Opinion of "All About That Bass"

[angus]

I just listened to it.  I liked it because it made me smile.  Not sure what the "message" might be.  On the surface it seems like a put down of skinny people, which is sort of bigoted, but I think that it's meant to be ironic in that way.  It seems to be a pro-social message in the sense that it doesn't tell you what to eat but rather to appreciate your big booty ("every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top).  Not unlike the Danish version of how to deal with Global Warming.  "I see the magazine, workin' that Photoshop.  We know that shit ain't real, c'mon now make it stop" is a telling stanza.  Or maybe I'm reading too much in between the lines.  It's certainly a catchy tune.  Simple, yet captivating, at least for 3 minutes.  Also, the fabulously fabulous fat guy in the bermuda shorts and the backup trio inspired by Nicki Minaj is very Old Navy.  Overall, I give it highest honors.

As an aside, apparently this artist is for real.  I've googled a few tunes by Meghan Trainor, and apparently she's very much into simple arrangements inspired by the Doo Wop genre.  The lyrics are systematically soulful and soul-searching.  Not my type of music, necessarily, but as that type of music goes, it seems sincere and is good for a head-bopping three minutes of joy.

[angus]

Yes, was the analogy misguided, or misplaced?

[angus]

Ah, Lomborg is one of the darlings of TIME magazine, and a few other US media outlets.  NatGeo even did a big spread about him.  Also, his philosophy is sometimes described as "the Danish" mode.  Of course, here in the United States, we also use the phrase "the Danish" to describe a very fattening cream-filled pastry, so don't get your panties in a tight little wad over this.  We don't have rules saying that you can't call it "Texas" chili if it's from New Jersey or you can't call it "Champagne" if it's from California.  We're not like the French in that regard, so no offense.

Anyway, I don't want to get sidetracked here.  This seems mostly to be an artist influenced by the sounds of the 50s and the sights of the 80s and who has taken a sociology project on herself.  Or upon herself and her producers.  Also, it's sufficiently boppy and happy music so that you can still concentrate on other stuff and not get distracted.  Try playing Pink Floyd's The Wall while you do your statistical mechanics homework, sometime, before putting this one down.  It's okay.  It's background.  Sort of like Wham or Madonna.  Good for shopping malls and elevators.  Nothing wrong with that. 

Also I think the bass clef is systematically marginalized.  I mentioned that to my son's piano teacher once.  It seems like every cartoon or T-shirt meant to symbolize music always features this symbol



At one of his Christmas concerts she was wearing a broach with that symbol on it and I mentioned at that time that the bass clef gets no respect.  She giggled, but I was serious.  It is clearly an underrepresented register, and I think it's nice to see somebody toss a little nod in its direction from time to time. 

[angus]

Ah, the notorious alto clef.  

I actually had not heard of this song till I saw this thread, now I watch the video at least two times per day.  My son enjoys it very much.  Apparently a couple of kids are always singing it on the playground at his school so he was already familiar with the song.

[angus]

I heard this song in real life today!

I took the boy to a skating rink.  Against his mother's advice, I bought him a pair of in-line skates a few months ago.  I decided not to fight that battle, rather to surreptitiously buy him a pair and present them.  Sure, there have been some bruises and abrasions, but he has enjoyed them on the asphalt trails and sidewalks.  He has been asking me for months to take him to a proper indoor skating rink with polished wooden floor.  Finally, there was a buy-one-get-one-free admissions coupon to Overlook Park Skate so I took him.  He insisted that I rent a pair and go skating as well.  It has been at least 30 years, and probably more, since I've been roller skating, and I've never tried the in-line skates.  Nevertheless, I was a good sport.  It took me about 30 minutes to get the hang of it, but I was persistent and I don't mind saying that I soon became quite proficient with them.  By the end of the three-hour episode, I was drenched in sweat and had received a decent cardiovascular workout.  Most of the parents sat on the sidelines, but there was one other old guy besides me.  Other than the two of us, it was all children, ages 6 through 14 I'd estimate.  Anyway, at some point "All about that bass" started blaring through the speakers and all the kids, including my son, got excited about it and started singing along.  The crowd's reaction was delightful.  Evidently it's a popular tune.

I was very sore afterward, and immediately went to the jacuzzi and just stewed for half an hour before I did anything else.  I think I'll just rest this evening and enjoy a nice stiff drink.

[angus]

Also, did I just read someone in this thread doesn't like bass? What even is that?

Nah, he just wants his trombone score written in the treble clef so his brain will stop hurting.

[angus]

Interesting.  I haven't heard it at the gym yet.  (outside this forum and the one time at the skating rink, I haven't heard it at all.)  My gym also goes through cycles.  For a while there was song about there not being enough rain in Oklahoma which played at least twice each time I went there.  I always thought of Bushie when that song came on.  Then they went through an 80s period.  Not sure what they're doing now.  I'll be there for about an hour tomorrow evening, so I'll listen for All about that Bass.