Songs that mean something

[Allan]

Split from: What+Are+You+Currently+Listening+To%3F

admin said:

Dear Mr President - Pink. For those who havent heard it, go look up the words

I'm not a huge Pink fan, but I love this song. It speaks the truth (and sounds quite nice too). But it got me thinking - what songs do you guys love, that have a message to them?

One that has struck me recently is "Peace is Our Profession" by Lazlo Bane, which I heard a little while back, and it really struck a chord with me. Check out the video, it's beautifully put together, as well.

[Amber]

Imagine, by John Lennon. I hadn't heard it until it was in our drama production last year, but I listened to it carefully and it had a pretty big message. The video for it is here. Give it about 40 seconds for the actual music to start.

A video with a version by A Perfect Circle is here. Warning: Some images are a bit (or more than a bit) graphic.

[Mooshi]

That's a really good song. I like the version by A Perfect Circle better though. And i definitely agree. The message leaves quite an impact.

[Bre]

The APC version is not better than John Lennon's! "Imagine" is one of my all time favorite songs. I think any of Lennon's songs have a great message.

System of a Down's "Soldier Side" has a pretty good message behind it as well.

[Beck]

Dixie Chicks Not Ready to make nice I am a sucker for anything Bush bashing

[Loz]

Miss Sarajevo by U2 about the war in Bosnia fits the bill.

[Allan]

Dixie Chicks are always bashing Bush! But I love that song too. I'm not a fan of their music, but it's a great track.

And I quite like A Perfect Circle (I saw them play live last year), but their cover comes nowhere near John Lennon's original. That said, after all this time, the song is still very pertinent to the times.

[Bre]

You saw APC live??? *jealous*

And I hate the Dixie Chicks' music but I love that song. And I love how they still stick up for what they believe even though they get bashed for it.

[Allan]

APC were great live. I saw them a couple of years back on a Friday night, and David Bowie on the Saturday. Made for a great weekend!

Bowie does a great cover of "Imagine" - far better than APC's, too.

I have a lot of respect for Dixie Chicks. They make their opinions known, and get it out there. They definitely don't let people censor their opinions.

[shred]

I was thinking about this the other day. Nowadays, artists are putting a lot of anti-Bush and anti-war message into their songs and I find it pretty annoying. I understand where they are coming from but really, I miss the days when people sang about love and the girl next door.

Is it just me or others also sick about artists harping on and on about Bush and the war?

[Beck]

I like songs to have real life issues other than love addressed in songs. I find it far more refreshing than the millions upon millions of songs written about love :dunno: The war and Bush are on a lot of people's minds, and I think its a good way to put out the message about what is going on in the world.

[Allan]

Yeah, I think artists are free to do include whatever subject matter they like in music, and really like it when they include their opinions on real world issues. And I think you'd find that the vast majority of music still doesn't include it.

I'll use Pink as an example. From all of her CDs, the vast majority of her music is "nothing" - silly, fun songs. "Dear Mr President", isn't. She wrote that song as an exception, about something she strongly believes in. And I really have no issue with it.

[Mooshi]

The song 'Ghost Of You' by My Chemical Romance is really sad. Some of the verses reallly get to me. I think of my brother everytime i hear it. He's in the army serving in Iraq right now.

[Bre]

I like songs a lot better when they have meaning. Most love songs lack substance and are just used for money making. But when a musician sings about something that is true to the rest of the world it automatically makes the song better, imo.

I think System of a Down's "BYOB (Bring your own bombs)" is pretty good. It has a CCR/Fortunate son feel to the lyrics. Good stuff.

[Loz]

admin said:

I like songs to have real life issues other than love addressed in songs. I find it far more refreshing than the millions upon millions of songs written about love

I still like a good love song, especially if its got a twist to it and means something more. For example there is an Epicure song called Sunlight which was written by the lead singer Juan to his girlfriend after he had a major motorcycle accident, almost died and thought she'd leave him

Some lines from it:
I know i'm nothing much to speak of
I'm broken in so many places
I don't think even you can fix it

And my hopes rest, where your pretty face is...
Here's my heart, be gentle when you're breaking it

[Sammy]

Are these songs that mean something to you or mean something to do with the world in general?

[Bre]

I think either or Sammy.

[Allan]

Either one, Sammy. It was inspired by Beck's bit on Pink, but the thread is in regard to either.

[Sammy]

Ok then, "Goodbye to You-Michelle Branch" always has held a special meaning to me, I think it was partly to do with Buffy and the context of the song in the episode "Tabula Rasa" but I was going through a break-up the first time I heard this song as well, so it holds a double meaning for me.

The lyrics that mean the most to me:
"And it hurts to want everything and nothing at the same time
I want what's yours and I want what's mine
I want you
But I'm not giving in this time"

[Deleted]

I'll admit right now, in full range of rotten fruit and veggies by anyone so led to throw them, that I'm a Billy Joel fan. And I've always liked "We Didn't Start the Fire." It has a good message without pointing blame at any one group or person. And "Leningrad" has always touched me with its message, too.