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

[pcgeek11]

If you bothered to read the thread it's already been discussed.

I did read the thread and there is nothing racist about the song. You need to read more than the thread to know what it really means.

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

In Birmingham, they love the governor (boo boo boo)
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Tell me the truth

In 1975, Van Zant said: "The lyrics about the governor of Alabama were misunderstood. The general public didn't notice the words 'Boo! Boo! Boo!' after that particular line, and the media picked up only on the reference to the people loving the governor."[3] "The line 'We all did what we could do' is sort of ambiguous," Kooper notes "'We tried to get Wallace out of there' is how I always thought of it."[3] Journalist Al Swenson argues that the song is more complex than it is sometimes given credit for, suggesting that it only looks like an endorsement of Wallace.[3] "Wallace and I have very little in common," Van Zant himself said, "I don't like what he says about colored people."[3]

The final line of the song indicates that it may be against racial discrimination: "My Montgomery's got the answer."[citation needed] This is a reference to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which led to a Supreme Court decision declaring Alabama's racial segregation laws for buses unconstitutional.[citation needed]

In 1976, Van Zant and the band supported Jimmy Carter for his presidential candidacy, including fundraising and an appearance at the Gator Bowl benefit concert.[citation needed]

 

[Jadow]

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?

im always stumped by "gave my anus curly wurly"

 

[compuwiz1]

Hey Steve! Long time no see.

Not to pile on and harsh your Journey love, but just a couple nights ago on Treme (HBO), the white DJ character had assembled a true Nawlins all star group of musicians to record a song he wrote.

The sound engineer asks him if he wants a pre-recorded drum/guitar intro spliced in to the live recording, and the DJ roars in disgust, "HELL NO, what do you think we are, Journey?"

Burn!

Hiya, Dave! That was a pretty good one, actually. I lol'd

 

[drebo]

IMO, I'm looking forward to when more 80's music gets played on the classic rock station. Hair bands ftw.

That said, 60s and 70s music is way better than anything on the Top 40 stations.

 

[Dumac]

I hate "Sweet Home Alabama" (just like I hate Alabama), but "Don't Stop Believin" is awesome. How could you not think so?

That said, I don't start singing along in public for any song (unless the atmosphere is somehow appropriate).

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.

Confirmed douche.

 

[Crono]

IMO, I'm looking forward to when more 80's music gets played on the classic rock station. Hair bands ftw.

That said, 60s and 70s music is way better than anything on the Top 40 stations.

80s music had a lot of good pop and rock hits.

60s and 70s had less I think, but definitely lyrically superior to most of the past 2 decades on average. A lot of the pop music lyrics today is pure garbage with no subtlety or well written story telling.

Granted, I do like a lot of the hip hop and trance/club style beats used. But very few song lyrics. See: Lady Gaga.

Also, I think most people love Don't Stop Believing. Not sure about Sweet Home Alabama, which is catchy at least.

 

[Toonces]

Relevant

 

[Red Dawn]

lolwut? Sweet Home Alabama is NOT racist. Only a racist would think so.

But you just said it wasn't racist.

 

[Red Dawn]

That is as statement of personal opinion, not a statement of fact. Journey has one of the most impressive and admired catalogs of music ever. Go back and look what they've done starting in 1975. They have spanned 3 1/2 decades. Not many bands that are still around have that going for them. Their music has always been upbeat for the most part, and maybe the reason they were not popular among some circles is because they never sang about emo crap, suicide, nor did they ever openly condone alcohol and drug abuse. Neal Schon, a founding member said "we're an upper, not a downer".
People who have only heard what is known as the "dirty dozen", or radio play songs, need to go through the catalog and give the songs a listen. There are some deeper cuts that are just awsome. Journey has something for everybody.....that's what makes them unique.

Don't Stop Believin' is an American icon. The band is still getting mostly rave reviews of their most recent concerts. They have found a real gem in Arnel Pineda. What a nice, humble guy! I've met him and he's a super nice guy.

Journey sucks and have since they replaced Greg Rollie with that Fegula Steve Perry and now that Pipino Perry wannabe.

 

[Chaotic42]

I hate "Sweet Home Alabama" (just like I hate Alabama), but "Don't Stop Believin" is awesome. How could you not think so?

That said, I don't start singing along in public for any song (unless the atmosphere is somehow appropriate).



Confirmed douche.

I wouldn't say it's awesome by any stretch, but it's not bad. I think it may just be overplayed.

 

[Kadarin]

Sweet Home Alabama - never heard this song before.

Don't Stop Believin - heard this one on Glee for the first time.

Don't worry, after one more generation these songs won't even be recognizable.

I live in White Massachusetts, though I am not White. Still, never heard them growing up.

So what does the spiky-haired young Asian crowd listen to these days?

Everyone born outside of Afghanistan and maybe Uzbekistan has heard of these songs, except for you. You either deliberately live in a hole where you don't expose yourself to anything, or you're trolling us. I'm leaning toward trolling.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

If it wasn't MJinZ posting I could believe him. A girl in my English 101 class claimed to have never heard of Pink Floyd before, so anything is possible. Honestly, I didn't recognize the title "Don't Stop Belivin" either, and listening to it on YouTube, only the opening piano line is familiar to me. Doubt that I've ever heard the song in full before.

EDIT: Actually, listening to Sweet Home Alabama I only recognize the main riff, and that's only because of all the people that accused Metallica of stealing it for The Four Horsemen.

So what does the spiky-haired young Asian crowd listen to these days?

Rap and the painful moanings of girls being raped by tentacles.