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Ben Harper — Steal My Kisses
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inmanart
Posted: Mar 25, 2009 - 16:33
 
Reminds of when my daughter was very little (2 yrs old) and it was hard to get a kiss from her.....it's a silly song...but has a special meaning for me..... that's why I like it!

bam23
(Berkeley)
Posted: Mar 25, 2009 - 15:52
 
There are not all that many songs played here that really grate on me. This is one of them. It's just not enjoyable (to me), regardless of its intent, or lack of seriousness, or any of the other explanations that folks come up with for why a listener really should like a particular piece.

jagdriver
(Tunin' in from the aptly-named Grass Valley, CA)
Posted: Mar 25, 2009 - 15:50
 
 dedawson wrote:
Here it is folks.  The best argument ever for a new "Request that this song never be played on Radio Paradise again, ever" button.

{#Skull}
 

Gets my vote! But I also agree with Excelsior that another option should pertain to the artist's works as a hole (sic).

dctrpunda
(the thin line of here)
Posted: Jan 28, 2009 - 15:39
 

"Note to self", thought the recording engineer after Ben's session, "Do not ever use that spit laden microphone again".




vivakitty
(The Girl Who Wrecks Your Dreams)
Posted: Jan 21, 2009 - 13:59
 
This song is going along, nice and poppy, cute lyrics, and then WHAMMO lame-o beatboxing.  Blurgh.

luca77
(Melbourne,Australia)
Posted: Dec 21, 2008 - 00:21
 
 govna wrote:
ah, here it is.  the song that officially turned me off of ben harper.
 
Exactly, the whole album did and I've never been interested since. His first 2 were great, his 3rd was ok....this album was a dog and pretty much everything since has been barely worth a yawn. I felt like on this album he was trying his hand at some different styles of music that just didn't suit him, and he never regained his groove or inspiration after that. I can't even imagine him recording something cool like 'Ground on Down' or adventurous like 'God Fearing Man' or as heartfelt as 'Pleasure and Pain' these days....



ValosAtreide
(Ohio, USA)
Posted: Dec 20, 2008 - 23:28
 
I was going to give this song a 6... that is, till I heard the bass solo.. which made it an instant 8! {#Cool}

jim1964
(british columbia, but use to ride the IRT to work)
Posted: Nov 26, 2008 - 10:33
 
I'm not a huge Ben Harper fan, but I sure like this song.

Cissy
(Phoenix, AZ)
Posted: Nov 26, 2008 - 10:30
 
Love Ben Harper, hate this song...

govna
(beantown)
Posted: Nov 26, 2008 - 10:29
 
ah, here it is.  the song that officially turned me off of ben harper.

1wolfy
(Mission Viejo California)
Posted: Nov 19, 2008 - 09:11
 
RP introduced me to Ben Harper and I'm better for it.  Thanks.

wrangler
(cliffside park, nj)
Posted: Nov 19, 2008 - 09:09
 
beatbox?  really?  whadda douche

GChevy410
(Seattle, WA)
Posted: Nov 19, 2008 - 09:09
 
I agree with all the negative folks out there; however, in spite of Ben Harper being 'soulless'  he makes some catchy tunes every once in a while.  I have to give this one to him. It gets an 8 to 9.

oldman
(Lost in Northern Virginia)
Posted: Nov 19, 2008 - 09:08
 
Geez, lighten up guys, it's a fun/happy, light song. Does every song have to be DEEP.

wenatchee
(Duvall, WA)
Posted: Nov 03, 2008 - 10:13
 

 . . . It would be interesting to NOT see comments until after one has posted.  This is an OK tune, would like to see a bit more depth and richness in the lyrics.  The rif does not change much . . .



lily34
Posted: Sep 17, 2008 - 05:44
 
andrewimft wrote:
Nicely said, I agree. Graham Parker had a great song about fatherhood on Deep Cuts from Nowhere called Tough On Clothes, gist of the words being his child was hard to keep up with, have to go to the store as she or he grows in spurts, just bought some clothes yesterday but now they're worn or outworn, but it isn't it what it's all about for working blokes and how I love my kids. Touching, funny and true plus excellent musically. Struck by Lightning also has many great songs about family and children.

wow. haven't thought about that song in ages. though i like harper's song here, that one is far better. gotta see if i can dig it out. thanks!


