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Debate about "What is Love" by Haddaway

MesanixtaMesanixta Registered User regular
edited May 2011 in Debate and/or Discourse
OK, this may seem facetious--and it was at first--but it has morphed into a serious debate.

In the classic Haddaway song "What is Love," does the singer say "Baby don't hurt me" or "Lady don't hurt me?"

My coworkers, excepting a small minority, insist that it's "baby." But they back up their assertion with an assortment of various stank-encrusted internet lyrics sites. I've searched for a scan of the official liner or insert for the single to see if the lyrics are printed on it, but I can't find it anywhere online. I watched the video, but at no point does the camera show the singer's lips during that pivotal line. It's almost like he knew that this would create a small but very fervent argument a decade or so hence.

Most people I've talked to say it's "baby," but I can only hear "lady." Can anyone give the straight dope or at least voice their opinion?

Mesanixta on

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    ShanadeusShanadeus Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Baby.
    It is a bit unclear but it's definitely a "-by" rather than a "-dy".

    Shanadeus on
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    Niceguy MyeyeNiceguy Myeye Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I concur. Now that that's settled. Let's talk about misunderstanding lyrics.

    For a little bit, I thought that Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill said the following:

    "If I could make a deal with God, I'd get him to swallow feces."

    Niceguy Myeye on
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    FeralFeral ＭＥＭＥＴＩＣＨＡＲＩＺＡＲＤ interior crocodile alligator ⇔ ǝɹʇɐǝɥʇ ǝᴉʌoɯ ʇǝloɹʌǝɥɔ ɐ ǝʌᴉɹp ᴉRegistered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I could never tell how the chorus of AFI's 'Girls Not Grey' went, but it sounded to me like:

    "She swallows!
    When she goes down on me!
    She swallows!
    It makes me pee and poop.
    With rice pilaf..."

    Feral on
    every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.

    the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
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    David_TDavid_T A fashion yes-man is no good to me. Copenhagen, DenmarkRegistered User regular
    edited April 2011
    A minor thing, but for the absolute longest time I thought the chorus of "In The Air Tonight" was "I can feel it coming in the air tonight, hold on" rather than "oh lord".

    Really weird to suddenly realize "Oh hey, he's totally not saying what I've been hearing for the past decade".

    David_T on
    euj90n71sojo.png
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    FeralFeral ＭＥＭＥＴＩＣＨＡＲＩＺＡＲＤ interior crocodile alligator ⇔ ǝɹʇɐǝɥʇ ǝᴉʌoɯ ʇǝloɹʌǝɥɔ ɐ ǝʌᴉɹp ᴉRegistered User regular
    edited April 2011
    It totally sounds like "hold on."

    Feral on
    every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.

    the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
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    RingoRingo He/Him a distinct lack of substanceRegistered User regular
    edited April 2011
    It's "Baby don't hurt me"

    I recently looked up the lyrics to Chirs Cornell's "Mission" and was disappointed to find that I've been singing that song wrong for years, mostly because I like my line "I am your friend/ but then/ Heaven's not as good as the war" better

    Ringo on
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    LoveIsUnityLoveIsUnity Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I can't believe I'm the first person to post this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLd22ha_-VU

    LoveIsUnity on
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    Skoal CatSkoal Cat Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    My mother for years thought it was "there's a bathroom on the right" instead of "there's a bad moon on the rise".
    I've also heard someone call a DJ and request "Big Ol' Jed and 'Liza" by the Steve Miller Band
    Big old jet airliner

    Skoal Cat on
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    HamHamJHamHamJ Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    LoveIsUnity wrote: »
    [snip]

    My favorite is

    Misheard Lyrics Wishmaster

    HamHamJ on
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    LoveIsUnityLoveIsUnity Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Ugh, it requires listening to Nightwish, though.

    LoveIsUnity on
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    JebusUDJebusUD Adventure! Candy IslandRegistered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Feral wrote: »
    It totally sounds like "hold on."

    He doesn't say hold on!

    Shutup!

    No way!

    JebusUD on
    and I wonder about my neighbors even though I don't have them
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    NewresNewres Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    First thing that came to my mind about misunderstood lyrics:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khVRAO8N-4E&feature=related

    Newres on
    960751-1.png
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    deowolfdeowolf is allowed to do that. Traffic.Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    David_T wrote: »
    A minor thing, but for the absolute longest time I thought the chorus of "In The Air Tonight" was "I can feel it coming in the air tonight, hold on" rather than "oh lord".

