I was in my car the other day and my radio was tuned to the local classic rock station. You know the one. Every market has at least one of these stations. Anyway, the DJ starts talking about the latest Rolling Stones album, chortling about how the Stones can still rock after all these years. Ok, I'll play. Let's pretend that the Stones are still relevant to people under the age of 50 for a few minutes.
Apparently in a shrewd attempt to generate some buzz for their new offering, Mick and the boys threw in a song that slams U.S. President George Bush, a move which then led to the obligatory Dixie Chicks reference by our DJ. He then went on to make some ambiguous comment about how music is a great forum for people to make statements about their personal beliefs. Or a great forum for an over-the-hill band that hasn't put out good music since the early 1980s to get some free publicity in order to generate some sales from a fan base that hasn't figured out how to download music. But I digress. The clandestine marketing efforts of the Rolling Stones isn't my focus. Yet, I'm well aware of the irony as I read back this last paragraph. Damn you Jagger!
The purpose of today's offering was to talk about great feuds in music that featured a song with lyrics that disparage another musician or band. For the purposes of this discussion, I have limited my list to my personal top five as well as only including feuds that took place within the last 25 years. I also included my thoughts on why these disputes stuck with me as well as why they placed where they did on my list. So without further ado, here is top five countdown:
5. Vanilla Ice vs. Kid N' Play
The Skinny:
At the height of their popularity, Kid N' Play were well known for their dancing ability. Dancing also happened to be something Vanilla Ice was known for at this time. This one culminated with Ice using the lyrics, "and I can dance better than any Kid or Play" in the song Play That Funky Music. Kid N' Play later went on the Arsenio Hall show and dismissed the song and any other claims made by Ice while Arsenio rocked back and forth in his chair, cupping his hands over his mouth. At least that's how I remember it. My memory is a little foggy. Sure no one was shot (foreshadowing alert!) but that was a different time. A better time. Did I mention I live in the past?
Article comments
1 - Billy Shears
Seems like the Oasis v. Blur fued was bigger than the Oasis v. INXS fued. Either way, I f**King love Oasis. And they'll still writing #1 UK hits left-and-right.
INXS, on the other hand, has embarrassed itself to a degree I never thought possible.
2 - DJRadiohead
Hell, Oasis' Noel V Liam was bigger than Oasis V INXS.
Don't Believe the Truth is still my favorite album of 2005!
3 - Luke
Oasis and INXS were in a bar with Bono, oasis didn't slam them in an interview
4 - manny
neil young vs lynyrd skynyrd, paul vs john - also some great ones.
5 - [edited]
Well that was a stupid ignorant comment. I'm a teenager and even I know how important the Rolling Stones are and they're always praised among generations. It might not be the same as when they first came out but it's still there. [personal attack deleted]