not even care. Kallan is dancing to it and Maj is singing it, and I am thinking it’s kind of fabulous that the girls have found such a happy little bouncy song on which they both agree.
Play it again!
And then . . . . a friend sent me an email the other day, and she sent me a link to a song she thought I might enjoy. The song title was Fuck You, so I waited until after the girls had gone to sleep to click that link. Kiss the girls good-night, head downstairs to my computer, and . . . a little bit of grown-up musical inappropriateness.
Click.
OK, that is so weird! This song sounds just like that song the girls have been singing!
Wait.
Oh, crap. This is the song the girls have been singing!
I search YouTube and discover that the girls have been listening to a slightly cleaner version in which Cee Lo Green says F-U instead of Fuck You, but even so?
I am not feeling like Mother of the Year.
Alright, then.
So we are driving in the car this afternoon and a Top-20 countdown is playing and the #1 song of the week is Cee Lo Green’s F-U.
Really.
So as the song starts playing and the girls start singing, I reach to turn the volume down . . . we need to have a little chat.
“Ladies? I hadn’t really listened to the lyrics before, but this is actually a really inappropriate song.”
Kallan is puzzled, “Why?”
“Well, he says F-U, and that’s short for a swear word that you are not allowed to use.”
Now Maj is puzzled, “What?”
“The F in F-U . . . it stands for a bad word. I know you know what word I am talking about, and I’m just saying that now that I know what he’s saying, I think we might try to avoid this song.”
There is quiet for a moment as the girls think.
Finally, Kallan says, “I thought the F stood for Forget. I thought he was saying Forget you.”
Maj agrees, “Yeah, that’s what I thought too! That’s what we always sing, Mother. He’s talking to a girl who doesn’t love him because he doesn’t have any money. He is all crabby and he says Forget you to her and then Forget you to her new boyfriend too.”
Kallan leans forward, filled with delight, “Oh, I know what he means! Really? The F doesn’t stand for Forget at all? That’s what he’s saying? How do you know that, Mom?”
Kallan leans over to whisper in Maj’s ear, and then Maj is delighted as well, “Really? That changes the whole song!”
Kallan says, “Turn the volume up so we can listen!”
So I do.
Both girls happily sing their own G-rated version of the song along with Cee Lo Green.
Their version makes perfect sense.
The song ends.
Kallan is gleeful, “We would sooooo have never ever known about the swearing if you hadn’t told us, Mom.”
Maj is also pleased, “Yes, thank you Mother!”
ACK!
Plus also?
Sigh.
Mark pulls the car into our driveway, kills the ignition, and turns to me, “Well done, babe. Really really nicely handled.”
Fuck.
That’s the dirty version . . . Duh.
I hate that song. I don’t care if it’s toned down with F-U or Forget You. The intention is there and I don’t care to listen to it. (Cee Lo Green sang it using Forget You on the Grammys, I’m pretty sure)
Sigh.
I know, right?
I so should have paid closer attention. It slid right under my radar. Hmmph.
Not big on profanity for kids, so didn’t watch the vid. Is there anyone that markets to youth anymore that’s NOT profane?? Even with the warning labels; they still manage to get a hold of things.
Let them be kids for a while; I hope they hear me!
I linked the “Fuck You” version because now that I know that it exists?
The other versions are just idiotic disguisings of a Fuck You message.
I am not opposed to the use of the word “fuck,” as you know.
But there are songs for grown-ups and songs for kids . . . this song caught me off guard and made me an idiot.
Sigh.
Kris? I LOVE YOU!! You’re a great mom; one day the girls will thank you, this I promise. Imagine your teen getting ahold of Eminem back in the day.
We get along great now. Athough he detested me for a couple of years. Your girls will grow up and say thanks mom! Your eyes will well up and spill over, tears held back… and your heart will swell like the antimated Grinch classic!
He did the “Forget You” version on the Grammy Awards as well. With the actual F-word, it does not mesh well with the melody at all. It’s kinda like if the Beach Boys did a remake of “California Girls” with the following lyrics set to the same bouncy, summery melody:
“Oh the drugged out girls are easy,
They’ll do anything for crack.
And the rebel chicks with the daddy issues
Will let you do them from the back.
The party girls get hammered
As the frat boys know too well.
At the house of Kappa Humpa Ho
They say that passed out girls don’t tell.
I wish they all could be California Girls . . . “
Chris –
OK, did you write those lyrics just now?
I am all aswoon if that is the case.
Really?