    Really weird to suddenly realize "Oh hey, he's totally not saying what I've been hearing for the past decade".

    What? Really? Shit.

    Also, before it comes up: "Revved up like a duece, another runner in the night."

    deowolf on
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    EddyEddy Gengar the Bittersweet Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I give you my love, but you don't care

    (I can't believe there's a word for misheard lyrics - "mondegreen"

    Eddy on
    "and the morning stars I have seen
    and the gengars who are guiding me" -- W.S. Merwin
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    mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    deowolf wrote: »
    What? Really? Shit.

    Also, before it comes up: "Revved up like a duece, another runner in the night."

    I love that skit.

    mcdermott on
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    mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    LoveIsUnity wrote: »
    I can't believe I'm the first person to post this:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLd22ha_-VU


    The best part is that only a couple of those are a stretch.

    Well, that and "I DON'T KNOW ALL THE WORDS"

    mcdermott on
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    MblackwellMblackwell Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    mcdermott wrote: »
    LoveIsUnity wrote: »
    I can't believe I'm the first person to post this:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLd22ha_-VU


    The best part is that only a couple of those are a stretch.

    Well, that and "I DON'T KNOW ALL THE WORDS"

    He (Vedder) pretty much made it up as they went along iirc. And live you never know what he's gonna say. So it's perhaps startlingly accurate.

    Mblackwell on
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    Samir Duran DuranSamir Duran Duran Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Any time I hear this song now I think of Mr Miyagi. And I haven't even watched this video in years.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_KiXCrmn7g

    Samir Duran Duran on
    Ani121OD.pngSpr_3e_121.gifAni121OD.png
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    N1tSt4lkerN1tSt4lker Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I definitely thought Breaking Benjamin was singing "Hebrew angel" for an embarrassingly long time.

    N1tSt4lker on
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    Apothe0sisApothe0sis Have you ever questioned the nature of your reality? Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Eddy wrote: »
    I give you my love, but you don't care

    (I can't believe there's a word for misheard lyrics - "mondegreen"

    Indeed it is.

    It comes from a misheard lyric itself.

    From Percy's Reliques

    Ye Highlands and ye Lowlands,
    Oh, where hae ye been?
    They hae slain the Earl O' Moray,
    And Lady Mondegreen.
    And laid him on the green

    I have lots of personal examples that have unfortunately fled from my mind :(.

    However, the best one will always be "Excuse me while I kiss this guy".

    Apothe0sis on
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    Loren MichaelLoren Michael Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I prefer what I hear to what Thom Yorke writes in the liner notes.

    Loren Michael on
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    VariableVariable Mouth Congress Stroke Me Lady FameRegistered User regular
    edited April 2011
    always thought he said 'hold on' as well

    Variable on
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    ThirithThirith Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    My favourite: "The ants are my friends, they're blowing in the wind..."

    Thirith on
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    MimMim I prefer my lovers… dead.Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Is this currently happening with Alicia Keys and Jay Z's song about New York?

    "Concrete jungle where dreams are made of" but others are hearing "concrete jungle, wet dream tomato"

    Mim on
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    ElJeffeElJeffe Moderator, ClubPA mod
    edited April 2011
    mcdermott wrote: »
    LoveIsUnity wrote: »
    I can't believe I'm the first person to post this:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLd22ha_-VU


    The best part is that only a couple of those are a stretch.

    Well, that and "I DON'T KNOW ALL THE WORDS"

    That was awesome.

    I'm reminded of this, which is (very) briefly NSFW somewhere towards the middle.

    ElJeffe on
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    Triple BTriple B Bastard of the North MARegistered User regular
    edited April 2011
    obey your master

    bastard

    bastard of puppets is pulling this traiiiiinnn

    Triple B on
    Steam/XBL/PSN: FiveAgainst1
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    Salvation122Salvation122 Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Feral wrote: »
    I could never tell how the chorus of AFI's 'Girls Not Grey' went, but it sounded to me like:

    "She swallows!
    When she goes down on me!
    She swallows!
    It makes me pee and poop.
    With rice pilaf..."

    "(What follows) me as the whitest lace of light
    (Will swallow whole) just begs to be imbued?
    (What follows) has led me to this place
    where I belong, with all erased
    What follows"

    Davey Havok is notoriously difficult to actually understand, though, so I guess I can forgive it.

    Salvation122 on
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    EgoEgo Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    By far my favourite:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xJWxPE8G2c

    Hoggify!

