Talking about his song "The Love I Fake," Robley said:
This song inspired a music journalist in San Francisco to start a whole iTunes mix for songs about prostitutes. I think The Love I Fake and Roxanne are the only ones in there so far. Feel free to leave your suggestions in the box.
Of course, I was laughing so hard because the "music journalist" (I like the sound of that!) in question was yours truly, and the exchange we had about the prostitute mix during our interview was a great laugh at the time as well.
For the record, here's what I have for that mix so far:
- "The Love I Fake" by Chris Robley
- "Roxanne" by the Police
- "What Do You Do For Money Honey" by AC/DC
- "Love For Sale" by Ella Fitzgerald
- "He's A Whore" by Cheap Trick
- "Rider" by Juliana Hatfield
- "XXX" by Helium
- "The Kids" by Lou Reed
- "Midnight Caller" by Badfinger
- "Just A Gigolo" by Louis Prima (or David Lee Roth)
- "Bitter Suite" by Marillion [EDIT - added 12/10 per isorski comment]
- "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis" by Tom Waits [EDIT - added 12/10 per anonymous comment]
- "The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore" by PJ Harvey [EDIT - added 12/10 per anonymous comment]
- "The Prostitute Song" by Chef of South Park [EDIT - added 12/10 per anonymous comment]
- "Bad Girls" by Donna Summer [EDIT - added 12/10 per anonymous comment]
Some of these are questionable... such as the AC/DC song, which could just as easily be about your run of the mill gold digger. And "Rider" is really just about a promiscuous groupie, but since Juliana repeats the word "whore" seven times at the end of the song, I figured, what the heck, it counts. And I'm definitely counting songs about men -- all is fair in love and the sex trade. This could call for some serious song-by-song analysis later on...
What else should I add? If you know of any other songs about or alluding to prostitutes or gigolos, please point me in their direction so I can add 'em to the list!
4 comments:
From Marillion's Misplaced Childhood album, the song Bitter Suite ought to be added, due to this passage:
The sky was Bible black in lyon, when I met the magdalene
She was paralyzed in a streetlight
She refused to give her name
And a ring of violet bruises
They were pinned upon her arm
Two hundred francs for sanctuary and she led me by the hand
To a room of dancing shadows where all the heartache disappears
And from glowing tongues of candles I heard her whisper in my ear
jentend ton coeur, jentend ton coeur
I can hear your heart, I can hear your heart, I can hear your heart
Hear your heart
I hear your heart
Heavy duty - flipping GREAT album if you don't know it.
Um, like the best song about a prostitute ever? "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis" by Tom Waits. Also, "The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore" by PJ Harvey. And "The Prostitute Song" by Chef of South Park.
How about "Bad Girls" by Donna Summer?
And you call yourself a music journalist? You missed some of the most obvious...
isorski: haven't listened to Marillion in years... I had explored them back when those rumors were circulating that Fish was being considered to replace Phil Collins in Genesis. I shall add this one to the list!
Mr/Ms anonymous: I've heard all four of those, thanks for rescuing me from the hell that is Swiss cheese memory! All four shall be added to the list. And actually, technically it was Chris who called me a music journalist. I just call myself by my name.
Bruce Springsteen "Reno" from the Devils and Dust CD. EXTREMELY graphic ... he tells how much she charges for which "services" and exactly what she did! Also by Marillion from the mid-80s "Lady Nina." Check out the video on YouTube! The dude got out his credit card for her tho, so she was a little pricier than the Magdalene in Lyon for which he paid 200 francs!
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