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The Meaning Behind “Lisztomania” by Phoenix
Ten years into their career, the French band Phoenix had refined their pop skills by referencing two great composers. The sophistication of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is juxtaposed with the flash of Franz...
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The “Satanic Panic”-Inspired Meaning Behind “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus
When the heavy metal revolution exploded in the 1980s, it sent heavy rock fans into fits of euphoria. But it did not sit well with many parents, peers, and authority figures. They felt long-haired...
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Behind the Meaning of the Beatles’ Hometown Ode “Penny Lane”
The Beatles covered a variety of topics in their music: fame, heartache, and love. But, one of their most endearing songs concerns their childhood upbringing and the many faces and places to be seen on...
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The Meaning Behind Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s “Hey Hey, My My (Into the...
In the annals of rock music, the partnership between Neil Young and Devo ranks among one of the least expected. Yet that combination was responsible for one of Young’s most culturally relevant and...
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Dying or Dreaming? The Meaning of “Almost Home” by Craig Morgan
Was the old man dying or dreaming? That is the $64,000 question raised by “Almost Home,” the 2002 country hit by Craig Morgan. Co-written by Morgan and Kerry Kurt Phillips, the song paints multiple...
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The Somewhat Sinister Meaning Behind “Wrapped Around Your Finger” by The Police
The Police left us wanting more. Their final album, Synchronicity (1983), won them universal critical acclaim and also attained new levels of commercial success for the band. “Wrapped Around Your...
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The Meaning Behind Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust,” a Song That Was...
Hearing Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” when it first came out in 1980 was a disorienting experience. Plenty of rock bands—from The Rolling Stones to Bad Company to KISS—had hits in the late ‘70’s...
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The Meaning Behind “Alison” by Elvis Costello
His image was that of an angry young man, spitting out hyper-literate tirades with a sneer over relentlessly frenetic music. Yet a closer look, and listen, revealed that Elvis Costello could never,...
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The Meaning Behind “Dirty Laundry” by Carrie Underwood
The not-so-secret secret of reality-singing television shows is their primary purpose is to prop up the careers of famous judges. It’s not a coincidence when one of the judges announces a new single on...
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Behind the Endearing Meaning of “I’m A Survivor” by Reba McEntire
“I’m A Survivor” has a rousing effect on any woman roughing the trials of everyday life. Reba McEntire delivered something truly timeless with this track, becoming the voice of survivors everywhere....
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The Anti-Colonialist Message in the Meaning Behind Iron Maiden’s “Run to the...
Iron Maiden is a band that has often combined metal theatricality with dramatic stories inspired by real life. Their first two albums with original singer Paul Di’Anno leaned towards Gothic horror...
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The Defiant Meaning Behind Johnny Paycheck’s “Take This Job and Shove It,” an...
Take this job and shove it Six words. Take this job and shove it tells a whole story in just those first six words. Songwriter David Allan Coe started with those words, and Johnny Paycheck was the...
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The Meaning Behind “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” by Smashing Pumpkins
The world is a vampire sent to drain is a lyric that sums up ’90s alt-angst. While the Smashing Pumpkins ascended to alternative rock dominance, the indie crowd called them “careerists,” “fake,” or, as...
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The Meaning Behind “Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney & Wings
Wings recorded “Live and Let Die” during sessions for Red Rose Speedway, but this, one of their defining songs, was made for another project and wasn’t included on the album. Paul McCartney wrote the...
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Behind the Meaning of Megan Moroney’s “No Caller ID”
Megan Moroney pleased fans by releasing a track she often played on The Lucky Tour, “No Caller ID.” The ballad gives fans an update on her love life, namely the ghosts from her past that are trying to...
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From 0-16 to Super Bowl Hopefuls: Behind the Eminem Song That Calls Out the...
Football fans throughout the 2024 NFL playoffs have likely seen Eminem, the great Detroit-born rapper known for songs like “Lose Yourself,” pop up on various commercials and on the sidelines of his...
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The Meaning Behind “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.” by John Mellencamp
As an album takes shape, an artist or a producer can start to group the songs to see how they flow. Certain songs may not fit with the overall theme or may stand out from the rest. John Cougar...
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From Simon & Garfunkel to The Bangles: The Evolution of “A Hazy Shade of Winter”
A year after Simon & Garfunkel released their 1964 debut Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., Paul Simon relocated to London, England. During his time abroad, Simon was writing songs, many of which would...
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The Meaning Behind “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire
When we think about “Boogie Wonderland,” the 1979 Earth, Wind & Fire hit featuring the all-female vocal group, the Emotions, we think about good times on the dance floor. Maybe the scene from...
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The Meaning Behind Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band’s “Hollywood Nights”
You’ve got to feel for Bob Seger. He and his bandmates lived a hard life on the road, as detailed in their classic hit “Turn the Page.” Then Seger makes it big, goes to Los Angeles, and has his heart...
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