I have a favorite new song. Given that I tend to prefer tunes and bands from the mid-eighties, when I was a college radio DJ, this is kind of a big deal.
The song is Pumped Up Kicks by the California band, Foster the People. On first (maybe even second or third) listen, Pumped Up Kicks seems like a happy song. There’s even whistling in it. Only it’s not a happy song. And I think that’s part of what I love.
“…All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you’d better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you’d better run, better run, faster than my bullet…”
The song is about the Erfurt massacre, a horrible school shooting that took place in Germany in 2002. Clearly not a pleasant or happy topic. But the song… makes me dance every time I hear it.
That’s kind of manipulative, no? Taking a cringeworthy topic and making it shake-your-butt appealing?
Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas employed a similar technique with the song Out of the Blue from his 2009 album, Phrazes For The Young.
“Somewhere along the way, my hopefulness turned to sadness
Somewhere along the way , my sadness turned to bitterness
Somewhere along the way, my bitterness turned to anger
Somewhere along the way, my anger turned to vengeance…“
As he sings about exacting revenge, I snap my fingers and smile brightly. And again, I am okay with being manipulated.
Can you think of any other songs that take horrible, or uncomfortable, subject matter and make it not only palatable, but extremely pleasant? Happy even?
I love Move Bitch by Ludacris. It’s so mean, but sometimes when I’m driving I feel like singing it. It also makes me laugh.
I love that song!
Not sure this qualifies so much, but I think of The Middle by Jimmy Eat World. Oh! And I Don’t Like Mondays by the Boomtown Rats (about another school shooting) (as you probably know).
“Imaginary Lover” by the Atlanta Rhythm Section. I’ve loved the song since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until I became an adult that I truly understood the lyrics. Then I loved the song even more.
AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell”. Being somewhat religious (if awfully flawed) I really shouldn’t be enjoying songs about going to hell, but it’s impossible to resist AC/DC doing 70 mph on a cranked car stereo.
It’s pretty much impossible not to love any song by AC/DC.
Heading to Google now to look up the lyrics to “Imaginary Lover.”