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Mike the Knife
Mike the Knife
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Answers

Posted about 1 year ago
Been listening to Camera Obscura’s “Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken,” the Glasgow, Scotland art-pop band’s lilting answer song to “Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?” - the yearning ballad by folk-rock singer-songwriter Lloyd Cole. The Camera Obscura number is a beauty. I almost like the response better than the tune that inspired it.The answer song isn’t a new thing. It’s been going on in R&B and blues and country music for decades. There’s been some high-profile back and forth in rock, too. One of the biggies is "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, which was, in part, a reaction to Neil Young's pointed attack on racism, "Southern Man." (“Well, I hope Neil Young will remember / a southern man don’t need him around anyhow.”)It seems like there are a boatload of rap songs that provoke battle-ready, diss-heavy callbacks by rival rappers. “Roxanne” and “The Real Roxanne” displayed this phenomenon at its most harmless, but some hip-hop answer songs have been downright vicious and may have even ignited violence between rival performers and between their posses.I think it would be cool to assemble of mix of answer songs. I’d welcome any suggestions. And I’m sure there are plenty of rock classics that are begging for musical responses. Hell, we all need answers now and then…On a side note, the whimsical video for “Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken” is always a treat. If you haven’t seen it…
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Comments (25)

  1. Masoo
    Masoo says "How Do You Sleep" is kinda like an answer song to the entire first solo album by Paul McCartney.
    Permalink posted 02/08/2008
  2. Oatmeal
    Oatmeal says Thanks for the killer pop tune Mike. Can't say I have much for you on the answer song front.
    Permalink posted 02/08/2008
  3. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Masoo: That's for sure. And I believe Macca responded to Lennon's song with a little number entitled "I Sleep Pretty Well, Thank You, After Half a Bottle of NyQuil." No? My mistake. Oatmeal: De nada. I do recall a few others, some not so combative. Roger Miller's "King of the Road" spawned Jody Miller's "Queen of the House." (I don't think they were related.)
    Permalink posted 02/08/2008
  4. Oatmeal
    Oatmeal says I faintly remember some retort to Hound Dog, but can't remember the name.
    Permalink posted 02/08/2008
  5. Masoo
    Masoo says There's all the Annie songs. "Work With Me Annie," "Annie Had a Baby," "Roll With Me Henry," maybe even "Please Mrs. Henry."
    Permalink posted 02/08/2008
  6. Misstee
    Misstee says How the hell did i miss this? Jaunty pop tune and a candy colored video with killer dance moves? And Lloyd Cole twice in one week!
    Permalink posted 02/08/2008
  7. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Oatmeal: "You Ain't Nuthin' But a House Cat"? "Spay & Neuter Your Hound Dog"? "Quit Hounding Me, You Dog"? Masoo: Methinks Annie and Henry should've kept it in their pants. Misstee: Yeah. Kind of a cute throwback to those '80s viddies we all know and love. And, yes, Lloyd rules! (I loves me some "Rattlesnake," "Jennifer She Said" and "No Blue Skies," the latter actually making me all emotional whenever I hear it because of, well...please don't ask. She's been gone for quite a while.)
    Permalink posted 02/08/2008
  8. Misstee
    Misstee says 'cheekbones like geometry?'
    Permalink posted 02/08/2008
  9. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Perfect...
    Permalink posted 02/08/2008
  10. Misstee
    Misstee says awww sorry about that....
    Permalink posted 02/08/2008
  11. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says This vid reminds me of a combo of "The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg"w/Catherine Deneuve & "Singing In The Rain". And the girl lip-synching the song looks like she's about to fall asleep. The song isn't too bad though.
    Permalink posted 02/08/2008
  12. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Misstee: S'okay. Water under the bridge, spilt milk, and other liquidy metaphors. I feel like I've paddled far downstream since then - or upstream. Tough to tell sometimes. August: Hey! C'mon, man! Nothing wrong with "Singing in the Rain," "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" - or, for that matter, "The Young Girls of Rochefort." Or the sleepy girl. Or this wonderful song. ;-)
    Permalink posted 02/08/2008
  13. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says Where we going Mike? I didn't say there was anything wrong w/those movies, so the comparisons were meant as a positive thing since I like both those films(I've yet to see Demy's "The Young Girls of Rochefort"). The sleepy girl's performance is just so underwhelming compared to the rest of the vid. Like I said, the song's not bad, but then again I'd rather listen to Mr. Cole.
