June 6, 2002

Bad Habits - A June Journal Smackdown Collaboration

I don't understand most of the music of today; why it is popular and such. It seems half of it is just sampled (read: ripped off) from other artists' work, while the other half all sounds exactly the same. Where is the originality? Where is the talent? Most of all, where is the fun? I see no fun in pre-processed flavour of the month fluffy pop artists. There is certainly no fun in the angst-filled music that clogs the airwaves of 'alternative' radio. These songs do not make one want to dance or party. They make one want to slit wrists or get a Prozac prescription or subscribe to the National Post. I say, bring back fun! Break out your dusty 20 year old record collection and spin some platters from the early 80s. No turntable? Get some cds to replace those old lps, and place them into heavy rotation. Good bouncy all around fun tunes that make you want to dance, make you want to sing along, make you want to smile and laugh.

Start with The Monks - Bad Habits album. By the time you've listened from first track to last, guaranteed you'll be putting the razor blade back in the medicine cabinet next to the Prozac and cancelling your subscription to that right-wing rag. Why? You'll be too busy having fun. You've already got a head start, because odds are you already know the words to most of the songs. Sing along with me here for a sec.

Johnny Johnny Johnny Johnny Johnny Johnny Johnny Johnny
Johnny B Rotten tonight! You better hold that lid on tight!
You don't want to get in a fight! You better hold that lid on tight!

or...

I've got drugs in my pocket and I don't know what to do with them
I've got drugs in my pocket. Am I really through with them?
(I mean I really ask myself) Do I really need to be permanently high
Stay awake for hours or watch my life go by

or even...

One wants to stay at home, the other wants the night out
One wants to read in bed, the other wants the light out
I really don't know what to do,
'cause I'm in love with you
And you, and you!

or even still...

Met her on a blind date, helping out an old mate
Waiting at the corner, she’s be dressed in black
There was I expecting a really tasty bird
He said she was good looking, I should have doubt his word
When I saw her there she was a real disgrace
I thought nice legs shame about the face

See? If you know the songs, your foot is already tapping and you're probably smiling and itching to listen to them and sing along. Why? Because they are fun. If you don't know them, buy the album and give them a listen. Just because the music is old does not mean it's stale or irrelevant. Let's get back to having music that makes you feel good.

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