If you know me in real life or are at all familiar with this blog, then you probably know that I generally dislike pop music & strongly prefer rock & metal, with a good dose of classical & occasional selected country on the side.  But the truth is there actually are a few pop songs I genuinely like, not just because they have a catchy tune or fun beat but because I believe they are truly well-written songs with actual meaning.  So today I thought it would be fun to share some of these songs with y’all as a means of showing I’m not a total old fart.  Haha!

Most modern pop music is total crap.  Call Me Maybe was nominated for a Grammy.  Maybe it even won.  Need I say more?

• All Too Well by Taylor Swift: I owe my knowledge of this song to a friend from high school.  I honestly think it’s the best song Taylor Swift has ever recorded because it is just so well-written.  My favorite lyrics are the following:
  • “Maybe we got lost in translation, maybe I asked for too much
    And maybe this thing was a masterpiece ’til you tore it all up
    Running scared, I was there, I remember it all too well
  • Hey, you call me up again just to break me like a promise
    So casually cruel in the name of being honest
    I’m a crumpled up piece of paper lying here
    ‘Cause I remember it all, all, all too well
  • Time won’t fly, it’s like I’m paralyzed by it
    I’d like to be my old self again, but I’m still trying to find it”
• Alright, one more Taylor Swift song.  I swear if she’d kept writing songs like the aforementioned one & Back to December I’d have so much more respect for her.  Instead she’s drifted off into total idiotic crap like Shake It Off & We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together . . . Anyway my favorite lyrics from this one are these:
  • “So this is me swallowing my pride
    Standing in front of you saying I’m sorry for that night
    And I go back to December all the time
    It turns out freedom ain’t nothing but missing you
    Wishing I’d realized what I had when you were mine
    I’d go back to December, turn around & make it all right
    I go back to December all the time”
• You & Your Hand by P!nk (I refuse to use the incomplete spellings of you & your like the actual title uses): The first time I heard this song I thought it was gross.  But as I got a little older I realized it is the perfect response to every man (& I use that term loosely) who has ever treated me in one way or another like a piece of meat (aka purely as a sexual object).  To all the creepy dudes out there who leer at us ladies in public, whistle as we walk by, or make disturbing comments to us, this song is the response of every self-respecting woman:
  • “I’m not here for your entertainment
    You don’t really want to mess with me tonight
    Just stop & take a second
    I was fine before you walked into my life
    Cause you know it’s over
    Before it began
    Keep your drink, just give me the money
    It’s just you & your hand tonight”
• Stupid Girls: Ok, one more by P!nk.  I’ve actually written about this song on here before, but it’s such a well-written song that has only become more relevant as time goes by so I feel compelled to share it again.  As talentless women like Kim Kardashian continue to receive loads of media attention these lyrics become more & more germane:
  • “What happened to the dream of a girl president?
    She’s dancing in the video next to 50 Cent
    They travel in packs of two or three
    With their itsy-bitsy doggies & their teeny-weeny tees
  • Where, oh where, have the smart people gone?
    Oh where, oh where could they be?
  • I’m so glad that I’ll never fit in
    That will never be me
    Outcasts & girls with ambition
    That’s what I wanna see”
• My Happy Ending by Avril Lavigne: Ok, maybe this isn’t the most well-written song ever, but I just can’t help but love it.  Whether it was an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend or someone we admired & respected who turned out to be less than worthy of our devotion, I think we can all relate to the feeling of being disappointed by finding out that someone isn’t the person we thought they were.
  • “You were everything, everything that I wanted
    We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
    And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away
    All this time you were pretending
    So much for my happy ending
  • It’s nice to know that you were there
    Thanks for acting like you cared
    And making me feel like I was the only one
    It’s nice to know we had it all
    Thanks for watching as I fall
    And letting me know we were done”
• When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars: When Bruno Mars first became popular I figured he was just another Justin Beiber type, but once I heard this song I realized there was a lot more to Bruno Mars, or at least some of his songs, than I initially thought.  For one thing, he actually plays the piano on this one!
  • “Although it hurts
    I’ll be the first to say that I was wrong
    Oh, I know I’m probably much too late
    To try & apologize for my mistakes
    But I just want you to know
  • I hope he buys you flowers
    I hope he holds your hand
    Give you all his hours
    When he has the chance
    Take you to every party
    ‘Cause I remember how much you loved to dance
    Do all the things I should have done
    When I was your man”
    

    Lady Gaga Wallpaper @ go4celebrity.com

     

• Speechless by Lady Gaga: I could actually list quite a few Lady Gaga songs that I really like.  She is really the only mainstream pop start whom I truly admire.  Even if you find her admittedly ridiculous costumes & rather shocking stage presence a bit offensive or silly, you’d be very remiss to deny her talent as a singer & musician.  If I had to pick a favorite song of hers, it would have to be this one because it showcases her stunning voice so incredibly well.  Plus, she plays the piano on this song.
  • “And I know that it’s complicated
    But I’m a loser in love
    So baby raise a glass to mend
    All the broken hearts
    Of all my wrecked up friends
  • I’ll never talk again
    Oh boy, you’ve left me speechless
    You’ve left me speechless, so speechless
  • And I’ll never love again,
    Oh friend, you’ve left me speechless
    You’ve left me speechless, so speechless”
• Misery Business by Paramore: To be fair, I guess this really is a rock song but it definitely has a more pop vibe & not surprisingly was very popular even on Top 40 type radio stations when it debuted in 2007.  I’ll be the first to admit that this is really a pretty shallow song, but at the same time I can’t help but love it.  Definitely a guilty pleasure!
• Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri: I remember when this song came out when I was in college & I immediately fell in love with it, largely because of Christina Perri’s gorgeous voice but also because of the beautiful instrumentation of the song.  I love the message of self-empowerment the song gives as well:
  • “And it took so long just to feel alright
    Remember how to put back the light in my eyes
    I wish I had missed the first time that we kissed
    ‘Cause you broke all your promises
    And now you’re back
    You don’t get to get me back
  • And who do you think you are?
    Runnin’ ’round leaving scars
    Collecting your jar of hearts
    And tearing love apart
    You’re gonna catch a cold
    From the ice inside your soul
    So don’t come back for me
    Don’t come back at all”
    

    (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)

• King of Anything by Sara Bareilles: This is another song I fell in love with on first listen.  The song seems to be written about a boyfriend (or potential suitor anyway) who attempts to boss the singer around, but I think the listener can extrapolate the song to be about anyone who tries to boss us around in life, particularly those who really have no right whatsoever to do so.  As someone who’s always been a bit distrustful of authority while also somehow being a natural people-pleaser, the lyrics of this strong resonate very strongly with me:
  • “You’ve got opinions, man
    We’re all entitled to ’em, but I never asked
    So let me thank you for your time,
    And try not to waste anymore of mine
    And get out of here fast
  • I hate to break it to you babe, but I’m not drowning
    There’s no one here to save
  • Who cares if you disagree?
    You are not me
    Who made you king of anything?
    So you dare tell me who to be?
    Who died & made you king of anything?
  • All my life I’ve tried to make everybody happy
    While I just hurt & hide
    Waiting for someone to tell me it’s my turn to decide”

If you haven’t noticed, one reason I actually like these songs as opposed to the modern prototypical pop song is that they aren’t just songs about partying & drinking.  They actually tell a story or have a deeper meaning than simply “Let’s party it up tonight & get wasted.”  I’m sorry, but that kind of crap isn’t real music in my book.  See the below quote from Corey Taylor for an explanation why.

In case you’re wondering why  most pop music makes me angry, this quote explains it.