Whatever happened to clear enunciation?
None of us are strangers to badly written songs. In fact, most of what constitutes as popular commercial music today is ironically a package of a catchy beat/tune and some less than mediocre lyrics.
But what about those songs whose lyrics have been widely misheard?
1. Gangnam Style
Honestly, most people who have heard this song are not familiar or fluent with Korean, but how many of you could swear you heard the words – βopen condom styleβ the first time you heard the song? Giggle worthy, indeed. No hate to Psy though. Itβs not his fault most of his fans arenβt Korean!
2. I Wanna Hold Your Hand
The Beatles are probably one the greatest bands that have ever existed, no doubt. But even the greatest band in the world went through their share of enunciation issues. For awhile, most people associated βI wanna hold your handβ with, βI wanna hold your hamβ which for some was the butt of many perverted jokes. Either way, we love the song. Mad respect to you McCartney!
3. Hollaback Girl
Gwenniiie! You awesome Ska vocalist, you! But why do you keep singing, βI ain’t no Harlem black girlβ? We know you arenβt black or from Harlem. That much is obvious. So why write a song about it? Oh waaaaait, now we get it.
4. Beat It
King of pop = Ruler of the world! However, why was Michael Jackson caught singing βBeaded, beaded. No one wants to eat a peanut,β on a track that was called, βBeat itβ? Hello, everyone LOVES peanuts so we donβt know what you were talking about, MJ.
Regardless, may your soul rest in peace.
5. Purple Haze
Jimi Hendrix was the man. His songs sounded brilliant, even when they were misheard. Probably one of the most popular and known misheard lyrics to have ever existed comes from Hendrixβs βScuse me while I kiss the skyβ which many (eager) fans heard as βScuse me while I kiss this guyβ. But like we said, Jimi was the man. So what did he do? He took the misheard lyrics and adopted it himself!