Hey
Dialophiles!
Belly on
up to the table for a heaping helping of today’s musical blue plate special… “Ladykillers” by British alt rockers
Lush.
Culled
from their 1996 release Lovelife, and peaking at #22 on the UK Singles chart
and #18 on the US Modern Rock charts (but achieving no Hot 100 position),
Ladykillers features Miki Berenyi’s sarcastic decrying of various men she’s
encountered in the dating scene, including, it is strongly rumored, The Red Hot
Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis, in verse 2. (“Hey you, the muscles and the long hair…”). The first and third
verses allegedly spear Liam Gallagher from Oasis and Weezer’s Matt Sharp.
During
the ‘90s, I was gainfully employed at no less than three mall based record
stores (not concurrently, mind you), Square Circle (later to become “The
Wall”), Waxie Maxies, and Waves Music.
Like many
music retailers, Waves had multiple ceiling mounted TVs playing music videos
all day long, and one of the tunes I enjoyed hearing (and watching) the most
was “Ladykillers”. It was a welcome respite from the uninspired pop ballads,
rap & R&B, and dance music (“Macarena”,
feh.) that dominated those video playlists.
To this
day, whenever I hear Miki’s biting vocals, and see the stylish and humorous
video, I’m instantly positioned at the rear entrance of Waves’ odd “L” shaped
location, to make sure that CDs didn’t “walk out” of the store, if you catch my
meaning.
Some may
call this a man-hating song, but I feel the clever lyrics and hard rocking, yet
melodic vibe make it accessible to everyone, regardless of gender.
Besides, who
doesn’t enjoy hearing jerks get called out in a musical selection? It’s one of
the many reasons that Carly Simon’s “You’re
So Vain” has remained in the public consciousness. Well, there is that
speculation as to who that song is actually about, but that’s an article for
another time, and some other blogger…
“I’m
as human as the next girl, I like a bit of flattery…
But I don’t need your
practiced lines, your school of charm mentality so…
Save your breath for someone
else and credit me with something more,
When it comes to men like you, I know
the score, I’ve heard it all before.”
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