1001 Songs Challenge #906: Stay Together for the Kids (2001)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenge of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post every day (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be… legendary!

 

Blink-182 – Stay Together for the Kids (2001)

 

 

We’re leaving the UK today, dear reader, and making our way back to the US and to California. Blink-182 were formed in 1992 and specialised in various forms of rock. They started slowly but would gather commercial attention at the start of this century. We join them in 2001 with the release of their fourth album, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, and from there 1001 Songs have gone with the track, Stay Together for the Kids. 

Stay Together for the Kids was written mainly by bassist, Tom DeLonge, and as the title suggests this is about the devastating impact of divorce. DeLonge’s own parents divorced and his experience of that separation formed the basis for this song. The song begs the questions of why couples separate and whether what they are doing is truly the right thing. It explores what the respective parties now want, their dreams and desires, and how the pursuit of these ideals may seem like the correct path. However, the song dares to ask why there is so much pain if divorce and separation really is the right thing.  

Driven by guitar, Stay Together for the Kids is a heavy rock number with a universal message about divorce and the often devastating impact it has on the couple involved and on those around them. There are many reasons couples divorce and the process is often very difficult. Blink-182’s fourth album proved to be a huge success and the singles released, including Stay Together for the Kids, were very popular. The group went on indefinite hiatus in 2005 as band members left but resumed in 2009 though Mark Hoppus remains the only member from the original line-up.

 

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

The Doors – The End (1967)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (1988)

U2 – One (1991)

Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah (1994)

Radiohead – Paranoid Android (1997)