Thursday, July 27, 2006

Board games and wussiest songs

Here's a list of the top 10 board games of the 1980's. Growing up with two siblings close in age, I would have thought that we'd have all of them, but there were a couple that I didn't recognize.

What the hell are "I Vant to Bite Your Finger" and "Fireball Island"? I'm so sure that there were better games out there.

Last week, I posted Blender's list of the 25 biggest wusses ever. In similar, but unrelated, fashion, AOL has created a list of the 111 Wussiest Songs of All Time.

I have a couple objections to this list. I think I'm objecting to what really qualifies as "wussy."

There are some songs from bands like Guns N' Roses and Poison, but I think there's some kind of exception for rock bands and their one big ballad. I mean, that's how you reel in the chicks, right? It's not like they mean it. And it's not like singing about a relationship gone to hell is a wussy thing to do. Without breakups, what would writers (including songwriters) use as inspiration?

There are two that I totally agree with, though -- "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" by Bryan Adams and "Beth" by Kiss. I otherwise like the artists, but give me a break. These songs are just lame.

Then there are a whole bunch where it's not the song, it's the artist.

You know what you're getting with artists like Celine Dion, Richard Marx and Air Supply. Same with "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer is a cutesy, sappy little love song, by a Christian band with a girl singer. Did you really expect it to not be wussy?

And don't get me started on the Smiths, the Cure and Depeche Mode. This is just part of their je ne sais quois. Their entire goth persona relies on the wimpiness factor, along with the black hair, black clothes, and black eyeliner.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, I happen to like The Cure. OK, I also like Toad the Wet Sprocket, but the point is that anything by AOL is highly suspect and to be disregarded with extreme prejudice.

Anonymous said...

P.S. I really do like your painting, and I'm not just saying that cua I'm a kiss ass.

dara said...

I like the Cure and Toad the Wet Sprocket, too.

The list doesn't make sense because it doesn't really define or limit the term "wussy." Can the Cure be considered wussy? Yes. Same level as Celine Dion? No friggin' way.

I'm fond of the painting too. So I thought it would make a cute icon and profile picture. It's definitely cuter than any recent photo I've taken. Plus, it helps me keep my anonymity so I don't get Dooced.

Scotus said...

Fireball Island RULED. (At least, it did if you were a ten year old boy.) I got it for Christmas one year, and in the span of two days, I managed to alienate my entire family by forcing them to play it with me over and over.

dara said...

I never even heard of it. I hope it's not because I'm too old.

In retrospect, maybe it's a good thing that as a 10 year old I preferred to play Trivial Pursuit and Poker.

NotCarrie said...

I used to be such a dork about Operation. I was so serious about it.

Justin S. said...

As I said with the other list, it's possible to admit something's wussy and still like it. I'm glad this list included Phil Collins, and "You're the Inspiration" was way too low on this list, although "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is the wussier Chicago song. Same with "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls, although I think their cover of "Give A Little Bit" is the wussiest thing I've ever heard. And "I Just Called to Say I Love You" is a no-brainer.

I agree that AOL didn't define it's criterea so well. "Shiny Happy People" could is extremely wussy by some criterea, but not in the pathetic way a wussy Chicago song is.

DSL said...

Maybe Fireball Island is a boy thing, although it can't help, Dara, that we're the same age and I haven't heard of it either.
I used to HATE Operation. I was terrorized by it as a child.
Am I wrong, but why isn't LIFE here? Wasn't it very popular in the 80s?

dara said...

Not Carrie: I think one of my siblings had Operation. It wasn't for me. Too science-y.

Justin: I am ignoring your viscious and uncalled for attack on the Goo Goo Dolls.

Debby: I was assuming that these are all games that first came out in the 80's. Life has to be way older than that. And I still have no clue about Fireball Island. Even after I googled it.

dan said...

scotus is right, fireball island was awesome. so awesome, in fact, that i bought it on ebay for my sister, in honor of the hours we wasted killing each other with fireballs.

even when somebody won (got the jewel back to the dock, duh), we'd invent some scenario (monkeys appear and whisk the jewel back into the jungle!) just to keep playing. now that's a board game!

dara said...

Dan: I'm guessing that this was just something I missed. Maybe they didn't have Fireball Island in New Jersey, or maybe I was busy playing with girlier things.

Maybe I missed it because I'm too old.

I'm going to ask my siblings if they remember it. My sister will likely say no, because she doesn't remember things, but if anyone knows, it's my brother.

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