    Permalink posted 02/08/2008
  14. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Just kidding around, August. I do think those films or those types of films influenced the video, so that was pretty astute. As they say, imitation - the sincerest fom of flattery.
    Permalink posted 02/09/2008
  15. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says Ok, gotcha, you snarky guy you! Since I'm a movie buff I usually pick up on the visual refs. to classic films in music vids. Don't know that it would be "astute" per se but it just comes from my adoration & obession w/celluloid. I just finished watching Luchino Visconti's epic "The Leopard" w/Burt Lancaster. It's a quite ornate & gorgeous tapestry on film about Sicilian nobility.
    Permalink posted 02/09/2008
  16. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Talk about off-topic: I love "The Leopard." Especially the "original" version in Italian, including a dubbed Lancaster who was actually performing his lines in English. Crazy.
    Permalink posted 02/09/2008
  17. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says Haha, well yea, I guess it is off topic sort of but the vid brought up movies so not really! I had a feeling you'd know of 'The Leopard'. And I did watch the original version. This dvd actually has both versions but from what I hear the US version is far inferior since they cut out alot of scenes they thought US audiences wouldn't follow due to cultural differences. Thank goddess for director & original cuts of movies! It's funny that they allowed Lancaster to recite his lines in English & dubbed them over.
    Permalink posted 02/09/2008
  18. darmuzz
    darmuzz says Love this song but haven't heard the rest of the album. Nothing to contribute to the topic, just showing up...
    Permalink posted 02/09/2008
  19. ivylander
    ivylander says Back to your original question, when Barry McGuire had his monster hit with "Eve Of Destruction," a couple of songwriters named Madera and White (they apparently composed Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me" and Danny and the Juniors' "At The Hop") convened a studio group, which they called the Spokesmen, to record "Dawn Of Correction." It was meant to offer a constructive answer to McGuire's bilious take on the state of America circa 1966. "Dawn Of Correction" blew donkeys.
    Permalink posted 02/09/2008
  20. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says darmuzz: No prob. I appreciate the visit! ivylander: I remember that one. As heavy-handed as the McGuire song was, the response was so lame that "Eve of Destruction" seemed like genius by comparison. BTW, your mention of Lesley Gore reminded me that she answered her own hit "It's My Party" with a sort of sequel that continued the "action," "Judy's Turn to Cry."
    Permalink posted 02/09/2008
  21. FastRMacR
    FastRMacR says Very great post, Mike. Fantastic Idea! Masoo had my answer right out of the gate there (and there's more detail for that one). I know some of these, I swear (I will return)! Great tune!
    Permalink posted 02/11/2008
  22. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Thanks indeed, FastRMacR. It's the answer songs that stand on their own, like the Camera Obscura number, that really interest me. But the whole idea of a musical dialogue between artists is so cool. Which may explain why I'm always interested in seeing two guitarists trade solos in concert.
    Permalink posted 02/11/2008
  23. FastRMacR
    FastRMacR says Well sir - that would most definitely make me think of some hotel in California. Joe Walsh and Don Felder did that idea very well -especially in concert. I keep thinking albums with this, ie, Rubber Soul inspired Pet Sounds inspired Sgt Pepper sort of thing. I do have a definite 'answer' for you. Roberta Flack wrote "Killing Me Softly" in response to Don McLean's "American Pie".
    Permalink posted 02/12/2008
  24. Max Hall
    Max Hall says

    Hi - new to the site and got here by searching for 'Camera Obscura'on Google. Heard their new track 'French Navy' on Radio 6 (UK), (an excellent source of new music of a more grown-up nature) and loved it. Just checked-out other tracks by them & need to buy the albums now. Whilst reading this thread I felt compelled to post my 'answer song'. Lydia Murdock recorded 'Superstar' in response to MJ's 'Billie Jean'. It sounds awful now, but liked it at the time. I love the site and look forward to discovering more new music.

    Permalink posted 04/01/2009
  25. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says

    Max: Good call on the Murdock track. And great to have you aboard. There are many astute people here, willing to share insights and info - and there is music galore, new and old. Enjoy!

    Permalink posted 04/01/2009

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