These bangers harbor secrets... Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most well-known pop songs that sound cheerful but hide surprisingly dark lyrics.
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00:00🎵 You don't know how long that was until I found you 🎵
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most well-known pop songs
00:10that sound cheerful but hide surprisingly dark lyrics.
00:14🎵 You never gonna be the girl you never gonna be the girl 🎵
00:16🎵 Get it, go, get it, go, get it, go, get it, go 🎵
00:19Number 20. I Took a Pill in Ibiza, Mike Posner.
00:23🎵 You don't wanna ride the bus like this 🎵
00:25🎵 Never know who to trust like this 🎵
00:28🎵 You don't wanna be stuck up on that stage 🎵
00:30In the mid-2010s, Mike Posner's music career got a much-needed boost with the
00:35release of I Took a Pill in Ibiza. Originally an acoustic folk tune, the song was transformed
00:40into a global hit when it was remixed by Norwegian EDM duo Seeb. But despite the upbeat melody,
00:46the lyrics actually reflect Posner's personal struggles with fame,
00:49self-esteem, and the hollow side of success.
00:52🎵 I get along with old-timers 🎵
00:53🎵 My name's a reminder of a pop song people forgot 🎵
00:56The song was born from a real-life experience at a party in Ibiza,
01:00where instead of living it up, Posner was feeling down about how his career had turned out. But then,
01:05he was instantly validated when a group of fans recognized him and offered him a pill,
01:09which he took to feel better about himself and fit in.
01:12🎵 Darling, old, I know, what's that song? 🎵
01:18Number 19. Habits Stay High, Tuvalu.
01:21🎵 Binge on all my Twinkies 🎵
01:23🎵 Throw up in the tub and I go to sleep 🎵
01:27Tuvalu's breakout single, Habits Stay High, might come across like a carefree dancefloor anthem,
01:32but don't let the upbeat rhythm fool you. If you listen closely,
01:36you'll realize it's actually about someone spiraling out of control.
01:39🎵 Spending my days locked in a haze 🎵
01:42🎵 Trying to forget you, babe, I fall back down 🎵
01:47The narrator deals with the aftermath of a failed relationship,
01:50drowning her sorrows in booze, drugs, and casual flings in a desperate attempt to numb the pain.
01:56Unsurprisingly, this does not work. It only pushes her deeper into even more
02:00self-destructive behavior. 🎵 Staying in my play pretend 🎵
02:04🎵 Where the fun ain't got no end 🎵
02:08The song was admittedly the most personal from the singer's debut EP Truth Serum,
02:12as it was inspired by a real-life relationship that ended in heartbreak.
02:16Number 18. Car Radio, 21 Pilots.
02:20🎵 Sometimes quiet is violent 🎵
02:21🎵 I find it hard to hide it 🎵
02:23🎵 My pride is no longer in sight 🎵
02:25🎵 It's on my sleeve, my skin will scream 🎵
02:27The real-life story behind the 21 Pilots song Car Radio might sound simple at first.
02:32While in college, the singer's car was broken into and his radio was stolen,
02:36but the track quickly spirals into a reflection on the darker side of the mind.
02:40Now without his car radio, he finds himself trapped in silence,
02:44grappling with the weight of his own thoughts.
02:46🎵 We're all battling fear, oh dear 🎵
02:48🎵 I don't know if we know why we're here 🎵
02:49🎵 Oh my, too deep, please stop thinking 🎵
02:51🎵 I liked it better when my car had sound 🎵
02:53These heavy themes of anxiety and isolation are cleverly hidden beneath a lively electronic sound,
02:59creating a juxtaposition that might just make you rethink your own distractions.
03:03Car Radio was certified three times platinum in the U.S.,
03:06so at least for the singer, those overwhelming thoughts turned out to be quite profitable.
03:11🎵 And now I just stand in silence 🎵
03:15🎵 And now I just stand in silence 🎵
03:20🎵 My time has come 🎵
03:24🎵 Sent shivers down my spine 🎵
03:26Regarded as one of the greatest songs ever,
03:29Bohemian Rhapsody is a genre-defying masterpiece that packs a piano ballad,
03:33hard rock and progressive pop sounds into a six-minute operatic extravaganza.
03:38On the surface, it seems like a whimsical tale,
03:41but a closer listen reveals haunting lyrics about guilt, existential dread, and even murder.
03:46🎵 The alzheimer has the devil put aside for me 🎵
03:51Freddie Mercury never explained the exact meaning behind the lyrics,
03:54leading to speculation that it might have been his subtle way of coming out as queer.
03:58In the song, the narrator grapples with the consequences of a crime,
04:02reflecting his profound inner conflict and search for redemption.
04:06Bohemian Rhapsody not only showcases Mercury's extraordinary vocal range,
04:10it also takes listeners on an emotional rollercoaster of his songwriting genius.
