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Why is a song about a payphone so popular in 2012? LOL

N

new_friends_gr

In the age of smartphones, iPhones, and all that other crap, why on earth is a song with a title of "Payphone" so popular in 2012? Does anyone else wonder why the writers of that song didn't center it around a smartphone or some other kind of phone that the majority of the listeners use? Why a payphone? Who uses payphones in 2012?

The lyrics should say "I'm using my smartphone... trying to call you... you changed your number..." blah blah blah. Something like that.
 
In the video, he tried calling his girlfriend on his cell phone, but the call didn't go through, so he went to an old payphone booth and called her from there...

BTW don't watch the video - it's ridiculous lol
 
Haha I've wondered the same thing... I'm in my late 20's and I'm JUST BARELY old enough to remember using payphones and having to remember to have a quarter with me in case I needed to make a call. That's a whole lot of tweens, teens, and more that don't have a relationship with payphones.

It definitely struck me as a little weird, but whatever! it's a hit.
 
reelyreal said:
Haha I've wondered the same thing... I'm in my late 20's and I'm JUST BARELY old enough to remember using payphones and having to remember to have a quarter with me in case I needed to make a call. That's a whole lot of tweens, teens, and more that don't have a relationship with payphones.

It definitely struck me as a little weird, but whatever! it's a hit.
Click to expand...

I have a funny feeling Maroon 5 has reached another hit making level in the wake of Jagger and The voice...radio will give them the benefit of the doubt...won't take much to give them a hit these days.
 
How many current hit songs are about: love letters, DJ's playing your radio request (or "turning the dial"), playing records, etc.? :)

cd
 
I don't think you guys get it - he's on a payphone because he's desparate, on his last leg, run out of options, etc. - The image of a "payphone" is used like that on purpose

If he were "on his cellphone" or "on his IPhone", the image wouldn't be as desparate, dramatic, etc.
 
atlantaboy said:
I don't think you guys get it - he's on a payphone because he's desparate, on his last leg, run out of options, etc. - The image of a "payphone" is used like that on purpose

If he were "on his cellphone" or "on his IPhone", the image wouldn't be as desparate, dramatic, etc.
Click to expand...

I agree, everyone else missed the point of the song, especially since the third line of the chorus is "all of my change I've spent on you". This song is a metaphor, and it isn't meant to be taken literally.
 
Maroon 5 certainly is getting a lot of hype lately.....seems like even more hype than when they were new back in the mid-00s with This Love, She Will Be Loved, Sunday Morning, Makes Me Wonder, Won't Go Home Without You, etc. I liked their earlier stuff than what they've had in the past few years, but that's JMO.

I like "Payphone", it's pretty good, but I can't take Wiz Khalifa (sorry)
 
justpassingthough said:
atlantaboy said:
I don't think you guys get it - he's on a payphone because he's desparate, on his last leg, run out of options, etc. - The image of a "payphone" is used like that on purpose

If he were "on his cellphone" or "on his IPhone", the image wouldn't be as desparate, dramatic, etc.
Click to expand...

I agree, everyone else missed the point of the song, especially since the third line of the chorus is "all of my change I've spent on you". This song is a metaphor, and it isn't meant to be taken literally.
Click to expand...

Haha ... I know the lyrics and am familiar with the line "all of my change I've spent on you". But it just seems weird anyway. I know I'm taking this very literally, but it still amuses me because so many people with their smartphones have unlimited minutes and the idea of not having a quarter to make a phone call just seems so antiquated.

Good point though about the desperation. That makes sense. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
 
atlantaboy said:
I don't think you guys get it - he's on a payphone because he's desparate, on his last leg, run out of options, etc. - The image of a "payphone" is used like that on purpose

If he were "on his cellphone" or "on his IPhone", the image wouldn't be as desparate, dramatic, etc.
Click to expand...

Thank the dumbing down of CHR music for that...CHR listeners expect their lyrics literal.
 
Dkampy said:
atlantaboy said:
I don't think you guys get it - he's on a payphone because he's desparate, on his last leg, run out of options, etc. - The image of a "payphone" is used like that on purpose

If he were "on his cellphone" or "on his IPhone", the image wouldn't be as desparate, dramatic, etc.
Click to expand...