    Ego on
    Erik
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    KongoKongo Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    The classic, "'Scuse me while I kiss this guy!" instead of "...kiss the sky" in Purple Haze. I had always heard "kiss this guy" myself (it is prefaced with "actin' funny, but I don't know why" after all), and ended up being corrected by an episode of the late 80's / early 90's sitcom, Doctor Doctor, where the main character makes the same mistake.

    Soon after, this came out in bookstores.

    Kongo on
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    Salvation122Salvation122 Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    As for me, the actual line from "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" is apparently "It's much better to face these things with a sense of poise and rationality," rather than "poisoned rationality." I like mine better, though.

    Salvation122 on
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    Tiger BurningTiger Burning Dig if you will, the pictureRegistered User, SolidSaints Tube regular
    edited April 2011
    Apparently the ad jingle for Sara Lee isn't "Nobody does it like Sara Lee." but instead "Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee." That just kills me.

    Tiger Burning on
    Ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible with
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    LeitnerLeitner Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Salvation122 wrote: »
    As for me, the actual line from "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" is apparently "It's much better to face these things with a sense of poise and rationality," rather than "poisoned rationality." I like mine better, though.

    Hi5.

    Your (our) interpretation is better I feel.

    Leitner on
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    ElJeffeElJeffe Moderator, ClubPA mod
    edited April 2011
    Tiger Burning wrote: »
    Apparently the ad jingle for Sara Lee isn't "Nobody does it like Sara Lee." but instead "Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee." That just kills me.

    Seriously?

    Mind blown.

    ElJeffe on
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    mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    ElJeffe wrote: »
    Tiger Burning wrote: »
    Apparently the ad jingle for Sara Lee isn't "Nobody does it like Sara Lee." but instead "Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee." That just kills me.

    Seriously?

    Mind blown.

    Yup. Found that out a while back too. Makes sense you'd hear the latter, since A) they sound the same B) they basically say the same thing and C) only one of them is in fucking English.

    mcdermott on
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    Nova_CNova_C I have the need The need for speedRegistered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Triple B wrote: »
    obey your master

    bastard

    bastard of puppets is pulling this traiiiiinnn

    What, really? Bastard I can kind of get but it requires ignoring all context, however 'pulling your strings' is pretty clear.

    Nova_C on
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    FeralFeral ＭＥＭＥＴＩＣＨＡＲＩＺＡＲＤ interior crocodile alligator ⇔ ǝɹʇɐǝɥʇ ǝᴉʌoɯ ʇǝloɹʌǝɥɔ ɐ ǝʌᴉɹp ᴉRegistered User regular
    edited May 2011
    Nova_C wrote: »
    Triple B wrote: »
    obey your master

    bastard

    bastard of puppets is pulling this traiiiiinnn

    What, really? Bastard I can kind of get but it requires ignoring all context, however 'pulling your strings' is pretty clear.

    I like to sing that song as "Pastor of muppets."

    I also like to sing Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" as "In Your Thighs."

    Feral on
    every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.

    the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
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    BigKevBigKev Registered User regular
    edited May 2011
    Feral wrote: »
    Nova_C wrote: »
    Triple B wrote: »
    obey your master

    bastard

    bastard of puppets is pulling this traiiiiinnn

    What, really? Bastard I can kind of get but it requires ignoring all context, however 'pulling your strings' is pretty clear.

    I like to sing that song as "Pastor of muppets."

    I also like to sing Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" as "In Your Thighs."

    The "come crawling faster/controlling faster" is pretty big in Master of Puppets.

    BigKev on
    Steam ID : BigKev87
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    FeralFeral ＭＥＭＥＴＩＣＨＡＲＩＺＡＲＤ interior crocodile alligator ⇔ ǝɹʇɐǝɥʇ ǝᴉʌoɯ ʇǝloɹʌǝɥɔ ɐ ǝʌᴉɹp ᴉRegistered User regular
    edited May 2011
    Mblackwell wrote: »
    He (Vedder) pretty much made it up as they went along iirc. And live you never know what he's gonna say. So it's perhaps startlingly accurate.

    I fucking love it when artists just make shit up on the fly.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cee4TmyUHY

    Feral on
    every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.

    the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
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    devCharlesdevCharles Gainesville, FLRegistered User regular
    edited May 2011
    Good Riddance or Time of Your Life by Green Day is one of those songs I feel like should be really clear lyrics, but that dude slurs so god damn much, and I recently heard that song at a wedding. The verse:
    So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
    Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
    Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
    For what it's worth it was worth all the while

    I never got the dead skin on trial part anyway.

    devCharles on
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