Timmy84 said:

Two Lovers - Mary Wells (the song's title and the first two verses make you think she got two actual lovers but mentions in the last bit that it's the same person)

Reasons - EWF (I still don't understand why a breakup song is still a popular wedding staple?)

Louie Louie - The Kingsmen cover (which most covered from; the singer forgot the lyrics so he mumbled some parts; it was nothing graphic)

Light My Fire - The Doors ("Girl we couldn't get much higher" was always miscontrued as a lyric for "getting high" but it isn't that at all)

Mary Jane - Rick James (it's about weed, not an actual girl)

In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins (in the U.S., people keep wondering if in the lyrics on the first verse was about Phil seeing a man drowning but Phil said he don't know what the hell it's about since he wrote the song in a pissed off mood - and it's understandable because the song's meaning is not really known at all)

I think the song does have specific meaning. i thought he wrote it over his divorce?

Collins wrote this about the anger he felt after divorcing his first wife Andrea in 1979. He explained on a BBC Radio 2 documentary in 1997 that he took a couple of years out of Genesis because of his devastation.

[]

Collins wrote the song in the wake of a failing relationship with his then-wife. Collins has described obtaining the drum machine specifically to deal with these personal issues through songwriting, telling Mix magazine: "I had to start writing some of this music that was inside me."^[2]Collins improvised the lyrics during a songwriting session in the studio: “I was just fooling around. I got these chords that I liked, so I turned the mic on and started singing. The lyrics you hear are what I wrote spontaneously. That frightens me a bit, but I'm quite proud of the fact that I sang 99.9 percent of those lyrics spontaneously."^[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...ir_Tonight

SUPRMAN said:

Timmy84 said:

Two Lovers - Mary Wells (the song's title and the first two verses make you think she got two actual lovers but mentions in the last bit that it's the same person)

Reasons - EWF (I still don't understand why a breakup song is still a popular wedding staple?)

Louie Louie - The Kingsmen cover (which most covered from; the singer forgot the lyrics so he mumbled some parts; it was nothing graphic)

Light My Fire - The Doors ("Girl we couldn't get much higher" was always miscontrued as a lyric for "getting high" but it isn't that at all)

Mary Jane - Rick James (it's about weed, not an actual girl)

In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins (in the U.S., people keep wondering if in the lyrics on the first verse was about Phil seeing a man drowning but Phil said he don't know what the hell it's about since he wrote the song in a pissed off mood - and it's understandable because the song's meaning is not really known at all)

I think the song does have specific meaning. i thought he wrote it over his divorce?

Collins wrote this about the anger he felt after divorcing his first wife Andrea in 1979. He explained on a BBC Radio 2 documentary in 1997 that he took a couple of years out of Genesis because of his devastation.

[]

Collins wrote the song in the wake of a failing relationship with his then-wife. Collins has described obtaining the drum machine specifically to deal with these personal issues through songwriting, telling Mix magazine: "I had to start writing some of this music that was inside me."^[2]Collins improvised the lyrics during a songwriting session in the studio: “I was just fooling around. I got these chords that I liked, so I turned the mic on and started singing. The lyrics you hear are what I wrote spontaneously. That frightens me a bit, but I'm quite proud of the fact that I sang 99.9 percent of those lyrics spontaneously."^[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...ir_Tonight

Yeah that's what I meant when I wrote how pissed off he was when he wrote it.

728huey said:

Bitches Ain't Shit...- Dr. Dre

When people found out this song was on The Chronic, a huge number of female activist groups came out denouncing it for its misogynist lyrics ("Bitches ain't shit but hoes and tricks, lick on your nuts and suck ya dick"), not realizing it was a diss track towards Eazy E.

Dre's verse is definitely about Eazy. Obviously, the opening line is "I used to know a bitch named Eric Wright".

Of course it's about Eazy.

It's everyone else who was rapping about females.

Paris9748430 said:

728huey said:

Bitches Ain't Shit...- Dr. Dre

When people found out this song was on The Chronic, a huge number of female activist groups came out denouncing it for its misogynist lyrics ("Bitches ain't shit but hoes and tricks, lick on your nuts and suck ya dick"), not realizing it was a diss track towards Eazy E.

Dre's verse is definitely about Eazy. Obviously, the opening line is "I used to know a bitch named Eric Wright".

Of course it's about Eazy.

