Hate This Song/Love This Song

So I have a new idea that might actually get me writing again (everyone breathes a collective sigh of relief). Music is one of the most important things in my life. I know lots of people say that, but they are all liars. I mean it for serious. Several years ago I realized that the way I feel about music is pretty akin to the way I feel about people. I like at least a few songs from all genres. Granted, I’m just not huge on reggae, but I can groove to a few of those tunes. So I don’t think you can just write off a genre completely. You really have to take things one song at a time and see if it’s a song for you or not. Maybe it’s not for you right now, but years later it’s magic. Could also be the other way around.

Thus begins a new experiment of sharing songs I love and hate. Here the metaphor needs to end because I don’t really think we should hate any people or person. Sure if someone kills everyone in your family you are going to hate that person. God, I think, knows this is the case. Look at the Psalms. But I’m not going to condone or encourage hate. I am going to say that I hate certain songs. And yeah, that’s pretty strong, and some people really hate the word hate. My apologies in advance. I’m going to try and balance things by also sharing a song I love. Sometimes genres might match up and stuff like that. We’ll just see where it all goes. I welcome thoughts and even requests to weigh in on songs. Let’s break the internet!

“Lean On Me” by Bill Withers - I hate this song. I’m not even really sure why. I just kind of always have. Musically I don’t think it’s much. And I must confess that my feelings for it have been vastly influenced by hearing it used at church camps or certain rallies. Things went to white-hot hate when people started doing the “five, short, elbow” thing. That’s truly horrible and makes no sense as he is not saying “knee” or “knead.” Come on people, you’re better than that. I think it was used once at the end of an episode of “The Simpsons,” and that’s the closest I’ve come to liking it. But no, it’s just not for me.

“Stand By Me” by Ben E. King - I love this song. See what I did there? In the same way that I’ve just never been a fan of “Lean on Me” I loved this song the first time I heard it. I am fairly certain I first heard it being played by my brother’s junior high band (Tigrett Junior High Thunderbolts). Like a marching band, but I don’t think they were marching. Probably it was at a football game or something? Anyway, it was amazing, and I didn’t even know the words which I think are deeply moving and somehow resist being cliche. The way the song builds is perfect. Everything fits, and nothing is wasted. To me, it is a perfect song.