Songs Known Not by Their Titles but by Lyrics
Have you ever come across a song that's more famous for a certain lyric or phrase than its actual title? In the world of music, there are many instances where a single memorable line has become synonymous with an entire song. This phenomenon often occurs with well-known and popular songs that have cryptic or non-descriptive titles, leading listeners and even artists themselves to refer to them by lyrics instead.
Lyrics as Titles: "The Way We Were" and "Dance Ten Looks Three"
"The Way We Were," a classic love ballad by Barbra Streisand, is often referred to as "Memories" due to its iconic opening line: "People change, you change, I change, memories."
Similarly, the song "Dance Ten Looks Three," known for its cheeky lyrics, is frequently called "Tits and Ass," which describes a line from the song. This tendency to refer to a song by a lyric rather than its given title is quite common among listeners, especially for songs with memorable or salacious content.
Peculiar Titles and Memorable Lyrics: Smashing Pumpkins
During a recent conversation with my uncle, we discussed the Smashing Pumpkins, an iconic band known for its array of popular and critically acclaimed songs. My uncle humorously suggested that the band only has two good songs: "World is a Vampire" and "Rat in a Cage." While this may sound dismissive, the band did indeed have a few hit songs. This conversation led to an interesting side discussion on other bands with cryptic titles that, despite their obtuse naming, became well-known through their lyrics.
Bob Dylan: Cryptic Titles and Indelible Lyrics
Bob Dylan, the master of cryptic and poetic lyrics, has several songs with titles that can be confusing or vague. One such song is "Rainy Day Women 12 35," which is more commonly known for its recurring line and title. The inclusion of such lyrics in the song's popularity highlights the power of memorable lines to overshadow the song's original title. Similar instances include "Like a Rolling Stone," "The Times They Are a-Changin'," and "Tangled Up inBlue." These titles often leave one wondering what the song could be about, but the lyrics have a way of making the listeners curious and more invested in the song.
Redgum and "A Walk in the Light Green"
Interestingly, Redgum's famous song is almost universally known as "I Was Only 19," but its actual title is "A Walk in the Light Green." Despite being a great song, the title is less memorable than the lyrics, which express feelings of youth, regret, and longing. This example underscores how sometimes the most relatable and emotionally charged lines can become a song's unofficial moniker.
International Tunes and Marketing Titles
Occasionally, a song's title changes to resonate better with a specific market. One such example is "Sukiyaki," a Japanese song originally titled "Ue o muite arukÅ," which means "I look up as I walk." The lyrics express feelings of disappointment and loneliness, reminiscent of the romantic theme of much Japanese pop music. Given the song's popularity in the English-speaking world, it was marketed as "Sukiyaki," a name associated with a Japanese dish. This creative renaming is a testament to the power of marketing in shaping perceptions and titles of songs.
Another example is "The Train," a Japanese pop song originally titled "Kaze ga Fuku Meshi no Tabi," which translates to "The Wind Blows the Rice Journey." The song's English title was translated as "Hoshi no Uta" ("Song of the Stars"), which is a more poetic and evocative name, highlighting the importance of cultural context and perception in song naming and marketing.
In conclusion, it's fascinating how the lyrics of a song can overshadow its title, and how marketing and cultural context play significant roles in shaping our perception and memory of a song. Whether through compelling lyrics or clever marketing, these musical gems continue to bring joy and nostalgia to listeners around the world.