Three Songs That Made Me the Angriest: From Autotuned Dissonance to Political Annoyance
I have a confession to make: there are certain songs that, when I hear them on the radio, send me into a fit of rage. This can range from the mind-numbing pop tracks that seem to pass for modern rock, to politically charged songs that miss the mark. Today, Irsquo;ll be sharing three examples that still make me seethe with frustration: lsquo;Thunderrsquo; by Imagine Dragons, lsquo;Two Tribesrsquo; by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and lsquo;Hallelujahrsquo; by Leonard Cohen.
Thunder by Imagine Dragons
Irsquo;m incredibly put off by the song lsquo;Thunderrsquo; by Imagine Dragons. They represent all thatrsquo;s wrong with modern pop and rock music. Their sound has reached a point where itrsquo;s past its peak and become formulaic. lsquo;Thunderrsquo; is a prime example. The instrumental and lyrical content are both bland and forgettable. Whatrsquo;s worse is that the vocals are an additional source of irritation. The lead singer's emphasis on the last few letters of every word is not only annoying to listen to but adds nothing to the song. The repetitive chorus, which consists of the word lsquo;thunderrsquo; over and over, is grating. Irsquo;m even more offended by the autotune, which I canrsquo;t stand. The result is a wasteland of mediocre pop that deserves to be buried under a giant boulder, rather than given airplay.
The song has absolutely no originality and I wish it had never been played on the radio. Irsquo;m angered that these so-called rock stars who donrsquo;t even deserve the name are considered the face of modern rock.
Two Tribes by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
In my lifetime, I have heard two versions of Frankie Goes to Hollywoodrsquo;s lsquo;Two Tribesrsquo; on jukeboxes. The frustration I experienced the first time was that the version I heard wasnrsquo;t available in my country, and the second time, I heard a completely different mix. This is when the bizarreness of the lyrics truly hit me. The song ends with the line: ldquo;If you or one of your family should die, / Make sure to tag them with suitable identification.rdquo; This nonsensical instruction is followed by a dull jingle, which just exacerbates my frustration. It seems like the artists had no intention of engaging the listener and instead were more focused on the novelty of the lyrics. The inclusion of the vocal loop with the ominous sound of the lsquo;Last Voicersquo; is equally unsettling. The lyrics suggest that the government might be planning for a nuclear war, and itrsquo;s the responsibility of the individual to prepare for it by tagging themselves with identification. This absurdity and the autotuned vocals create an unsettling and politically charged atmosphere that I find highly frustrating.
Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohenrsquo;s lsquo;Hallelujahrsquo; is a song that feels most appropriate around Christmas time. However, there is one line that bothers me: ldquo;You never liked music anyway.rdquo; This statement doesnrsquo;t ring true for my personal experience with music. For me, music is a source of joy and comfort, and while it may not have been a significant part of Cohenrsquo;s life, it doesnrsquo;t make his interpretation any less frustrating. The song still feels false and equally annoying. The repetitive nature of the phrases and the seemingly irrelevant lyrics further contribute to my sense of frustration.
Overall, these three songs have become soundtrack to my rage, representing the worst of what passes for modern music. Whether it be from the blandness of pop-rock melodies, political overtones, or just plain nonsensical lyrics, these songs are proof that music can still be deeply annoying in spite of (or because of) its popularity.