Amph 166 Songs Deemed Inappropriate After 9/11: #59: Fuel "Bad Day"

#54: Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan.

[image=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/28/Bob_Dylan_-_Knockin_on_Heavens_Door.jpg]

&

#64: Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Guns 'N Roses.

[image=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b7/GNR_Heaven.jpg]

Since these are relatively close to each other in the lineup, and are pretty similar to each other (though Dylan and other performers have changed the lyrics over the years, they're more or less the same), I'm just going to tackle these together. Especially since the GNR version gets more radioplay by a massive margin, there's no point talking about the song without including the GNR version.


Now, apparently the lyrics are about a Sheriff feeling he's unable to do his job anymore- and while that could be applicable to the 9/11 situation, I don't believe the people behind this list thought that hard about these songs to make such a connection, and simply went with a more obvious title/chorus connection of the phrase "knockin; on heaven's door" to suggest one is dead, or close to death.

 

I love the song, but it's overplayed (as are a lot of GNR's songs). But then, Use Your Illusion II was one of my first CD's and I love most of the songs on there.

 

I actually didn't even know it was a Dylan song until i saw this list. I mean, it's not surprising as I don't really listen to his stuff, but rock stations for the past 15+ years pretty much play the GNR version exclusively.

 

The list is selective it seems when it comes to covers. For example, as we mentioned early on the list, Alien Ant Farm's cover of "Smooth Criminal" is on the list, but not the original by Michael Jackson.

 

Well, between GNR, Hendrix and Watchmen, I've greatly enjoyed the covers of his work, does that count?

 

I think he's referring to the MCR cover of Desolation Row.

I actually hear the original Knockin' on Heaven's Door on the radio more often than the GnR version. Again included on this list for the simple reason of referring to death.

 

My mistake- I mixed up the use of Dylan song during the opening credits with the presence of the other cover song.

 

#55: Santa Monica by Everclear.
(video link has a couple audio skips partway through, but has a clear set of lyrics)

[image=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/64/Everclear_-_Santa_Monica_cd_single.png]


So, my guess is here that the key phrases that were "objectionable" were the opening "still living with your ghost" and the chorus's "leave the fire behind" and "watch the world die".

 

#56: Johnny Angel by Shelley Fabares.

[image=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/98/Johnny_Angel_Shelley_Fabares.jpg]


...wow, ok, um, I guess it's the references to "heaven" that qualified this one? Cause other than that, it's pretty obviously centered on your typical 1950's lovey-dovey bubbly cliche. Nothing really edgy in there at all (unless Clear Channel feels it is no longer appropriate for women to feel tingly in a post-9/11 world ) .

 

(I'll slowly be working to update the formatting for the previous entries)



#57: Hey Man, Nice Shot by Filter.


Though the song is about the suicide of a PA official convicted of bribery (often mistaken as being about the suicide of Kurt Cobain), I suspect this excerpt is what got it on the list:

Now that the smoke's gone
And the air is all clear
Those who were right there
Got a new kind of fear

However, like most songs on the list that have a similarly remote connection, I doubt many, if any, would make such an interpretation of the track.

 

Ah, this thread. Can't wait to see what other songs are idiotically part of this list.

 

Haven't gotten there yet- the list is in alphabetical order, by last name (or simply band name).