Your least favorite Gord song

[justalightfootfan]

I don't like to focus on the few I don't care for. (It reminds me of when I brought home a report card with all A's and one A-, my dad wanted to know what went wrong!). However, my short "negative" list would include My Pony Won't Go, Uncle Toad Said, Boathouse, and Jenny Lind. I love everything else, which is about 99.9%, way better than an A-!

[Borderstone]

If anyone disagrees with this (and I know they will) I wont reply because I stated this on a former thread. I simply don't like the way,"Someone To Believe In" is done. I like the lyrics and Gordon of course,but I think it should have been a slow song. "Broken Dreams" and "Salute" (A Lot More Livin' To Do" are the better rockers from that LP. "Pride Of Man" (just my opinion) was not written by GL and I'm not exactly big on that one either. Off the top of my head,those are my top two. Later!

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Borderstone

[This message has been edited by Borderstone (edited May 15, 2003).]

[seahawk11]

Ode to Big Blue
Songs the Minstrel Sang
Baby Step Back

[2Much2Lose]

I am not too fond of the following:

A Lesson in Love
Bells of the Evening
Canary Yellow Canoe
Cold Hands From New York
Don’t Beat Me Down
I’d Do It Again
If There’s a Reason
On Yonge Street
Salute (it's ok, I guess, but it is
his absolute worst title track)
Stone Cold Sober (like the song but
not the Songbook recording of it)
The Soul is the Rock
Welcome to Try


I empathize with those who dislike Canary Yellow Canoe -- it's a weak, uninteresting song performed in a formulaic uninteresting fashion. It's not the bottom on my list tho, because I view it as a throwaway insiders' joke -- and in that context, it is somewhat amusing.

"I'd Do It Again" is not a terrible song, but like a fly in the perfume, it is a major flaw in an otherwise incredible album.

If I had to pick my absolute least favorite, "Welcome to Try" would edge out "On Yonge Street" for the title of "least-liked."



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"And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by."

I consider this to be a lame topic. Nobody could possibly care what my least favorite GL song is. I am amazed that some people don't like Beautiful. Also, nobody has ever
really heard bad music until you listen to
Marilyn Manson.

[Borderstone]

Canary Yellow Canoe,as I mentioned in a previous topic somewhere,sounds like,"Roll Over Beethoven" re-written. Gosh folks,Gord's just havin' a little fun! Lay off. Marylin Manson? Music? Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha... : SINCE WHEN?!!

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Borderstone

[Borderstone]

Hey Jack,I'm sure Gordon's none to thrilled that out of all his songs that the people at TimeLife could've chosen for "The Folk Years" collection,they chose that one!

I swear,sometimes it's like people think that Gordon Lightfoot is just this folk artist who had a bit of success except with a few hits.
Of course UA records didn't help matters by putting out a "Best Of" every 5 seconds.

On another side of this topic,DMD3,the "meanness" (or arrogance) that Gordon demonstrates in the lyrics was typical for a lot of male songwriters anytime before,I would say,the '80s.
They usually wrote songs about how they don't care if a woman leaves them because they can always find another just as good. Which we all know takes a lot longer than one might think it would.

Before the Women's Liberation Movement of the late 60's and The 70's,radio had no problem playing a song that gave out these half-baked pieces of "Real Man" logic. Instead of letting the song bug you by it's negative & outdated stereotypes,laugh at it! I almost do everytime I listen to it,because the idea of 1 man thinking he's such a magnet for women is ridiculous today.

Don't forget,there's a lot of young guys like yourself who have a male superiorty trip going on in their head,but like Gord,if they're smart,they'll outgrow it. It's been the B! Catch ya on the flipside of Sundown!

[ April 20, 2006, 20:17: Message edited by: Borderstone ]

[BILLW]

Everything that we do, or in this case what Gordon has done makes us/him what we are in the present moment. To rewrite or deny history just doesn't work. We could go on and on with examples but the point works for everyone who has ever lived. Some things change but the past never does, it always will be.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I never heard that he denied the numbers, LOL.