Kris
Yep . . . it’s kinda like a birth defect. Shit just pops into my head like that.
OK, of all possible defects?
That one’s kind of awesome.
I love that!
These songs with songs with all their profanity!. This song is nice though, and so is Pink’s perfect one, but Rihanna-WTF? There’s no need and I found on iTunes the other day- browsing through the top 100, the song ‘I just had sex’ is it needed? No. Silly overpaid artists who obviously don’t understand that a radio means everyone hears the song and whatever age will sing along unaware of the other meaning or profanity. Ergh!
Chloe -
For me? I know there are songs with bad words and bad messages out there, and I try to make the choices I can where my girls are involved. It would be stupid of me to imagine that I am able to completely control what they hear on the radio. I don’t try to do that.
But I generally offer explanations of songs with questionable lyrics . . .
And I avoid songs that are just out and out offensive.
I don’t hate Cee Lo Green’s song. I don’t. It’s catchy and sassy and fun.
But I don’t like the versions of it that change the message except not really.
Because I hate to look stupid.
And this song made me look stupid.
Hmmph.
‘I Just Had Sex’ is a SNL song. It’s not aimed at children. It’s by The Lonely Island, and that’s what all of their songs are. Parodies. It’s not meant to be taken as a ‘real’ song.
That said, I’m totally with you on everything else. I’m eighteen and I’m uncomfortable with most Top 40 music with my parents around because I do know the connotations and what they actually mean. I understand that it is adults making the music, but they need to be conscious of who their primary audiences are when writing songs. Rihanna, I’m looking at you.
Do you remember the remake of ‘You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)’ from a few years ago? That was a horrible, horrible song that sticks in my head even now. They completely butchered a song that was originally not blatantly about sex. My then-nine year old cousin loved that song. It’s disgusting.
Rose?
Rihanna needs a talking to . . . she so does.
Her latest song is not clever or funny or imaginative.
It’s just icky.
And I do remember the remake of which you speak. Flo-Rida, correct? I remember it well, because that song was one of Kallan’s favorites. Yeah . . . I remember that well.
Sigh.
I’ve actually only heard the Forget You version! Gwyneth Paltrow covered it on Glee, and it was fabulous.
Definite win for Mother of the Year, haha!!
Sigh.
Plus also?
Glee sucks.
So there.
I concur with Julie. Gwyneth Paltrow did a good job singing this song.
If that was actually her singing and not some edited-to-sound-like-Gwyneth-but-also-actually-100-times-better thing.
Oh I so love that song! Either version! The message is empowering! He doesn’t care that she’s going around with that guy after dropping him because of something insane like money, he’s dismissing her- I wish I’d have sung it first!
The message is a good one, even if the delivery is ‘strong’- and actually- it’s such a good feeling tune.. like, the ‘feel’ of the music. You go on with your bad self and enjoy ‘Forget you’ with the girls!
See now . . . that’s what I just said in response to another comment.
I don’t hate the song. Even now that I know what the actual lyrics are, I kind of like the song.
I just don’t like to be made to look foolish.
And I so played the fool.
Sigh.
sorry you had to deal with that. i got to thank a babysitter recently who was just playing the top 40 station and my 5 yr old started singing along to “take if off” by kesha.. dirty tree for all indeed.
awesome.
Just commiserating a little.
Frelle -
My girls listen to inappropriate songs. I try to pay attention and explain along the way, but they do listen to inappropriate songs.
THEY ADORE KESHA.
I just hate to look stupid. I hate that I was the one to introduce the inappropriate message in this case.
So annoying.
Do you mean Ke$ha? If you were a Glee fan (which I can’t believe you aren’t–love that show) you would never forget the $. Ahahaha.
ACK.
I hate Glee with their lame remakes of the songs of my youth.
Hate.
And I do know it’s Ke$ha, but when I write her name that way?
People correct me.
Snort!
Just like you did!
I was mostly teasing–the $ is over the top. But ever since they talked about her on Glee I’ve been unable to refer to her as anything other than “Key-dollar sign- HA!”
And that’s why DVR was invented–to fast forward past things that get on your nerves. Skip some of the singing and get to the funny parts, which is most of the non-singing parts. Srsly, that show is hysterical.
Lindsay -
Bleagh.
Although that version of Ke$ha’s name is pretty damned funny.
