They Say you should never judge a book by it's cover. The same should be said for music.
I was listening to a SModcast episode when they started talking about 'The Pina Colada Song' - by Rupert Holmes. I love that song, I thought. (Actual title is Escape - who knew?)
It blew me away when I started to listen to the lyrics. Check them out! It is not a nice happy fun song to listen two while you are sipping a boat drink. It is kinda' sad. The guy goes on to say how he is tired of his lady and is bored with her. He decided to look in the paper looking for a little fling. He sees one and arranges the meeting. It ends up turning out the be his wife/girlfriend who placed the add.
???
They end up having a wonderful time together and 'escaping'. Although the song ends nice what we don't seem to notice, or we allow, is that both parties were ready to cheat on the other. What if, he did not read her letter, what if it was a different add?
Hmmm...
This got me thinking about others songs which masquerade as a happy song (or a sad song) and are, in fact, the opposite.
Let us look at Every Breath You Take by Sting and The Police.
Sting himself has been disturbed a the number of people who love it as a great "love song". That is not how he wrote it. The Wikipedia article about the song states that Sting was thinking more of 'Big Brother' and control. The character in the song is stalking this person, the minor character has left and the main won't let her go, "you belong to me."
Kinda disturbing when you see what the lyrics are.
Next - Delilah - by Tom Jones
Feel free to sing along (you know you want to).
The chords in the beginning sound sinister but by the time you get to the chorus, every one is singing along and swaying back and forth. Another festive love song or the beginning of a serial killer? I am afraid it is the latter.
Dude sees the shadows of people on the shade and freaks because his lady is cheating on him. He goes across the street and kills her. He is sorry about it but being sorry does not bring Delilah back now does it?
(Too gruesome? Try Silhouettes On the Shade - by The Rays. Similar but a much happier ending.)
One more 'sad' one...
What would you do if you had $1,000,000?
The Bare Naked Ladies answer this question with If I Had a Million Dollars
Upon first listen, it sounds nice. Gets you thinking of what you would do if you had $1,000,000. Would you by a monkey? Have dijon ketchup?
Later on in the lyrics it finally answers the question. This particular person would 'buy your love'. Not exactly a good message. What quality of person will he find if he buys their love?
Meat Loaf. Mr. Aday. You gotta love him... He actually makes it on here with two!!!
First: Two Out of Three Ain't Bad - Lyrics by Jim Steinman
This one is not quite as noble as are final song but at least he is being honest and straight forward with her. He goes on to say they can talk about it forever but he is unable to say that he loves her. He "wants" her and "needs" her, but he can't say that he loves her.
What a jerk?
He explains that he can't because she is not his true love, he still is in love with the girl that got away. She left him for another saying that she wanted him and needed him, but did not love him. Unfortunately he has not been able to get over her. Perhaps someday but not right now.
Initially sounds like a jerk but most say they want honesty in a partner. He is simply being honest.
Finally: I Would Do anything For Love - Lyrics by Jim Steinman
The thing that most people don't like about the song is when Meat says the things he won't do. It sounds like he is putting limitations on his love. This is not the case. Examining the lyrics you see that he is willing to do just about anything for love. Including; going to Hell and back, he will 'take a vow', he will 'raise me up', and 'help me down'. Pretty much anything.
The things he won't do; never forget the way you feel right now, never do it better than I do it with you, never stop dreaming of you every night of my life.
Sounds can be deceiving.
Give your favorite songs another listen.
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