Frenemies

The word frememy was first used way back in 1953 by a gossip columnist.

How apt. The late 1950s and early ‘60s are ripe with the Frenemy Song. A sort of cautionary tale, these songs express the singer’s devotion to friendship, but also admit that there’s a breaking point. “Keep Your Hands Off My Baby” by Little Eva is a perfect example. She’s singing to her best friends about her generosity; Little Eva would loan her friends just about anything…except her man.

Lesley Gore had a bad experience when she invited her “friend” Judy to her birthday party. Instead of a happy birthday with her boyfriend Johnny, Lesley ends up heartbroken when Judy steals Johnny. Don’t fret, though, because Lesley gets her revenge in a follow up, “Judy’s Turn To Cry.”

“Bird Dog” by The Everly Brothers is another example of friendship betrayed. The singer is laughing it up with Johnny right until that charm is pointed in the wrong direction.

Moving further into the future, we get songs like “My Best Friend’s Girl” by the Cars and “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield. Love triangles never go out of style, it seems…

“So don’t blame Bobby for what you did…”

In the world of Flashback To Never, Shea Korgy sings "Keep Your Hands To Yourself," letting her best friends know that boys can’t help themselves, so girls need to be on the lookout for two-timers. “Don’t Let Me Catch You” by Valentino Detroit bares a similar warning, but with the genders reversed.