Just realised what a rant my previous comment sounded like. Sorry about that =P Procrasination is kicking my butt right now… I was trying to go for something more along the lines that some songs, they’re not even needed, others like this, and Pink’s they’re good, easy listening and songs with sass, they’re fun and sometimes needed =)
Oh and I (kind of) did a post like this today, well, it had a song title, as I’ve now started a blog (ish) and discovered what a bad writer I actually am… Ah well, onwards and upwards.
Chloe -
You make me giggle.
That is a very good blogging start.
Making a note to stop by in a bit and check it out.
Love.
And as your girls get older it’s just going to get worse, isn’t it?
Ethan has a strange idea of what curse words are. For years he thought the “S” word was “stupid” because that word is so forbidden in our house. Tee-hee. About a year ago I was really mad at him and said something like “We are not going anywhere until you clean up this freaking mess.” He was all “Mom, you said ‘Freaking’ that’s a bad word.” and I said “Well, it’s a lot better than the other word, the one I was thinking.” (And he got really mad I wouldn’t tell him what THAT word was.)
Ooops, I did it again, wrote a post-y sort of comment. But I know you don’t really mind.
Love to you and your too-smart girls!
Varda -
The girls are allowed to say mild curse words like darn and dang.
And I may let them sing along to a certain Pink song even though they are not allowed to use the word in question. I so adore that song Fucking Perfect.
I just hate that I am the one who told them this song was about telling someone Fuck You when that message hadn’t occurred to either girl.
I am awesome.
I kinda like the song too. Just wish my husband hadn’t shown me the clip when my little boy was in the room… The Sprocket’s only just learnt to talk so we haven’t been as careful as we should have about what we say in front of him and what we listen to. Now one of his few words is.. yep.. I am a bad bad mummy… :(
Kirsty -
Mark and I watch TV only after the girls have gone to bed, and there have been times when we have had to scramble for the remote control.
Not porn . . . that is not what I mean.
Just inappropriate language.
Related news?
Louie CK is coming back to TV in June!
Ahem.
LOL!! I was reading this thinking “I need to tell her about the clean version” tee hee! I love that song. I think the message is clear. You’re a gold digging tramp and if you can’t appreciate me for who I am and all you want is a richer guy then forget you. Love it. Me and my mom heard the not so clean version first when we saw the video and we laughed so hard.
The video is actually pretty fucking funny.
Ahem.
Hee hee!
I love that song!
Happy giggles whenever I hear it.
And I have listened to the lyrics!
Hee hee!
Stasha -
I am a woman who ALWAYS listens to the lyrics.
This song got by me.
It is a good song.
But it’s a sneaky song.
Because I love you, you must watch this clip :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh2FaWabEDQ
This was a final project for her university signing class.
Oh. That’s why a certain set of my friends were sharing that around. I’ve been traveling and it won’t play on my phone.
I’m generally unaware of such musical controversies as I don’t listen to radio, or music. I know. It’s weird.
Arriving?
I am laughing so hard . . .tears down my cheeks.
That girl is AMAZING.
Just amazing.
I’ve only heard the “Forget You” version and I love it. I mean, it may be my favorite song on the radio right now. We just moved away from my evil greedy grandmother who overcharged us for the house we rented from her and painted over mold/refused to make repairs while buying houses and cars for my cousins. This song started playing as we drove out of town and everytime it comes on now I blare it and sing it at Evil Grandma. My nearly 3 year old knows all the words and I think the “If all you care about is money then I don’t need you in my life.” message isn’t the worst thing a kid could internalize.
We’ve had the Rhianna conversation already. Ick. And, also? The girl needs counseling.
Kacey -
The magic of music is how it attaches itself to the emotions in our lives and stays . . . gathers new meaning and depth.
I just love that.
Yes.
Fuck the evil grandma.
Done.
My kids don’t know C Lo, but they know the parody version;
“Bar’chu!” (I’m A Jew) — Remix of Cee Lo Green’s “Forget You”
Actually I found out that my son has real rhythm, little dude can dance. That song came on and he started moving and I realized that if I am smart I won’t ever dance next to him. The man makes dad look old, white and uncoordinated.
Ok, I am all those things. My body wasn’t built for grace, but demolition. Anyhoo, here is the URL of the parody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMIrDDGZmuI
You guys are ever so much more informed than I am.
I have never heard of this parody version. I was not even aware that the song was big enough to have merited parodies. That’s how lame I am.
And Jack?
Your memoir stuff?
You have skills, sir.
I like that stuff much better than your fiction.
I always prefer the truth.
Direct me accordingly, if you please. I do like your words of truth.