It's everyone else who was rapping about females.

Yup. However calling Eric a "bitch" was probably the pot calling the kettle black but that's another topic for another day.

Spinlight said:

Ok, the songs I thought of were already posted, so... what the hell.

Lou Reed - Perfect Day (people think it's a calm, happy song about the joy of going through a perfect day... at least to me it was pretty obvious the sarcasm & sadness of this song.)

Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. (it actually heavily criticizes the United States... I couldn't help start laughing out loud when I watched on tv people singing 'booorn in the u.s.a.' at the streets when Saddam Hussen died.)

and...

Peter Gabriel - Big Time (huuh? This song is a sarcastic critique to overtly cocky people, celebrities in special, and a guy once told me of how he likes to put on sunglasses and dance around his kitchen listening to this )

The Velvet Underground - Heroin (Most people think it's a song gloryfing the use of heroin, as it's so 'joyful', but actually Lou Reed said on an interview that he wrote this song as a way of 'get rid' of his heroin addiction by taking off the toll of heroin and put it on song... and how he felt apprehensive to play this song live since a fan said after a show 'I shot up to Heroin!', which he said was something that deeply disturbed him...

[Edited 3/4/12 18:55pm]

Timbuk3 - The Future's So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades)

When this song came out in the mid-1980's, it was interpreted as the feel good song of the Reagan era, and it was played at numerous high school and college graduations as a peepy, positive song. But the couple who wrote this intended it to be an ironic ode to nuclear destruction. In fact, a final verse of the song which talked about blowing up the world was omitted from the single which was released to radio and MTV.

728huey said:

Timbuk3 - The Future's So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades)

When this song came out in the mid-1980's, it was interpreted as the feel good song of the Reagan era, and it was played at numerous high school and college graduations as a peepy, positive song. But the couple who wrote this intended it to be an ironic ode to nuclear destruction. In fact, a final verse of the song which talked about blowing up the world was omitted from the single which was released to radio and MTV.

Hmm, I remember when this song came out (at three nonetheless) and I knew exactly what they were talking about. This was around the time Genesis put out "Land of Confusion" talking about possible nuclear destruction. And the lyric "the future's so bright I gotta wear shades" told a lot... but people are weird in how they go on enjoying songs that actually have deeper if black humored meanings.

A Couple more i would say...

Pretty much ANYTHING by Frank Zappa

Most just think he is talking about ''weird or out there stuff'', his songs are usually politcal, or talking about the stupidity of people.

The Cure- Killing An Arab, many think it's promoting violence towards arabs. but it's about poetic interpretation of the beach scene in the Albert Camus novel ''The Stranger''

Bob Dylan- Mr. Tambourine Man. This song about a drug dealers who helps Dylan to halluciante is often seen as well.... a story of a tambourine man

Billy Idol- Dancing With Myself, idk some say it's about masterbation. Billy say's it's about him dancing in a Japanese nightclub by himself while other laughed. Who know's!

Rap Me- Nirvana... this one speaks for itself

Timmy84 said:

728huey said:

Timbuk3 - The Future's So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades)

When this song came out in the mid-1980's, it was interpreted as the feel good song of the Reagan era, and it was played at numerous high school and college graduations as a peepy, positive song. But the couple who wrote this intended it to be an ironic ode to nuclear destruction. In fact, a final verse of the song which talked about blowing up the world was omitted from the single which was released to radio and MTV.

Hmm, I remember when this song came out (at three nonetheless) and I knew exactly what they were talking about. This was around the time Genesis put out "Land of Confusion" talking about possible nuclear destruction. And the lyric "the future's so bright I gotta wear shades" told a lot... but people are weird in how they go on enjoying songs that actually have deeper if black humored meanings.

i think it's awesome how the 80's had a lot of polica/ sociall song, that went on to be huge hits that people would dance to at the club.

This

Land Of Confusion

Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Beds Are Burning

Anything by U2 nearly

West End Girls

Purple Rain - Prince

Hell I still don't know what the hell he's talking about, I just know I love the song.

Terrib3Towel said:

Purple Rain - Prince

Hell I still don't know what the hell he's talking about, I just know I love the song.

oh towel what would we do without you

Gunsnhalen said:

Terrib3Towel said:

Purple Rain - Prince

Hell I still don't know what the hell he's talking about, I just know I love the song.

oh towel what would we do without you

Be bored as fuck.

Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul and Mary

Neil Young - Hey Hey My My - it seems people seem to think it's a song about rock never dying, but Neil says he wrote this song when his style of rock was dying and the song is about questioning how relevant he is and wondering if rock really could die when everything had already been done.

John Lennon - Imagine - general consensus is that this is a song about peace. It is actually promoting communism. John called it virtually a communist manifesto.

This is one of the great things about music - how people interpret their thoughts and emotions and how other people can hear it and feel something else. Truly art in the deepest sense.

clubon36 said:

Neil Young - Hey Hey My My - it seems people seem to think it's a song about rock never dying, but Neil says he wrote this song when his style of rock was dying and the song is about questioning how relevant he is and wondering if rock really could die when everything had already been done.

John Lennon - Imagine - general consensus is that this is a song about peace. It is actually promoting communism. John called it virtually a communist manifesto.

This is one of the great things about music - how people interpret their thoughts and emotions and how other people can hear it and feel something else. Truly art in the deepest sense.

I always wondered if this song was used w/ irony in "The Killing Fields".

This is a pretty cool thread:

Prince "White Mansion" - At first you think he is being boastful about living an opulent lifestyle, but then if you listen closely toward the end you realize he is talking about having all of the materials things, but no real happiness.

Maxwell "Pretty Wings" - The song is pretty clear to me, but when I went to his concert, he kept saying, "Where are my pretty wings?" The women were going crazy and my friend and I were like, "Isn't pretty wings about breaking up with someone so they can 'fly' away?" I guess his sexiness just clouds all judgement.

[Edited 3/5/12 8:41am]

clubon36 said:

John Lennon - Imagine - general consensus is that this is a song about peace. It is actually promoting communism. John called it virtually a communist manifesto.

I was actually going to bring up this song, but for a different reason. Some say it advocates atheism, and some say it advocates socialism.. but it doesn't actually advocate anything (except imagining). Whatever John may have intended to say, if taken literally and at face value, this song just asks you to imagine (form a mental image of) a different type of world. It doesn't say "there is no god" - it says "imagine no heaven[..]hell[..]religion". It doesn't say "socialism is good" or "capitalism is bad" - it says "imagine no possessions[...] imagine all the people sharing all the world". I find it interesting how different people read different things into this song.

[Edited 3/5/12 8:57am]

CrabalockerFishwife said:

clubon36 said:

John Lennon - Imagine - general consensus is that this is a song about peace. It is actually promoting communism. John called it virtually a communist manifesto.

I was actually going to bring up this song, but for a different reason. Some say it advocates atheism, and some say it advocates socialism.. but it doesn't actually advocate anything (except imagining). Whatever John may have intended to say, if taken literally and at face value, this song just asks you to imagine (form a mental image of) a different type of world. It doesn't say "there is no god" - it says "imagine no heaven[..]hell[..]religion". It doesn't say "socialism is good" or "capitalism is bad" - it says "imagine no possessions[...] imagine all the people sharing all the world". I find it interesting how different people read different things into this song.

[Edited 3/5/12 8:46am]

I think that it does give the listener the impression that the world would be a better place without these things. He ends the song by saying, "I hope some day you'll join us. And the world will live as one." Thus, he is trying to move the listener's thinking in the direction of his own beliefs.

PurpleChi said:

CrabalockerFishwife said:

[...]

I think that it does give the listener the impression that the world would be a better place without these things. He ends the song by saying, "I hope some day you'll join us. And the world will live as one." Thus, he is trying to move the listener's thinking in the direction of his own beliefs.

Yeah, I never thought about that part of the song... maybe I'm wrong.

Even still, it doesn't advocate socialism. I think John intended it to, but it doesn't. I've always taken "imagine no possessions" and "imagine all the people sharing all the world" as him speaking to the listener, telling them to be less greedy. That doesn't equal socialism.

And "no religion" is not the same as "no god", either. John had never claimed to be an atheist, and had in fact claimed to believe in God.

So, I don't believe this song to advocate socialism or deny the existence of any God(s).

[Edited 3/5/12 9:02am]

CrabalockerFishwife said:

PurpleChi said:

I think that it does give the listener the impression that the world would be a better place without these things. He ends the song by saying, "I hope some day you'll join us. And the world will live as one." Thus, he is trying to move the listener's thinking in the direction of his own beliefs.

