Music is an art, and like any other visual or literary masterpiece, it is not always what it seems. It is easy to convey a heartbreak or a loss of a loved one in a slow ballad or invite everyone to dance with a loud, fast-paced rhythm. However, there are no rules in music and anything an artist can conceive, they can turn into song, some more popular than others.
Here are seven of the songs that mask their surprisingly dark messages with upbeat music:
"Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People
Foster the People frontman Mark Foster reportedly wrote the song while working as a jingle writer. No matter how loud the handclaps get and the viral chorus invites you to sing along, don't forget that it is a song against bullying taking a dark turn.
Foster himself was a victim of bullying, while their bassist Cubbie Fink is a cousin to one of the Columbine shootout survivors. Telling "all the other kids" with their status symbol shoes "better run, faster than my bullet" is quite the stern warning.
"Hey Ya!" by OutKast
This hit song from André 3000's half of the landmark "Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below" has a perfectly-matching music video, reminiscent of the 60s hit musical acts and getting everyone to "shake it like a Polaroid picture."
A second look at the lyrics, though, is a sad, nihilistic view on relationships. André basically asks that if "nothing lasts forever," "then what makes love the exception?"
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"Barbie" by Aqua
The message it sent prompted the "Barbie" company, Mattel, to file lawsuits against Aqua and their record label MCA, claiming that Barbie was referred to as a sex object, with the courts ultimately dismissing the case. Judge Alex Kozinski famously concluded the ruling by saying "The parties are advised to chill."
In fairness to Mattel, lyrics like "You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere" and "I'm a blond bimbo girl in a fantasy world," definitely won't fly today without stepping on quite a number of toes.
"If You Seek Amy" by Britney Spears
This single from Britney Spears "Circus" was released in March of 2009, capturing viewers with the powerful and mature pop icon. People giggled when they discovered the double entendre in the song's title and agitated the Parents Television Council when they caught up with it.
More importantly, it tackles Spears' life as a public figure and this song is her comeback against the public who seems to enjoy watching celebrities like her go through troubles, challenging them with "Love me, hate me / Say what you want about me."
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"MMMBop" by Hanson
For those who grew up in the 90s, the Hanson brothers got everybody singing the catchy "MMMBop." It is actually a fun and catchy tune, with a supposedly positive message about holding on to the things that are important in life.
The lyrics support it actually, but not in the same positive energy as its rhythm: "You have so many relationships in this life/ Only one or two will last/ You go through all the pain and strife" and later on, "And when you get old and start losing your hair/ Can you tell me who will still care?"
"I Took A Pill In Ibiza" by Mike Posner
American singer Mike Posner sang the popular line, "I took a pill in Ibiza/ To show Avicii I was cool," which referenced his friend and collaborator Avicii. It was among the hottest house music to listen to, a party staple and breaking into the top 10 of music charts in different countries.
The lyrics, however, tackle the darkness that resides just behind the glamorous party life. Ibiza in Spain has become famous for its legendary nightlife scenes. Imagine feeling ten years older when you finally got sober. In fact, Posner says it straight: "But you don't wanna be high like me/ Never really knowing why like me."
"Polly" by Nirvana
Not really a party music per se, but this alt-rock classic from Nirvana just sounds like a song about a parrot, Kurt's own parrot maybe. While it was included as a single in their album "Nevermind," it was written a couple of years before and was inspired by real events.
In their book "Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana" by Michael Azerrad, Cobain shared that he wrote "Polly" based on a June 1987 case of kidnapping and abusing a 14-year-old girl who was coming home from a punk rock show. The victim managed to escape by jumping from the truck at a gas station, attracting the attention of nearby people.
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To find out popular songs with a surprise, check out 4 Popular Songs Hated By The Artists Who Performed Them or for a bit of serendipity, see these 4 Hit Songs That Were Created by Accident.
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