SickthingsUK

sorry if this has been discussed elsewhere.

really like this song - very catchy and difficult to get out of my head.

question about the lyrics though, from someone whose native language is not english;

at what point in the lyrics is it obvious that this is a man speaking, and not a woman?

The minute Alice sings!

It's not obvious.

I struggle to find a point in the lyrics where it's obvious that this is from a man's point of view, instead of a woman.
Anyone?

If Alice hadn't gone on about this in the press, I would have assumed it was a girl who was trying to be something she's not.

alicefannor wrote:I struggle to find a point in the lyrics where it's obvious that this is from a man's point of view, instead of a woman.
Anyone?

If Alice hadn't gone on about this in the press, I would have assumed it was a girl who was trying to be something she's not.

Read this:

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=43272

thanks for the link, but again, no explanation is given.

The lines quoted by Alice there could just as well have been from a woman.

furthermore about the lyrics; what's a "MAC disgrace"?

MAC is a make-up brand so it's a continuation of the previous line about smeared make-up.

And yes I would argue that if you just look at the lyrics themself the character singing can be a woman (cis or trans), a man, neither or in between. In the end of the day if one believes in "the death of the author" (only the art itself matters not what the artist says about it) then you are free to interpret the song in any way you like.

Swinger wrote:MAC is a make-up brand so it's a continuation of the previous line about smeared make-up.

And yes I would argue that if you just look at the lyrics themself the character singing can be a woman (cis or trans), a man, neither or in between. In the end of the day if one believes in "the death of the author" (only the art itself matters not what the artist says about it) then you are free to interpret the song in any way you like.

By the way, MAC is a great make-up brand, not tested on animals. Great stuff. Like you said, it's up to every fans to interpret the song, as they want. I've never questioned myself about ''The saga of Jesse Jane'', but this one, GAG,

Well, From my POV since it was Alice singing, it was always "Tongue In Cheek" humor & a nod to the LGBT community. Why shouldn't AC be all inclusive - after all he took a girls moniker nearly 50 years ago!! After the line in BML & the answer "Oh, you wouldn't really understand." Why can't ACG & Alice be at the forefront of a (yet another) trend? The lyrics were left ambiguous on purpose! Sorry if the language barrier is a problem. We're here to help you through that!

dadascot wrote:The minute Alice sings!

Of course. I can't believe some people are confused about the song. Alice Cooper is a man with a girls name. Initially people thought Alice Cooper was a girl. Now Alice Cooper the guy actually becomes a girl via a re-worked Neal Smith song.

Daggers & Contracts wrote:Well, From my POV since it was Alice singing, it was always "Tongue In Cheek" humor & a nod to the LGBT community. Why shouldn't AC be all inclusive - after all he took a girls moniker nearly 50 years ago!! After the line in BML & the answer "Oh, you wouldn't really understand." Why can't ACG & Alice be at the forefront of a (yet another) trend? The lyrics were left ambiguous on purpose! Sorry if the language barrier is a problem. We're here to help you through that!

I don't understand all this ''Tongue in Cheek'' humor and it's not a question of language barrier. I guess that I should stick with the ''Edgar Allan Poe'' songs, that's what I like, they are so beautiful.

Rhapsody of Fire wrote:

Daggers & Contracts wrote:Well, From my POV since it was Alice singing, it was always "Tongue In Cheek" humor & a nod to the LGBT community. Why shouldn't AC be all inclusive - after all he took a girls moniker nearly 50 years ago!! After the line in BML & the answer "Oh, you wouldn't really understand." Why can't ACG & Alice be at the forefront of a (yet another) trend? The lyrics were left ambiguous on purpose! Sorry if the language barrier is a problem. We're here to help you through that!

I don't understand all this ''Tongue in Cheek'' humor and it's not a question of language barrier. I guess that I should stick with the ''Edgar Allan Poe'' songs, that's what I like, they are so beautiful.

A 69 year old man singing about painting his nails and doing his make up is pretty funny. If you close your eyes you can see Alice all Baby Jane like strutting his stuff on the dance floor.

pitkin88 wrote:

Rhapsody of Fire wrote:

Daggers & Contracts wrote:Well, From my POV since it was Alice singing, it was always "Tongue In Cheek" humor & a nod to the LGBT community. Why shouldn't AC be all inclusive - after all he took a girls moniker nearly 50 years ago!! After the line in BML & the answer "Oh, you wouldn't really understand." Why can't ACG & Alice be at the forefront of a (yet another) trend? The lyrics were left ambiguous on purpose! Sorry if the language barrier is a problem. We're here to help you through that!

I don't understand all this ''Tongue in Cheek'' humor and it's not a question of language barrier. I guess that I should stick with the ''Edgar Allan Poe'' songs, that's what I like, they are so beautiful.

A 69 year old man singing about painting his nails and doing his make up is pretty funny. If you close your eyes you can see Alice all Baby Jane like strutting his stuff on the dance floor.

I kissed a girl and I liked it...

The history of Alice bending the gender lines is quite evident throughout his discography....and tend to be the best songs (imho).....songs like "Never Been Sold Before" dealing with male prostitution, "King Of The Silver Screen" is a fantastic "coming out" song...."Prettiest Cop On The Block" is positively GORGEOUS!

"Saga Of Jesse Jane" is just great storytelling...

"Genuine American Girl".....again, great writing and storytelling.

Enjoy!!

GailsFriend wrote:The history of Alice bending the gender lines is quite evident throughout his discography....and tend to be the best songs (imho).....songs like "Never Been Sold Before" dealing with male prostitution, "King Of The Silver Screen" is a fantastic "coming out" song...."Prettiest Cop On The Block" is positively GORGEOUS!

"Saga Of Jesse Jane" is just great storytelling...

"Genuine American Girl".....again, great writing and storytelling.

Enjoy!!

Also, I would say Mary-Ann, short song, you hear like a ballad to a girl, and then it finish with those lyrics, I thought you were my man. Total surprise.
Clever and brilliant.

the genius of this song is that there is nothing to state it outright [to ma anyways]. any female singer could cover this and make it a legitimate anthem, but Alice singing it make it the twisted little humourous gem it is.

The bit I don't get is the reference to the 'girl' having "bleach blonde curls". That immediately means it's not about Alice mocking himself.

Genuine American Girl is this weeks coolest song in the world on Little Steven's Underground Garage. It will get a lot of play on his station this week.

revinkevin wrote:Genuine American Girl is this weeks coolest song in the world on Little Steven's Underground Garage. It will get a lot of play on his station this week.

Very nice!!

The issue isn't the lyrical content, the issue for me is I don't think it is that great of a song and neither is You and All Your Friends. I found both original band songs underwhelming, just my own personal opinion. There are several other songs on the album I like better such as Fireball and The Sound of A.