Yeah, I never thought about that part of the song... maybe I'm wrong.

Even still, it doesn't advocate socialism. I think John intended it to, but it doesn't. I've always taken "imagine no possessions" and "imagine all the people sharing all the world" as him speaking to the listener, telling them to be less greedy. That doesn't equal socialism.

And "no religion" is not the same as "no god", either. John had never claimed to be an atheist, and had in fact claimed to believe in God.

So, I don't believe this song to advocate socialism or deny the existence of any God(s).

[Edited 3/5/12 9:02am]

I can agree with that. I always thought the message was not to define oneself by these things and thus, divide oneself from others who live by different definitions. I am not sure that he was going as far to promote socialism. But, you never know. I can see how it can be interpreted either way.

I always took "Imagine" to mean "imagine what it would be if we didn't have conflict". That's really what I think what the message REALLY was. So I understood what he meant.

Timmy84 said:

I always took "Imagine" to mean "imagine what it would be if we didn't have conflict". That's really what I think what the message REALLY was. So I understood what he meant.

I'm pretty sure John meant what he said. No LSD or metaphors needed.

CrabalockerFishwife said:

PurpleChi said:

I think that it does give the listener the impression that the world would be a better place without these things. He ends the song by saying, "I hope some day you'll join us. And the world will live as one." Thus, he is trying to move the listener's thinking in the direction of his own beliefs.

Yeah, I never thought about that part of the song... maybe I'm wrong.

Even still, it doesn't advocate socialism. I think John intended it to, but it doesn't. I've always taken "imagine no possessions" and "imagine all the people sharing all the world" as him speaking to the listener, telling them to be less greedy. That doesn't equal socialism.

And "no religion" is not the same as "no god", either. John had never claimed to be an atheist, and had in fact claimed to believe in God.

So, I don't believe this song to advocate socialism or deny the existence of any God(s).

[Edited 3/5/12 9:02am]

I don't know....

I seem to vaguely recall a Rolling Stone interview where John was quoted as saying that the song is virtually a "communist manifesto." I half-assed tried to find the article but Rolling Stone wants me to create an account and I don't care that much. But just google imagine and communist manifesto. It's all over the internet (but no firm source that I saw).

Regardless, music is all about letting the listener interpret however they want so to each his own. I still choose to believe "Tamborine" is about the musical instrument.

CallMeCarrie said:

CrabalockerFishwife said:

Yeah, I never thought about that part of the song... maybe I'm wrong.

Even still, it doesn't advocate socialism. I think John intended it to, but it doesn't. I've always taken "imagine no possessions" and "imagine all the people sharing all the world" as him speaking to the listener, telling them to be less greedy. That doesn't equal socialism.

And "no religion" is not the same as "no god", either. John had never claimed to be an atheist, and had in fact claimed to believe in God.

So, I don't believe this song to advocate socialism or deny the existence of any God(s).

[Edited 3/5/12 9:02am]

I don't know....

I seem to vaguely recall a Rolling Stone interview where John was quoted as saying that the song is virtually a "communist manifesto." I half-assed tried to find the article but Rolling Stone wants me to create an account and I don't care that much. But just google imagine and communist manifesto. It's all over the internet (but no firm source that I saw).

Regardless, music is all about letting the listener interpret however they want so to each his own. I still choose to believe "Tamborine" is about the musical instrument.

Yes.. but regardless of whatever meaning he intended, it doesn't say that explicitly in the lyrics. "Imagine" is a song that can be intepreted many ways, but it bothers me when other people say they hate the song because they disagree with the message that they interpreted the song as having. I take the song at face value, and it doesn't say anything about socialism, communism or capitalism in the lyrics, and he doesn't say there is no God either. "Imagine" asks us to imagine a different kind of world. When John says "I hope some day you'll join us", he is asking the listener to imagine what he is imagining.. he still doesn't explicitly say that religion, or any form of government is wrong.

John said that to imagine is to create. That isn't true. The word imagine means...

im·ag·ine/iˈmajən/

[Edited 3/6/12 16:41pm]

^^ Maybe John was talking smack (or using smack) when he said it being a "socialist song" (hell he seemed high every time he was "fighting for change" or whatever he and Yoko were doing then before he went on his "lost weekend" or whatever they called it) but I don't see it as being so.