Why do white people love "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Don't Stop Believin"

[Nik]

Everytime one of these songs comes on, every white person starts to belt it out like they think they are an amazing singer. I mean, I used to partake in it but now it seems so passé. Even in big cities, I find this still holds true so it is not just a small town thing.

So, what is it with these fraternal songs? I am white btw.

These songs have nothing to do with race.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

I don't like these songs. They are fucking annoying.

 

[ss284]

They always play it at least once every night in Maryland bars.

 

[tcsenter]

Pretty sure the lyrics of "sweet home alabama" were meant as a mockery of racism. The song is more of a satire by my interpretation.

Yeah, it says "In Birmingham they loved the governor." Not we, they (implying some other group the writer does not include himself in).

It was a response to what they (and many others) felt to be Neil Young's (and many others) bashing of Alabama and the South too broadly. The song essentially is saying (in response) "Hey, wait a minute, we're not all a bunch of racists, and there are some great things about Alabama and South, too. The racism sucks but stop trying to paint us all as a bunch of wife beaters and closet KKK members."

Continues to be a recurring grievance today.

 

[zinfamous]

I never understood that line about wrapping up like a douche. It just doesn't fit. What the hell is wrapped up like a douche mean anyway?

/facepalm.

it's "wrapped up like a DEUCE."

"douche" is a very common "botched lyrics" gag that people often repeat.

ah, it's "Revved." lol. makes even more sense.

 

[tcsenter]

/facepalm.

it's "wrapped up like a DEUCE."

Revved up like a deuce.

FWIW, this was written by Bruce Springsteen and he performed it numerous times before Manfred Mann's interpretation of it.

 

[sandorski]

Revved up like a deuce.

FWIW, this was Bruce Springsteen's song originally.

hehe

 

[irishScott]

Because they're catchy, upbeat songs that are fun to listen to and sing along with? Lots of other songs in that category. Queen's got more than a few.

Edit: On that note: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEbEMjKitA4

Oh, BTW I'm one of those "suburban white kids" you mentioned.

 

[polarmystery]

Same reason us negro's sing the theme song to the Jefferson's every time we hear it...

we love that shit.

 

[hanoverphist]

i dont know the words to either song, and thought this thread was about the movie...


but im only half white.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

are you kidding?

You are either trolling or thirteen years old.

My town is also in Massachusetts, 96% white as of 2000 census, and I recognized all of those songs. So would everyone I went to high school with; a private prep school. You're hiding under a rock.

he's chinese or pacific islander or something. shock not found.

 

[Key West]

I love those songs and I'm not white.

Add Sweet Child of Mine to that list.

 

[waggy]

Same reason us negro's sing the theme song to the Jefferson's every time we hear it...

we love that shit.

shit im white and i sing the song.


moving on up! to a delux apartment in teh sky...

ok been like 5 years since i seen the show and my mind is slipping. it used to be on late at night.

 

[tcsenter]

I prefer the theme song to "Good Times". It helps me get in touch with (a.k.a. get down wit) my negro self, even though I'm white.

Temporary lay-offs...Good Times!
Easy credit rip-offs...Good Times!

Dyne-O-Mite!

 

[sandorski]

Yesterday
When I was young
I had so many chicks
To choose from
I heard so many screams
Because I was hung
...

 

[LittleNemoNES]

En garde -- I'll let you try my Wu Tang style:

Yo, I'm more rugged than slaveman boots
New recruits, I'm fuckin' up MC troops
I break loops, and trample shit, while I stomp!
A mudhole in that ass, cause I'm straight out the swamp
Creepin up on site, now it's Fright Night
My Wu-Tang slang is mad fuckin' dangerous
And more deadly than the stroke of an axe
Choppin through ya back *swish*
Givin bystanders heart-attacks
Niggas try to flip, tell me who is him
I blow up his fuckin prism
Make it a vicious act of terrorism
You wanna bring it, so fuck it
Come on and bring the ruckus
And I provoke niggaz to kick buckets
I'm wettin CREAM, I ain't wettin fame
Who sellin gain, I'm givin out a deadly game
It's not the Russian it's the Wu-Tang crushin
Roulette, slip up and get fucked like Suzette
Bring da fuckin ruckus...

 

[Pantlegz]

why is when there's a thread about not white people everyone screams racist but this is ok? fucking racists. I'm white and the songs are ok. I would rather listen to something else tho.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Everytime one of these songs comes on, every white person starts to belt it out like they think they are an amazing singer. I mean, I used to partake in it but now it seems so passé. Even in big cities, I find this still holds true so it is not just a small town thing.

So, what is it with these fraternal songs? I am white btw.

FTR-I hate both of those songs. Journey is perhaps one of the worst bands ever...well, with the exception of Lynyrd Skynyrd of course.

 

[Felisity]

I'm actually from Alabama and feel that I am much more entitled to sing that song than anyone who doesn't a) live in AL or b) didn't grow up there.

However, I don't live there now, and typically don't sing that song out loud when I hear it. If I'm drinking or alone in the car I might but that's a BIG "might".

EDIT: Hmm.. I was also born the year Sweet Home Alabama was released. Too funny.

 

[lxskllr]

I don't like either song. Alabama has good intro, but that's about it. Believing doesn't have much going for it at all.

 

[tokie]

why is when there's a thread about not white people everyone screams racist but this is ok? fucking racists. I'm white and the songs are ok. I would rather listen to something else tho.

Did you not read my OP? I am white.

I don't think anyone would have a problem with say, an asian poster asking "Why do asian people love rice?".

 

[Felisity]

Yeah, it says "In Birmingham they loved the governor." Not we, they (implying some other group the writer does not include himself in).

It was a response to what they (and many others) felt to be Neil Young's (and many others) bashing of Alabama and the South too broadly. The song essentially is saying (in response) "Hey, wait a minute, we're not all a bunch of racists, and there are some great things about Alabama and South, too. The racism sucks but stop trying to paint us all as a bunch of wife beaters and closet KKK members."

Continues to be a recurring grievance today.

haha. Wondered if someone would put the correct lyrics out there for "rev'd up like a deuce"

Speaking of "douche"....

I have to say, that Gov'ner WAS a douche! A major major major major one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Wallace

 

[zebano]

Sweet Caroline...

OH Oh OH

 

[Fritzo]

They're rock anthems that everyone knows. Another case of the OP not understanding why people like something he doesn't.

 

[gimmewhitecastles]

They're rock anthems that everyone knows. Another case of the OP not understanding why people like something he doesn't.

i thought SHA was a country beat...