A fearless look at lists

So among critics and bloggers alike, it’s usually cool to blast “list songs” as being lazy excuses for songwriting right? I’m sure by now you guys have heard the song “It’s America” by Rodney Atkins (I envy those that have not heard it yet…)? Well songs like that give list songs a bad name- it’s lazy and uncoordinated pandering. However, I want to talk about list songs in general- but I’ll start with “It’s America” as an example.

 

It's America by Rodney Atkins

Let’s look at this song, because it really is lazy. What really annoys me about this song is how almost every thing listed in the song could be about any country on Earth. A rock and roll band? Kids selling lemonade? Cities and farms? Fireflies in June? God‽ I find it incredibly hard to believe that these things solely define America and no other country can have them- especially the last one. It’s that kind of arrogant attitude that Americans have sometimes that annoys people from other countries and Atkins’ incoherent list perpetuates that stereotype in every way- and it’s a terribly annoying song. The objects mentioned have nothing to do with each other, let alone even making any sense. They literally made a song trying to pull at all the heartstrings possible in their audience and it seems people are taking the bait, seeing as the song is currently at #5 on the charts.

 

 

Jazmine Sullivan

So now that we’ve looked at my least favorite “list song”, I want to try and find good list songs. Here’s one of my favorites- an R&B song called “Fear” (Click to listen) by Jazmine Sullivan (Who, if you’ll remember was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys, as well as a few other R&B awards). The song is very simple, but the list that is created has a specific theme, all the things that Jazmine is afraid of. It comes off as an intimate list of what really scares her, things such as flopping albums, gaining weight, paparazzi and love, ending with the chorus:

 

This may sound silly but it’s true
So don’t pretend it ain’t you too
We all afraid of something here
Cause you ain’t human without fear

She takes that list and by revealing her fears, she tells the listener that they have fear too- a very powerful message. Her list isn’t random and incoherent, but tight and focused toward a bigger message. Now I know R&B is probably not your thing, but I really hope you’ll give the song a chance- her performance is amazing and she really shines in this song.

So what does this say about country music, that to find a good list song, I had to reach outside the genre? There are many examples of list songs that have been successes in country music- but I can’t think of any that are really good songs in any way. I wish the writers that are making these list songs could be like Jazmine, and make songs that don’t sound lazy- to have lists with a real purpose that make sense.

So here’s the question I’m posing:

Do you agree with me on list songs? Can you think of any good list songs? Or what is your least favorite list song?