Hear me out. I like the song. Its catchy. I bought it when it first came out in my Punk Rock days, and indeed, Punk was about rebellion and behaving badly. But the song became a classic and is still alive today, particularly in those Swiffer commercials in heavy rotation where the hook is this duster cloth is "gonna getcha!", as in stubborn, hard to get at dust. Cute.
But we've become much more aware of stalkers since this song first aired and have elevated public awareness that stalking is a punishable crime. Just think about these lyrics:
I will drive past your house
And if the lights are all out
I'll see whose around
and later...
I'll walk down the mall
Stand over by the wall
Where I can see it all
Find out who ya call
Lead you to the supermarket checkout
Some specials and rat food, get lost in the crowd
Now...is this REALLY what we should be singing along to? I do, but I now question it. Isn't this a little CREEPY now by today's standards? No biggie here. Just curious
2007-12-02 09:50:04 · 4 answers · asked by John S. 5 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
Regarding "I'll Be Watching You" by Sting, yes! That's another song widely thought to be about stalking and there is a diversity of opinion on that. In one interview, Sting says it is really about the Cold War. In another, he said it was about his imagining his Ex-wife stalk him. Others believe it is about too much government intervention in our lives and "Big Brother is watching you". Still others see it as a parent watching over their child as they grow up, leave home, and the parent is heartbroken but will continue to watch over the child always. A diversity of interpretations, yes.
To compare with "One Way or Another", the song by Sting is from the view of someone who has already had a close relationship in the past with the object of their attention, so it's about something lost they want to regain. In the Blondie song, it's about woo-ing someone for the first time through aggressive tactics.
In either case, I just find it interesting how we glamorize obcessive behavior.
2007-12-02 10:16:36 · update #1
Wow it's 2007! little late in the game for that question!
2007-12-02 11:08:10 · answer #1 · answered by Karebear 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tow other famous stalking songs are "867-5309/Jenny" by Tommy Tutone and "Every Breath You Take" by The Police. What was amazing was that "Every Breath You Take" was even played at weddings because many people thought it was a love song. It was obvious from the first time I head it that it was really about obsession and jealousy. I guess people don't really listen to lyrics.
2007-12-02 11:38:53 · answer #2 · answered by RoVale 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blondie is in the Rock 'N Roll hall of fame. You're an idiot and should show more respect for truly great artists.
2007-12-02 12:34:23 · answer #3 · answered by righteous_dude 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What about "I'll be watching you" by THE POLICE?
2007-12-02 09:57:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