Bill

[walls]

It really doesn’t matter what number is driving what bus, it is a post, and it’s the substance of the post that matters. Despite claims of lame, et al, this does appear to be a topic that has captured some attention, on a number of levels.

Least favorite song, good question requiring a rather elusive answer, because there are always one or two on every album or CD that I skip. I may have skipped one or two yesterday, listened to them today, and tomorrow continue to listen to them while skipping some others. Mood, frame of mind, time, physical setting; it all depends. The least favorite today can actually become a most listened to next week. There are, however, some songs I never listen to, but to avoid criticism, I prefer to not to reference them. Even a fan, who has listened to Lightfoot’s music since the 60’s, can reserve the right not to listen to some tunes that are, well, poor.

I did like the comment from “Doug From Seoul”, particularly since I can relate to it, even as a “member”, who may not be part of the overall status quo that routinely contributes to this forum:
“I get amused at the rabid responses from a few overcommitted "registered" fans to questions or discussions that don't necessarily over-glorify Mr. Lightfoot. I bet if Gordon Lightfoot were asked "which of your songs do you like the least," he would come out and tell us which ones were real tankers. We should be open to all facets of this very human being. And to the narrow-minded, I'd say "boy, get a life!"”

What I found most interesting is that Doug’s statement basically went unanswered. Is that because he is “unregistered” and “unregistered” guests’ comments do not deserve an answer, except if derived from a bus? Or, are only “members” contributions subject to responses, and the usual degree of cynicism?

If “unregistered” guests contribute, and are accorded some respect, then perhaps they will return as “members”, thereby, allowing our numbers to grow.

Bound for the Triangle.


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restless shadows

[BILLW]

Sorry walls I should have been more specific, my comments were directed at the earlier comments in the thread regarding For Loving Me by DMD3 and Borderstone. I reaaly don't know Jack and when someone's posts don't interest me I just pass them by. It's not meant as a slight when everyone does not reply to every post in a thread. It would just take forever to do.

Bill

quote:Originally posted by BILLW:
I reaaly don't know Jack and when someone's posts don't interest me I just pass them by. It's not meant as a slight when everyone does not reply to every post in a thread. It would just take forever to do.

Bill [/B]

I didn't take it as a slight, and I agree it would take lifetime to respond to every post. But just out of curiosity, which reason was it? If it was because what I said didn't interest you, that's cool. But IMHO, I think is sounds weird to say in a public forum on the interenet it's because you don't really know me. How well do you know the people you do respond to?

Makes me wonder if "walls" does indeed have a valid point there about the treatment of unregistered posters.

[Oma]

I don't particularly like the tune to the song "Protocol", but I like the lyrics.

For every GL song that makes me hit the "skip" button (and there aren't many) there are at least 4 that make me hit the "repeat" button...repeatedly!!!

[BILLW]

Jack,

My "I don't know Jack" comment was another lame attempt at humor as those who read here know I am guilty of from time to time. So I should have said my comments are directed at DMD3, Jack and Borderstone. I have an aversion to rewriting history or songs or poems just to suit the current climate. This too shall pass and then someone will want other lines to other songs changed. I just don't like it, I prefer the originals as works of art.
As for unregistered posters, I have personally met two of them and they're great people. Folks don't register for many, many reasons. Many do register. Makes no difference to me. Sorry for any misunderstanding and I hope you stick around here as long as you like and I hope we can meet at a Gordon Lightfoot concert someday.

Bill

quote:Originally posted by BILLW:
Jack,

My "I don't know Jack" comment was another lame attempt at humor as those who read here know I am guilty of from time to time. So I should have said my comments are directed at DMD3, Jack and Borderstone. I have an aversion to rewriting history or songs or poems just to suit the current climate. This too shall pass and then someone will want other lines to other songs changed. I just don't like it, I prefer the originals as works of art.
As for unregistered posters, I have personally met two of them and they're great people. Folks don't register for many, many reasons. Many do register. Makes no difference to me. Sorry for any misunderstanding and I hope you stick around here as long as you like and I hope we can meet at a Gordon Lightfoot concert someday.

