Long distance information, give me Memphis, Tennessee

[ciphergoth]

Where are the songs that refer to email, SMS, and suchlike in the same way as so many songs refer to the phone, in a straightforward way without trying to be cool about it?

Update: http://www.pensive.org/jeff/mrfone/culture.htm

Comments

[duranorak.livejournal.com]

How do you mean "without trying to be cool about it"?
(Only song I can think of offhand that refers to e-mail is this one - and no, I'm not proud.)

Hey, he hasn't included the fabulous '5-7-0-5' by City Boy...

E.
x

[zotz]

There was some cruddy chart single a year or two ago that mentioned (in passing) sending a message "by the internet". The problem is that these are text media and are never going to be as intimate as something with actual voice. After all, compare the number of telephone songs to the number that revolve around fleshly contact. Even the telephone songs are frequently about not being able to get through - the phone becomes a metaphor for separation rather than contact.

[adjectivemarcus.livejournal.com]

Hey baby, I'm your SMS man,
If you tell me when you want it
then I'll text you when I can

I can text you in the bathroom I can text you in the hall
I can text you in the bedroom I can text you from a funeral love mum x

[duranorak.livejournal.com]

There's a song if you scroll down here which mentions text messaging. Really.

The predominant style of music to feature references to text and mobile phones and such is rap. ~shrug~ I went and looked.

E.
x

[babysimon]

"Trouble in the Message Centre" - Blur

There's also this alarmingly geeky looking set of tunes (a band called Arpanet?!) I saw in HMV the other day.

And did not buy, I'll have you know.

[ex-meta.livejournal.com]

The only person I can think of who's written songs about modern techno-culture that are any good, is Momus (http://www.demon.co.uk/momus/). I think he's geeky enough to escape allegations of trying to be cool. I particularly like "Virtual Valerie" on "The Philosophy of Momus":

I tried to keep my soul alive
Playing Mortal Kombat on the Megadrive
I patched my lust with Nicorette
Went surfing on the Internet

But still I need you here tonight
Let's make love by satellite
By high speed uplink, error free
Be my Virtual Valerie

Also check out "Girlish Boy" on the same CD.