Excelsior
Posted: Sep 17, 2008 - 05:42
 
 dedawson wrote:
Here it is folks.  The best argument ever for a new "Request that this song never be played on Radio Paradise again, ever" button.{#Skull}
 
Replace "song" with "artist" and it's even more correct.  {#Puke}

dogpound
(the island on which I belong)
Posted: Sep 17, 2008 - 05:41
 
 Excelsior wrote:
All Ben Harper = an automatic 1.  Self-important, soulless "artist."
 
+infinity

Excelsior
Posted: Sep 01, 2008 - 07:04
 
All Ben Harper = an automatic 1.  Self-important, soulless "artist."

spaceman
(Vienna, Austria)
Posted: Aug 23, 2008 - 16:27
 
Aah... I wish I could play bass like this guy... {#Music}


dedawson
(Thousand Oaks, CA)
Posted: Aug 16, 2008 - 16:05
 
Here it is folks.  The best argument ever for a new "Request that this song never be played on Radio Paradise again, ever" button.{#Skull}

CCinSB
(the west coast)
Posted: Aug 16, 2008 - 16:04
 
{#Cool}{#Kiss}

Danimal174
(Upstate South Carolina)
Posted: Jul 31, 2008 - 15:26
 
I have to give this one a high score just to balance out all the haters!

{#Music}

Xeric
(Up on the Roof)
Posted: Jul 31, 2008 - 15:26
 
First page of comments almost entirely negative (and I came here to add another of the same—jeez, what vapid drivel).  And yet . . . a 6.3 average rating and 11 people think it's God-like.  Interesting.

WonderLizard
(2,755.46 mi. due east of Paradise)
Posted: Jul 31, 2008 - 15:23
 
 Pyro wrote:
The best thing about this song is the bass line.

 
I don't get all the negative response to this lively, harmless tune, but, yes, that bass line is awesome.


Shesdifferent
(Just visiting this planet waiting for the ticket home)
Posted: Jul 31, 2008 - 15:19
 
Sooooooo sick of this song. Isn't there a better less played one? Mute.

andrewimft
(North Californie)
Posted: May 14, 2008 - 01:50
 
plight wrote:
Evidently this song was inspired by his toddler, who was constantly running around, obliging him to 'steal' his kisses. I don't care much about lyrics in general, but i think this song would have been so much more endearing if it had been about that little vignette and the joy of fatherhood. Instead, we get some vague mishmash about relationships again--gee, never have heard that before.

likewise, "how great it is to be a dad" is a dangerous territory for otherwise talented musicians to write about; it often comes across as maudlin and trite. He had a chance to turn in some really stellar work here with a great groove and subject, so it's sad that he settled for mediocrity both musically and lyrically.

He can do much better, as others have said in fewer words.

-PL-

(edit: that same authenticity might be part of why jack johnson is so widely enjoyed for similarly casual grooves; whereas ben sometimes falls into cliche or standard call-and-response stuff, jack always feels pretty honest.)


Nicely said, I agree.

Graham Parker had a great song about fatherhood on Deep Cuts from Nowhere called Tough On Clothes, gist of the words being his child was hard to keep up with, have to go to the store as she or he grows in spurts, just bought some clothes yesterday but now they're worn or outworn, but it isn't it what it's all about for working blokes and how I love my kids. Touching, funny and true plus excellent musically. Struck by Lightning also has many great songs about family and children.
macadavy
(Cascadia's attic, eh?)
Posted: May 14, 2008 - 01:48
 
strange_brew00 wrote:
that guy on the right side of the album cover looks like a fat man in a little high school letter jacket and a trucker hat. guess nobody told him they'd be dressing up for that shoot.

Gosh, coulda sworn that was Michael Moore!
snakechaser
(Boringtown, Bible Belt)
Posted: Apr 12, 2008 - 13:29
 
govna wrote:
worst ben harper song? anyone?


Worst one I've ever heard but I haven't heard all of 'em

I can't imagine why he made it. The duress theory sounds good.
siandbeth
(Santa Cruz California)
Posted: Mar 27, 2008 - 15:31
 
curufinwe wrote:
I think Harper's producer must have forced this single out of him under duress.