Bill

BILLW,

You're on, man! See you there!

Jack

Sort it out

Actually, the best songs may sometimes get the skip button due to my fear of getting what you call "burnt out" on the song. You can only listen to a song so often or hum it in your head for so long and one day its not going to sound good. I've had that happen already and you can go months without listening to that song and it still won't sound good.

[Borderstone]

It's true a song can get on your nerves after awhile or just that you get bored with it. 1 song I wish would go away is "Bad Boys by Inner Circle. Otherwise known as the theme from COPS. Hey FOX? Cancel the show,I'll avoid the re-runs and not listen to my copy of the hit single for about 20+ years,okay? Enough already! The song's 14 or 15 years old! ...or at the very least,get a new theme! It's been the B! Catch ya on the flipside of Sundown!

[This message has been edited by Borderstone (edited May 20, 2003).]

'Keepin On Yearnin' and 'Canary Yellow Canoe' are beginning to grow on me.
I hate to say it but I too do not like 'Beautiful' that much. Its not the lyrics or anything, but thats just not my type of tune.
Also, I don't like the lyrics in 'A Message To The Wind'.

Ode To Big Blue is great, The Song The Minstrels Sang has a get-up-and-go feel (I feel like frolicking when I hear it), Bitter Green is awesome, Someone To Believe In rocks (I feel like exercising when I hear it), Beautiful is a classic...how can anyone say these are least favorites? The least favorites are the ones you can't even think of unless you look at the album covers...but, yeah, That canary thing sucks! It's not

[Borderstone]

Better a,"Canary Yellow Canoe" than a,"Ring Neck Loon". It may be a subtle (if not accidental) re-working of,Roll Over Beethoven but it works. I don't out-right hate,"Ring Neck Loon" but it's one of those songs that eventually grows on you or it doesn't. It's O.K.,just not fantastic. Later!

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Borderstone - "Little 'Ol Message Maker Me!"

[higgy78]

"beautiful" and "rainy day people" usually get me up to move the needle over...they're nice songs but they seem to just drone on...these two are too boring to hear as many times as I listen to Gord's albums!

quote:Originally posted by Brian Drescher:
Ode To Big Blue is great, The Song The Minstrels Sang has a get-up-and-go feel (I feel like frolicking when I hear it), Bitter Green is awesome, Someone To Believe In rocks (I feel like exercising when I hear it), Beautiful is a classic...how can anyone say these are least favorites? The least favorites are the ones you can't even think of unless you look at the album covers...but, yeah, That canary thing sucks! It's not

Listening to 'Someone To Believe In' also makes me feel like exercising when I hear it!
Oh yeah, my problem with 'Beautiful' is that its boring to hear.(Higgy78's problem)

I just found another song I don't like. 'Something Very Special'. I can't stand to listen to it because the entire time that annoying guitar sound is playing.

[Big Blue]

Daylight Katy. Come on! I think this may have been a low point for Gord. He sounds like he either just woke up, has been recording all day and it's 3am or he's seriously barbed out. What boggles my mind is how it made it on a Greatest Hits comp. I'm still new to much of Gord's stuff and so far, I haven't skipped past any songs, but that one made me raise my eyebrows and wince. Canary Yellow Canoe is cool just because it's so different from his usual stuff. I half thought it was in jest when I first heard it.

Let's be frank, the guy is a genius and undoubtedly one of the best songwriters ever, but nobody is perfect and nobody hits the mark every time. He was prolific and under contract and that combo always lends itself to a few uninspired tunes. It's the songs that aren't Sundown are Wreck or IYCRMM or Seven Island Suite or Carefree Highway that help make those songs so special.

Cheers, everybody! Let's celebrate what we like about Gord!

[BILLW]

Big Blue,

First of all congratulations on "kicking the bum out" to paraphrase Lightfoot. But I think Daylight Katy is a great tune, especially played loud. So go figure.

Bill