A Look Back at The Legacy of Kip Winger: Part 3

Note:  I need to correct some story points from Part 2.  'Songs Like This' was not the breakup of Kip and his woman.  It was more of a fight that causes them to think things differently.  Thus 'New Pony' becomes Kip's woman taking her own leisure since she sees Kip doing the same thing.   'Scumbag Blues' is still remorse but not about a breakup, but other issues in their relationship.  This came to me as I looked over what happens in this section of the story.

'Lotion' - The Greenskeepers from Polo Club

This song is somewhat of a guilty pleasure.  The groove is hypnotic and the lyrics are eerie pulling from a classic scary movie character.  You know the song is about messed up stuff, yet the rhythm makes you nod your head in time. I always struggled with how this song would fit into the story for me given its lyrical content.  Pulling back from literal interpretation, the song is more about Kip's obsession of his woman and his potential toxic effects on their relationship.

'Don't Let Me Stop You' - Kelly Clarkson from All I Ever Wanted

Kelly really belts out this song.  You can feel every bit of effort she gives and hear the fed up attitude in her voice.  This was the first full album of hers that I had bought and wasn't disappointed with the edge she brings to her music.  This is Kip's woman finally taking a stand in their relationship.  She is seeing his disrespect and knows she could do better.

'You Don't Understand Me' - The Raconteurs from Consolers of the Lonely

I wish The Raconteurs could of stayed together.  They were making some great music and I love the harmonies they put together, especially on this song.  The piano alone could break your heart, but mix in those backing vocals in the verses and the song oozes sadness.  The song fits perfectly in the story here.  This is Kip's retort in their argument.  There is a mixed message in the lyrics for Kip.  There are words thrown out similar to the previous song about go ahead and go, I can do better.  But the tone of the song suggests there is true sadness within Kip that he doesn't want to lose her.

'Undo It' - Carrie Underwood from Play On

This is our second and final entry from Carrie in his album.  On my first listen to Play On, this song stuck out for her vocal performance.  I believe since I had put it on the album, it was released as a single and thus would have violated my unwritten rule about songs.  So instead I take pride in my ability to pick out the good songs on an album without being force feed them on the radio. If you remember back a post ago and from my note above, I labeled 'Songs Like This' as Kip and his woman's breakup song.  That is what a few years removed from the story can do.  Red was correct in his observation that it didn't need to be a breakup and it wasn't supposed to be in my original thoughts.  I had forgotten what came later in the story and two angry Carrie Underwood songs didn't make remembering any easier.  This is truly the breakup.  Kip's woman wishes she had never gone where she did with Kip and wants out now.  

'Caroline' - Wolfmother from Cosmic Egg 

I had to look back and see if I had included Wolfmother's first album in my previous compilation 'Get A Haircut And Get a Real Job'.  I had not.  This song is different from anything else I had heard from Wolfmother as they usually rock out in that sex, drugs and Rock 'n Roll style of yesteryear.  This song is slow, brooding and gut wrenching at times.  You could say this song officially names my female lead as Caroline.  In the story, this is Kip's heartache post Caroline telling him to get lost.  He begs her to come back with him and run away to whatever place with make her happy.  The line that always sticks out with me, "Caroline, why you wanna live this way?", tells me Kip does love her but he just doesn't know how to love.  This has been built up to us through all his actions thus far.

Stay tuned for the next section that will finish up the first album of this double album compilation set.