Comments on: Best Diss Track Prior to Hip-Hop [Think Tank] http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/09/25/best-diss-track/ Overthinking It subjects the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:05:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: Matthew Belinkie http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/09/25/best-diss-track/#comment-12604 Matthew Belinkie Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:17:30 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=10146#comment-12604 Mark's link is an interesting one. I guess the line, "In Birmingham they love the governor," seems like indirect support of George Wallace's policies. But Skynyrd has claimed that the song was meant to be sort of ironic, pointing to the vocal part that goes "BOO BOO BOO" right after the governor line. I kind of think the song is ambiguous in its meaning - and maybe the band didn't put too much thought into the lyrics. Mark’s link is an interesting one. I guess the line, “In Birmingham they love the governor,” seems like indirect support of George Wallace’s policies. But Skynyrd has claimed that the song was meant to be sort of ironic, pointing to the vocal part that goes “BOO BOO BOO” right after the governor line. I kind of think the song is ambiguous in its meaning – and maybe the band didn’t put too much thought into the lyrics.

]]> By: RV http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/09/25/best-diss-track/#comment-12603 RV Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:16:49 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=10146#comment-12603 Also, that Skynrd diss originated in Skynrd supporting segregation, and Neil Young opposing it. They kind of came out on the wrong side of that one. It actually kind of amazes me that "Sweet Home Alabama" can be listened to in polite company these days. Also, that Skynrd diss originated in Skynrd supporting segregation, and Neil Young opposing it. They kind of came out on the wrong side of that one. It actually kind of amazes me that “Sweet Home Alabama” can be listened to in polite company these days.

]]> By: Sharper http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/09/25/best-diss-track/#comment-12492 Sharper Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:36:06 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=10146#comment-12492 It's not the greatest diss track in history, but Jefferson's Declaration of Independence deserves mention. More than half of the tract can be paraphrased thus: The King is a bitch. He is a bitch. He is a tyrant, a bitch, and a douchebag. We tried to warn you. He is a bitch. And was followed up by with the 1776 equivalent of the modern drive-by: shooting redcoats from behind second-story windows. It’s not the greatest diss track in history, but Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence deserves mention. More than half of the tract can be paraphrased thus:

The King is a bitch.
He is a bitch.
He is a tyrant, a bitch, and a douchebag.
We tried to warn you.
He is a bitch.

And was followed up by with the 1776 equivalent of the modern drive-by: shooting redcoats from behind second-story windows.

]]> By: lee http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/09/25/best-diss-track/#comment-12473 lee Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:20:40 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=10146#comment-12473 @bittersweet:It's not that simple of a breakdown. "Sweet Home Alabama" is really more about defending the South against the stereotype that everyone's a segregationist hillbillies. I listen to this song all the time, and I humbly consider myself to be polite company. The story behind this song and Skynyrd's relationship with Neil Young is actually quite complicated. This article is worth the read: http://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/lynyrd.htm @bittersweet:It’s not that simple of a breakdown. “Sweet Home Alabama” is really more about defending the South against the stereotype that everyone’s a segregationist hillbillies. I listen to this song all the time, and I humbly consider myself to be polite company.

The story behind this song and Skynyrd’s relationship with Neil Young is actually quite complicated. This article is worth the read:

http://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/lynyrd.htm

]]> By: bittergradstudent http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/09/25/best-diss-track/#comment-12472 bittergradstudent Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:53:59 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=10146#comment-12472 Also, that Skynrd diss originated in Skynrd supporting segregation, and Neil Young opposing it. They kind of came out on the wrong side of that one. It actually kind of amazes me that "Sweet Home Alabama" can be listened to in polite company these days. Also, that Skynrd diss originated in Skynrd supporting segregation, and Neil Young opposing it. They kind of came out on the wrong side of that one. It actually kind of amazes me that “Sweet Home Alabama” can be listened to in polite company these days.

]]> By: Lara http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/09/25/best-diss-track/#comment-12445 Lara Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:11:50 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=10146#comment-12445 Love the picture of Arnaut on Wikipedia... He's wearing a hoodie and making somewhat appropriate hand gestures. Love the picture of Arnaut on Wikipedia… He’s wearing a hoodie and making somewhat appropriate hand gestures.

]]> By: perich http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/09/25/best-diss-track/#comment-12436 perich Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:57:07 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=10146#comment-12436 @El Acordeonachi: I considered it, but it didn't quite make the cut. Neil Young had a long and successful career even after that epic diss. @El Acordeonachi: I considered it, but it didn’t quite make the cut. Neil Young had a long and successful career even after that epic diss.

]]> By: Matthew Belinkie http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/09/25/best-diss-track/#comment-12434 Matthew Belinkie Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:51:28 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=10146#comment-12434 @Stokes - In the note on that page you linked to, it says: "Raimon's and Truc's sirventes (which suggest that the lady was clean enough, and that Bernat should have gone for it) are preserved as well, and they will be available on this site someday." I really want to find these on the site, but it's really tricky to figure our where they are. Anyone speak medieval French? @Stokes – In the note on that page you linked to, it says:
“Raimon’s and Truc’s sirventes (which suggest that the lady was clean enough, and that Bernat should have gone for it) are preserved as well, and they will be available on this site someday.”

I really want to find these on the site, but it’s really tricky to figure our where they are. Anyone speak medieval French?

]]> By: cushman http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/09/25/best-diss-track/#comment-12432 cushman Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:03:25 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=10146#comment-12432 This isn't pre-hip-hop, but Elliott Smith had a track dissing Trent Reznor. No lie. This isn’t pre-hip-hop, but Elliott Smith had a track dissing Trent Reznor. No lie.

]]> By: El Acordeonachi http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/09/25/best-diss-track/#comment-12431 El Acordeonachi Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:51:32 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=10146#comment-12431 What, no Lynyrd Skynyrd dissing Neil Young? Or was that one too obvious? What, no Lynyrd Skynyrd dissing Neil Young? Or was that one too obvious?

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