R1: Silly Love Songs v Gangsta's Paradise

[Anders]

I think John and Paul had a very interesting dynamic, as best friends, brothers, band mates. Like how John Lennon could say something a little mean about Paul, but if anyone else said something about Paul, he would defend him passionately.

John was known to say he didn’t like something, then later completely contradict himself. In one of the last memories of John, he was in a car listening to the radio, and a Paul song came on. John said: «Listen! It’s Paul!» Then once the song was finished, he smiled brightly and said: «Not bad, not bad!»

In the 70s when they met, they were like glue, even with their spouses in the room they would talk endlessly. Paul also helped John get back together with Yoko Ono.

Their relationship was at its lowest at the end of The Beatles. John and George used drugs, and Paul who was a little more careful, had to manage the band. John said he would leave the band first, and eventually it was Paul that abruptly announced the split to the world.

They then started their solo careers, and John made some negative remarks about Paul, and later about George as well.

One of the comments about Paul was that he just wrote silly love songs. I believe it was a few years later that Paul eventually released this song as a response.

Rolling Stone: «He told the critics to stuff it with the most sublime disco-tinged mini-symphony any supermarket shopper ever heard. Opening with the sound of an automated assembly line like a craftsman clocking in on autopilot, he turned his supple bass into the lead instrument and proved he still had his ear to the ground by serving up the sweetest strings and tastiest horns this side of Philadelphia. Whereas in the Sixties the Beatles studied Motown, now McCartney took his cue from the current kings of slick soul, producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, whose label Philadelphia International featured acts like The O’Jays, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (with lead singer Teddy Pendergrass), Lou Rawls, The Three Degrees and Billy Paul.

“You’re all just pizza and fairy tales,” Lennon once sneered at McCartney. But Lennon’s final statement for five years was a cover album of rock and roll oldies, so he was, too. “Silly Love Songs” marked the end of an era, just as Lennon’s hibernation did.»

[LoathedVermin72]

Why are you spamming text walls about The Beatles

[Anders]

This is specifically about this song.

[BurtReynolds]

What's your point? That he knows it sucks but he was being ironic?

[Anders]

On the contrary, I think it’s a fascinating story about one of the greatest living musicians on the planet, making a wonderful song, statement and reply, all at the same time.

[Jorge]

the greatest living musician on the planet

I don't know what Tom DeLonge has to do with anything

[Anders]

I like Tom Delonge.

I immediately changed that blanket statement, as it did not sit right with me.

[Birds in Hell]

Silly Love Songs is far from my favourite McCartney song but it gets my vote here.

Everything good about Gangsta's Paradise is derived from the original Stevie Wonder song, which I'd definitely vote for over either of these:

[i got bugs]

Coolio by a ton, minus 2 songs I'm not big into PM solo n GP is fantastic

[evenslow]

John was known to say he didn’t like something, the later completely contradict himself. In one of the last memories of John, he was in a car listening to the radio, and a Paul song came on. John said: «Listen! It’s Paul!» Then once the song was finished, he smiled brightly and said: «Not bad, not bad!»

he was talking about "Coming Up."

nice post. i'm all for spamming LV's threads with Beatles wiki-ephemera.

[evenslow]

Everything good about Gangsta's Paradise is derived from the original Stevie Wonder song, which I'd definitely vote for over either of these:

absolutely

[E.H. Ruddock]

Everything good about Gangsta's Paradise is derived from the original Stevie Wonder song, which I'd definitely vote for over either of these:

absolutely

But that isn't a choice so

[LoathedVermin72]

Gangsta’s Paradise is way better than that song

[Jammer XCI]

It's gotta be Gangsta's Paradise.

Failure and Tool had a side project in the 90's that did a cool cover of the other song though

[Birds in Hell]

Gangsta’s Paradise is way better than that song

What the absolute hell LV.

[Jorge]

I like Coolio's verses and the song's production. The choral arrangement during the hook is cool. There are enough unique elements added to the Stevie sample that it stands on its own. In any case, it's better than "Silly Love Songs"

[Norah]

even ezekiel thinks that my mind is gone!

[Jorge]

There's a palpable despair to Coolio's song that feels genuine and poignant. I'm not prepared to say I'd rather listen to it over "Pastime" but I see how one could. "Everything good about it comes straight from the original" is flat-out wrong

[Anders]

John was known to say he didn’t like something, the later completely contradict himself. In one of the last memories of John, he was in a car listening to the radio, and a Paul song came on. John said: «Listen! It’s Paul!» Then once the song was finished, he smiled brightly and said: «Not bad, not bad!»

he was talking about "Coming Up."

nice post. i'm all for spamming LV's threads with Beatles wiki-ephemera.

I agree. I also love The Beatles.

[Anders]

Silly Love Songs is far from my favourite McCartney song but it gets my vote here.

Everything good about Gangsta's Paradise is derived from the original Stevie Wonder song, which I'd definitely vote for over either of these:

True