20 Happy Songs That Are Actually About Horrible Dark Things
How many times have you been to a wedding where “Every Breathe You Take” has been misused as a love song? How many people realize that Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” is about a school shooting? Why did my parents love “Mack the Knife” so much when tells the story of a serial killer?
Major keys and singalong choruses can do a very effective job of masking the real themes and imager of a song.
Examples:
- “Semi-Charmed Life,” Third Eye Blind: Crystal meth
- “99 Luftballoons,” Nina: Nuclear holocaust
- “A Kiss with a Fist,” Florence + the Machine: Domestic violence.
The Huffington Post has put together a list of 20 such songs. Read up and don’t be fooled again.
I recognized the creep factor in all of these songs, most in the first listen. I've only been to one wedding that used "Every Breath You Take" while the couple was at the altar, for which I'm thankful because it made me sick to my stomach (I don't like weddings anyway – I find them creepy enough without celebrating the stalking aspect of marriage).
I'm surprised there's no mention of Born in the USA, probably the most over-misused song ever. A song about a down-and-out veteran as the soundtrack for patriotism? Oops!
Daryl Hall (of Hall & Oates fame) laments on a regular basis that their song "Fall in Philadelphia" is highly requested by fans. The song tells of roving gangs that beat up John Oates, and bills adding up. Yet its requested almost every time they play. (Source; livefromdarylshouse.com, Diane Birch episode)
I've been to weddings where they play Pearl Jam's Better Man. I can't believe these people don't realize the song is about abuse. It's plain as day in the lyrics.
I have always been creeped out by Every Breath You Take. Shudder.