Blissfully Oblivious: Songs Many Misunderstand

[dahliaclone]

It is one of the great phenomena of pop music. A beat so infectious, a chorus so massive, that it completely overrides the brain's ability to process what is actually being said. Musicians have been Trojan-horsing incredibly dark, satirical, or tragic stories into songs for decades. Excluding Born in the U.S.A. by The Boss and Pumped Up Kicks (it's cringey watching people scream sing to this song clearly not listening to the lyrics), what are some other ones?

Similar to Pumped Up Kicks, watching people gleefully karaoke to a song like Semi-charmed Life by Third Eye Blind is something.

Hey Ya! by Outkast is about a completely dead, miserable relationship where two people stay together purely out of habit and fear of being alone. Andre 3000 even brilliantly mocks the listener in the middle of the song, singing: "Y'all don't want to hear me, you just want to dance."

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Lips of an Angel. I've heard of people using it for their wedding. It's about cheating.

 

[MeanDean]

I like my catchy pop tunes with some coal miner cannibalism as the primary topic.

 

[pourcyne]

The Sexual Predator's Theme Song...

 

[Clonehomer]

Lips of an Angel. I've heard of people using it for their wedding. It's about cheating.

And? Can’t have an affair until you’re married.

Rupert Holmes - Escape (If you like Pina Colada’s)

 

[Pat]

Brick by Ben Folds Five. I was at a Folds solo show in DSM years ago and watched a large group of drunk young ladies all gleefully shout-sing the chorus to each other. It was… odd.

 

[Angie]

I have an entire playlist of songs where people think they are romantic but it is really a toxic relationship or the guy is an a-hole.

#1 - “More Than Words” - such a lovely way to pressure a woman into sex, “if you really loved me you would put out”:

 

[12191987]

In a crowded category this might be my favorite song about heroin:

 

[12191987]

It is one of the great phenomena of pop music. A beat so infectious, a chorus so massive, that it completely overrides the brain's ability to process what is actually being said. Musicians have been Trojan-horsing incredibly dark, satirical, or tragic stories into songs for decades. Excluding Born in the U.S.A. by The Boss and Pumped Up Kicks (it's cringey watching people scream sing to this song clearly not listening to the lyrics), what are some other ones?

Similar to Pumped Up Kicks, watching people gleefully karaoke to a song like Semi-charmed Life by Third Eye Blind is something.

Hey Ya! by Outkast is about a completely dead, miserable relationship where two people stay together purely out of habit and fear of being alone. Andre 3000 even brilliantly mocks the listener in the middle of the song, singing: "Y'all don't want to hear me, you just want to dance."

Wait, isn’t “Semi-Charmed Life” about taking meth, *******, and breaking up?

 

[KnappShack]

No idea why this is played at weddings


Jukebox plays on, drink by drink
And the words of every sad song seem to say what I think
And its hurt inside of me, ain't never gonna end

 

[Bipolarcy]

The Beatles had a couple. Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds, is really about LSD and Got to Get You Into My Life is really an ode to marijuana.

 

[AuH2O]

I always find the playing of Hallelujah at weddings or other things at churches pretty odd.

99 Luftballoons was out when I was really little but summed up the early 80s pretty well. Life dressed up with gaudy, poppy crap while the nuclear sword of Damocles over our heads.

 

[KnappShack]

I'll throw this one in, but I'm guessing Joy Division - New Order fans know the story.

In light of Ian Curtis committing suicide the lyrics are dark.

 

[CYphyllis]

Ginuwine wasn't actually singing about riding a small horse - who knew?

 

[12191987]

I always find the playing of Hallelujah at weddings or other things at churches pretty odd.

99 Luftballoons was out when I was really little but summed up the early 80s pretty well. Life dressed up with gaudy, poppy crap while the nuclear sword of Damocles over our heads.

Hallelujah has got to be up there.

And 99 Luftballoons should probably top its category (with Party at Ground Zero placing).

 

[MeanDean]

The Beatles had a couple. Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds, is really about LSD (False) and Got to Get You Into My Life is really an ode to marijuana(True).

John never faltered his whole life from describing the inspiration for Lucy as a drawing Julian brought home from school. When asked what it was, Julian said, "It's Lucy in the sky, with diamonds." But yes, every hippy/freak did latch onto the L S D. Anyway, wouldn't it really be LITSWD?

Paul admitted, and admits to this day, that Got to Get... is about his infatuation with marijuana.

 

[cayin]

John never faltered his whole life from describing the inspiration for Lucy as a drawing Julian brought home from school. When asked what it was, Julian said, "It's Lucy in the sky, with diamonds." But yes, every hippy/freak did latch onto the L S D. Anyway, wouldn't it really be LITSWD?

Paul admitted, and admits to this day, that Got to Get... is about his infatuation with marijuana.

Despite the controversy about Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds the one that from the Beatles that was about LSD was Dr Robert off of Revolver.

 

[pourcyne]

Hallelujah has got to be up there.

I've decided that song is about child abuse by a nut-bomb religious parent, reminds me of the series "Sybil" every time.

She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne and cut your hair
And from your lips, she drew the Hallelujah

 

[MeadForMyHorses]

To me, Hungry Heart is the happiest sounding sad, tragic song ever. And of course, Born in the USA is not the jingoistic patriotic song many thought it was back in the day.

 

[Pat]

I've decided that song is about child abuse by a nut-bomb religious parent, reminds me of the series "Sybil" every time.

She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne and cut your hair
And from your lips, she drew the Hallelujah

In a song full of Old Testament references, I am pretty confident that the verse is a reference to Samson.