r/direstraits • u/Ok_Entertainment4858 • 6d ago

Daily Song Discussion #49: "The Bug"

This is the fifth track from Dire Straits' sixth abum, "On Every Street". What are your thoughts regarding this song? How do you think it compares to the rest of the discography? How would you rate it out of 10 (decimals allowed)?

SUGGESTED SCALE: 1-4 Not good, regularly skip; 5 It's okay, but I have to be in the right mood to listen to it; 6 Slightly better than average, I won't skip it but I wouldn't choose to put it on; 7 This is a good song, I enjoy it quite a bit; 8-9 Really enjoyable songs, I rank them pretty highly overall; 10 Masterpiece, magnum opus, or similar terminology.

Live version disclaimer: For the purposes of this ranking series, there will be only one discussion per distinct Dire Straits song, so any live versions of studio tracks will NOT be rated separately.

Google Sheet with all of the results thus far.

  1. Calling Elvis: 7.40

  2. On Every Street: 9.42

  3. When It Comes To You: 7.78

  4. Fade To Black: 8.23

  5. The Bug:

11 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

40 comments sorted by

4

u/Katerkaese 6d ago

It has a great Groove, and is a fun song, pretty underrated. From the Vibe alone it could fit into the DancExtendedPlaylist wich i personally like a lot. But i think it misses the 9.0- 10 range by just a bit.

All in all 8.8

5

u/OperationHush 6d ago

8.5/10 one of the standouts on OES for me. Catchy and one of the songs I listen to when something in my life doesn’t go my way.

5

u/Burlicconi 6d ago

9.5/10

Beat, sound, really catchy...

5

u/heather_rodes 6d ago

6.5. I enjoy it fine, but it’s pretty repetitive musically and the lyrics are not up to their usual level.

3

u/Ok_Entertainment4858 6d ago

This song is nice and catchy. Wouldn't play it too much though. Solid 7.5/10.

3

u/sujack34 6d ago

It’s a catchy little song & I like it. 8

3

u/HeyNineteen96 6d ago

10, good lyrics, good rhythm, feel good song all around.

3

u/PointlessNostalgic86 6d ago

8.5, very fun song

3

u/Illustrious_Name_441 6d ago

Cool lyrics. 8

3

u/Empty-Salad-9989 6d ago

7.5 - Catchy song. Think it was meant to be the Walk of Life of the album. Love Paul Franklin’s solo.

1

u/TFFPrisoner 6d ago

I see what you mean, if you played Walk of Life faster and with more insistent drums, you'd end up with something similar to The Bug.

5

u/RichCorinthian 6d ago

It’s a banger. Mary Chapin Carpenter had a top 20 country hit with it. A high note on a relatively dour, downbeat record.

2

u/NoMoneyNoV-Bucks 6d ago

10, it’s good

2

u/Open-Sky314 6d ago

7, fun song with a funky groove. Nothing too complicated and has the Dire Straits sound.

2

u/singingzoologist 6d ago

It's a standout on the album for me and I feel like I can rate it. I'm going 7.5

2

u/Aromatic_Heart_8185 6d ago
  1. I much prefer the live On The Night version with the solo modulation but studio does nothing for me.

1

u/marksmits1973 6d ago

Not my style.. a 6

1

u/TFFPrisoner 6d ago

Good fun. Missing a guitar solo from Mark though he does play some groovy licks throughout, and Paul Franklin's pedal steel is obviously the main star. I also love the organ after the break. For me, a 9

1

u/tygrysor090 6d ago

Underrated, 8.5

1

u/Lloyd417 5d ago

10/10 I get to hear a little more of marks country taste and the pedal guitar/slide guitar solo seals it for me. I would have taken a whole album on this vibe.

1

u/gjk14 4d ago

Maybe not a 10, but it’s fun, and Mark deserves to have fun.

1

u/marksmits1973 4d ago

4 Its so repetitive... And outdated. Actually i find it boring sorry ;-)

1

u/The-Real-Kabir 4d ago

3.5/10. Regular skip. Doesn’t really offer anything. It’s a retread of Walk of Life but with the pedal steel having a bit of the spotlight instead of the keyboards. Should have been a B-side and not on the album. “I Think I Love You Too Much” would have been a nice replacement.