Thank the dumbing down of CHR music for that...CHR listeners expect their lyrics literal.
Click to expand...

I guess more listeners "get" the song than not- or it wouldn't be climbing the CHR chart so fast. Sure, its poppy, but there's only so much schmaltz that can save a song with truly horrible and/or misunderstood lyrics (read: anything from Justin Bieber's last two albums and his relative lack of success on the CHR chart despite selling crazy amounts of albums and singles on iTunes)
 
atlantaboy said:
I don't think you guys get it - he's on a payphone because he's desparate, on his last leg, run out of options, etc. - The image of a "payphone" is used like that on purpose

If he were "on his cellphone" or "on his IPhone", the image wouldn't be as desparate, dramatic, etc.
Click to expand...
He's desperate? Based on the Wiz part of the song, I thought he was over it. *I know the Wiz part completely throws off the song.
 
chrocket87 said:
atlantaboy said:
I don't think you guys get it - he's on a payphone because he's desparate, on his last leg, run out of options, etc. - The image of a "payphone" is used like that on purpose

If he were "on his cellphone" or "on his IPhone", the image wouldn't be as desparate, dramatic, etc.
Click to expand...
He's desperate?
Click to expand...

Watch the video on YouTube...
 
carolinaradio said:
I like "Payphone", it's pretty good, but I can't take Wiz Khalifa (sorry)
Click to expand...

Good song, debuted and stalled out at #2......but why must that song or any song for that matter have a rap section in it?? Many people dislike that portion about 2/3's into the song. Could it have cost "Payphone" a #1 position, we'll never know, but it's very possible!

Either that or "Somebody That I Used To Know" (another good song, 7 weeks at #1) is just to strong to allow "Payphone" from peaking at #1.

Maroon 5 is known for their upbeat contemporary hits (and good ones at that)....we don't need a rap solo to ruin an otherwise good song.
 
oldies76 said:
carolinaradio said:
I like "Payphone", it's pretty good, but I can't take Wiz Khalifa (sorry)
Click to expand...

Good song, debuted and stalled out at #2......but why must that song or any song for that matter have a rap section in it?? Many people dislike that portion about 2/3's into the song. Could it have cost "Payphone" a #1 position, we'll never know, but it's very possible!

Either that or "Somebody That I Used To Know" (another good song, 7 weeks at #1) is just to strong to allow "Payphone" from peaking at #1.

Maroon 5 is known for their upbeat contemporary hits (and good ones at that)....we don't need a rap solo to ruin an otherwise good song.
Click to expand...
"Call Me Maybe" looks like it will overtake Gotye first and keep "Payphone" from #1, or delay it.

I find the Wiz part to be inconsequential and forgettable like Snoop on California Gurls
 
oldies76 said:
carolinaradio said:
I like "Payphone", it's pretty good, but I can't take Wiz Khalifa (sorry)
Click to expand...

Good song, debuted and stalled out at #2......but why must that song or any song for that matter have a rap section in it?? Many people dislike that portion about 2/3's into the song. Could it have cost "Payphone" a #1 position, we'll never know, but it's very possible!
Click to expand...

There's a Hot AC version with a bridge that's sung (by Adam) instead of the rap, but I don't think you can buy it digitally

In terms of whether the rap section is helping or hurting the single, just look at the airplay this is getting on Rhythmic stations/Rhythmic-leaning CHRs - some of which have never played a Maroon 5 single before...

I honestly think that if Train had featured Wiz Khalifa on Drive By, it would've easily gone Top 10 on CHR
 
atlantaboy said:
There's a Hot AC version with a bridge that's sung (by Adam) instead of the rap, but I don't think you can buy it digitally
Click to expand...

There are several non-rap postings on You Tube....sounds so much better! Hopefully it'll be available to download soon on Amazon or iTunes.
 
cd637299 said:
playing records, etc.? :)

cd
Click to expand...

Records are the "IN" thing these days. My 18yr old cousin got a record player two years ago for Christmas.
 
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