Top 10 Self Aware Songs

[TQM]

This is in no way meant to be definitive. Just having fun.

10. The Clash: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

9. Joan Osborne: What if God was One of Us?

8. Roy Orbison: Crying

7. Meatloaf: Two out of Three ain't Bad

6. The Kinks: Lola

5. Pretenders: Kid

4. Cheap Trick: I Want You to Want me.

3. Beatles: Yesterday - could have been anywhere on this list - lots to choose from.

2. Carly Simon: You're So Vain - she's not only self-aware, she's playing with being self aware.

1. Rolling Stones: I know it's only Rock n' Roll (but I like it): The very lyric embodies self-awareness. Others to choose from but....

So many honourable mentions: The Eagles/Joe Walsh; Neil Young; Bob Dylan (at least for The Times They are a Changin'); Van Morrison; REM (losing my religion); The Who (My Generation); Alanis Morrisette (sometimes yes; sometimes no.); David Bowie (Changes; Heroes); others.

Just some thoughts for a Wednesday. Feel free to make additions/subtractions, and comment.

 

[Hornet]

The Smiths: How Soon is Now?

 

[markvee]

Ourgang - Candle song

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

Pearl Jam - Alive

 

[elmufdvr]

rush - working man

 

[TQM]

interesting choices

(and of course there are many).

I do wonder if in fact Pearl Jam was really ever self aware - at least until after the death of Cobain - My Hero - strikes me as intensely self aware - a song I think very similar stylistically to Pearl Jam, but different in message.

 

[TQM]

Rush

as self aware? Or is it a pose?

Jennifer Lopez' "Jenny from the block" bit could be seen as self awareness, or it could be seen as kitschy pretense. I've got to think the latter.

Now Rush isn't kitschy or pretension - and they also gave us "I think I'm going bald".

But certainly an interesting choice.

 

[TQM]

Alexa,

That song also makes the top 10 masturbation songs list.

So - it scores self-awareness points, even if acknowledging when one masturbates isn't exactly the height of self-awareness.

 

[MissCroft]

I'm an Asshole - Dennis Leary

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

(and of course there are many).

I do wonder if in fact Pearl Jam was really ever self aware - at least until after the death of Cobain - My Hero - strikes me as intensely self aware - a song I think very similar stylistically to Pearl Jam, but different in message.

The song "Alive" is about Eddie Vedder dealing with discovering he was adopted.

I would consider that a self aware song.

As for Cobain, he and his music were definately self aware. Too much so. Sad, but he did create great music just the same.

 

[TQM]

Eddie Vedder being adopted......

just because the song is about himself doesn't mean it/he is self-aware. Britney Spears has songs about herself (oops she did it again!), but isn't capable of being self aware.

I'm not so much disagreeing with you (really) as pushing you on it a bit.

 

[LancsLad]

"When the Tigers broke Free" from Floyd is pretty damn self aware.

Not long by Floyd standards but very moving.

.

 

[Esco!]

This is Great Bear's self-aware song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztmQ6bW8L8M


Not that there's anything wrong with you Great Bear

 

[TQM]

longshots

Guess Who: American Woman
Don McLean: American Pie

 

[up4it]

Hurt - Johnny Cash

Even though the song wasn't written by him - he transformed it into an incredibly introspective song, illustrated even further in the video.

 

[TQM]

good point about Cash

Another example - Twist and Shout was originally about a dance move, but the Beatles, John Lennon in particular, made it plain to anyone that he was talking about sex. There is self-awareness there.

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

just because the song is about himself doesn't mean it/he is self-aware. Britney Spears has songs about herself (oops she did it again!), but isn't capable of being self aware.

I'm not so much disagreeing with you (really) as pushing you on it a bit.

Lyrics:

Is something wrong, she said
Well of course there is
Youre still alive, she said
Oh, and do I deserve to be
Is that the question
And if so...if so...who answers.

This sounds self aware to me.