I was in the VIP lounge area during one of his shows long ago and he had to get his picture taken with all the Virgin record exec's wives. It was very hard to watch, they were painfully ecstatic and he was painfully uncomfortable. The price of fame, eh.
govna
(beantown)
Posted: Mar 27, 2008 - 15:31
 
worst ben harper song? anyone?
Mewsique
Posted: Mar 19, 2008 - 01:49
 
"HAPPY, FREE & LUCKY" type song...YES
plight
Posted: Feb 09, 2008 - 14:48
 
Evidently this song was inspired by his toddler, who was constantly running around, obliging him to 'steal' his kisses. I don't care much about lyrics in general, but i think this song would have been so much more endearing if it had been about that little vignette and the joy of fatherhood. Instead, we get some vague mishmash about relationships again--gee, never have heard that before.

likewise, "how great it is to be a dad" is a dangerous territory for otherwise talented musicians to write about; it often comes across as maudlin and trite. He had a chance to turn in some really stellar work here with a great groove and subject, so it's sad that he settled for mediocrity both musically and lyrically.

He can do much better, as others have said in fewer words.

-PL-

(edit: that same authenticity might be part of why jack johnson is so widely enjoyed for similarly casual grooves; whereas ben sometimes falls into cliche or standard call-and-response stuff, jack always feels pretty honest.)
strange_brew00
(houston, tx)
Posted: Jan 24, 2008 - 17:34
 
that guy on the right side of the album cover looks like a fat man in a little high school letter jacket and a trucker hat. guess nobody told him they'd be dressing up for that shoot.
strange_brew00
(houston, tx)
Posted: Jan 24, 2008 - 17:32
 
that beat boxing at the end really ruined it for me, ouch! otherwise, this is a good song.
auburntigerrich
(Edge of the 'Verse)
Posted: Jan 24, 2008 - 17:28
 
Contrived... sophomoric... nothing original or moving to it at all. Ben's not for me.
3.
Jelani
(Home of the freak, land of the vague)
Posted: Dec 15, 2007 - 16:57
 
You know, this is the song that got me to buy a BH album in the first place.
After this, as I've posted before on other tunes of his here, he sounds like a dusty corpse out of a horror movie is trying to sing.
He actually has some inflection and emotion in his voice here; although the boppy tune helps a lot.
dedawson
(Thousand Oaks, CA)
Posted: Dec 15, 2007 - 16:57
 
The best thing about this song is...

it ends!!
otmopo3ok
Posted: Nov 22, 2007 - 20:40
 
Pyro wrote:
The best thing about this song is the bass line.


curufinwe
(San Francisco, CA)
Posted: Nov 22, 2007 - 20:39
 
Ben Harper has so much good music to play. If this song were never aired again, that would be just fine.

It even has that cheesy break 3/4ths of the way through where they sing the chorus over silence. I think Harper's producer must have forced this single out of him under duress.
Pyro
Posted: Nov 07, 2007 - 08:39
 
The best thing about this song is the bass line.
ewhughes1
Posted: Nov 07, 2007 - 08:39
 
Velveeta! Delicious!
(former member)
(Land of the Long White Cloud)
Posted: Nov 07, 2007 - 08:38
 
yup, always have to steal my kisses from you great song!
DoctorHooey
(/etc)
Posted: Oct 22, 2007 - 11:08
 
Ewwwwwwww. Everything about this song is gross.
tinybubbles
(missoula, montana)
Posted: Oct 06, 2007 - 22:11
 
window wrote:
This is the first Ben Harper song I ever heard, long ago when it was on FM. But then I heard more of his catalog on RP.
Which makes me wonder... do the die-hard Ben Harper fans react to this like R.E.M. fans to Shiny Happy People or deadheads to Touch of Grey?


Yes. Yes we do. Well, if you mean the reaction is a general dislike, then yeah.
window
(Richmond, VA)
Posted: Sep 05, 2007 - 12:02
 
This is the first Ben Harper song I ever heard, long ago when it was on FM. But then I heard more of his catalog on RP.
Which makes me wonder... do the die-hard Ben Harper fans react to this like R.E.M. fans to Shiny Happy People or deadheads to Touch of Grey?
Austin2Florida
(Hollywood, FL)
Posted: Sep 05, 2007 - 12:01
 
Darrooon wrote:
Why does he want to steal my kittens?

That's funny.
Roverfish
(Tucson, AZ - Thanks for visiting...now go home!)
Posted: Sep 05, 2007 - 12:00
 
Give me Butterscotch over this any day.

Earlier Ben...glad he evolved. Pretty good, anyway.
Odyzzeuz
(Austin, Texas)
Posted: Sep 05, 2007 - 12:00
 
The spitting in the microphone at the end makes me want to claw my ears off.
MojoJojo
(Indianapolis, IN USA)
Posted: Sep 05, 2007 - 11:58
 


Hmmm....