04:14🎵 Just gotta get out 🎵
04:16🎵 Just gotta get right outta here 🎵
04:28Spanish pop duo Los del Rio first released this song in 1993,
04:32but it didn't explode worldwide until two years later,
04:35thanks to a remix by the Bayside Boys.
04:37Suddenly, this version became the anthem of the 90s dance scene,
04:41blasting at countless parties, including weddings.
04:44But those couples might have had a rethink if they knew the song's real meaning.
04:48Beneath the irresistible beat lies the story of a woman named Macarena,
04:52who, while her partner is off joining the army,
04:55cheats on him with two of his friends.
04:57🎵 Now, come on, what was I supposed to do? 🎵
04:59🎵 He was out of town and his two friends were so fine 🎵
05:04This bittersweet narrative of heartbreak and infidelity
05:07sharply contrasts the track's cheerful tone.
05:10So, next time you're dancing along to Macarena,
05:12remember it's the story of some pretty questionable decisions.
05:15🎵 Baila tu cuerpo, alegría, Macarena 🎵
05:18🎵 Hey, Macarena 🎵
05:23With a title like Mr. Brightside,
05:25you'd probably expect something quite cheerful from this song.
05:28But the lyrics go in the opposite direction,
05:30taking a relentlessly dour tone.
05:33🎵 It's killing me 🎵
05:36🎵 And taking control 🎵
05:40They tell the story of a man consumed by jealousy and paranoia,
05:43as he becomes convinced that his girlfriend is cheating on him.
05:46But you'd probably never catch this on first listen.
05:49🎵 Open up my eager eyes 🎵
05:54🎵 Cause I'm Mr. Brightside 🎵
05:57The man's spiraling emotions and obsessive thoughts
06:00are cleverly masked by the song's fast-paced rhythm and thumping drums.
06:04Despite or maybe because of this mix of darkness and catchiness,
06:08Mr. Brightside became a massive hit
06:10and remains one of the most iconic rock songs of the early 2000s.
06:14🎵 What a miracle 🎵
06:21Number 14.
06:22Little Talks of Monsters and Men.
06:24🎵 So listen to a word I say 🎵
06:27🎵 The screams all sound the same 🎵
06:32The debut single by Icelandic band of Monsters and Men,
06:36Little Talks kicks off with a bang,
06:38blaring horns, and a lively rhythm that instantly pulls you into its energetic vibe.
06:42However, when all of that instrumentation fades,
06:45listeners are left to confront a pretty haunting message.
06:48The lyrics revolve around a conversation between two partners,
06:52one of whom is deceased.
06:53🎵 Wait, wait, wait for me 🎵
06:56🎵 Please hang around 🎵
06:57🎵 I'll see you when I fall asleep 🎵
07:01As they engage in their little talks,
07:03themes of grief and loss take center stage,
07:06with the surviving partner struggling to fill the void of their loved one.
07:09It is an emotional tug-of-war that tugs at listeners, too,
07:13as they have to contemplate life and death
07:15while stomping their feet to the infectious beats.
07:18🎵 For the truth may not be this 🎵
07:21🎵 She can't carry on 🎵
07:23🎵 I need to take a shot 🎵
07:26Number 13, 99 Luftballons, Nina.
07:37It's easy to miss the actual message behind this tune,
07:39as it was originally written in German,
07:41and lost a bit of its punch when it was translated to English.
07:44Still, it is one of those songs that tricks you with its groovy synth-pop sounds
07:49while hiding some pretty grim themes.
07:51🎵 Was es einmal so weit lang? 🎵
07:53🎵 Weg 99 Luftballons 🎵
07:56The song imagines a world where 99 balloons are released into the sky
08:00and mistaken for enemy aircraft.
08:02This innocent act sets off a chain reaction,
08:04which results in military panic, nuclear war, and massive destruction.
08:09While the music itself is peppy,
08:11the song's message is a sharp critique of Cold War tensions,
08:15showing how easily fear and miscommunication can lead to catastrophe.
08:19🎵 Haben Luftballon gefunden 🎵
08:22🎵 Denk an dich und lass ihn fliegen 🎵
08:26Number 12, Semi-Charmed Life, Third Eye Blind.
08:37With its punchy drums and irresistible doo-doo-doo chorus,
08:40one might mistake Third Eye Blind's Semi-Charmed Life
08:42for just another breezy pop-rock tune.
08:45But of course, there is a lot more than meets the eye here.
08:48🎵 When I'm with you, I feel like I could die 🎵
08:51🎵 And that would be alright 🎵
08:52The song is packed with references to illicit substances,
08:56following someone caught in a cycle of self-destruction and struggling to break free.
09:00As they chase these fleeting moments of happiness,
09:02they come to realize that the Semi-Charmed Life isn't all it's cracked up to be.
09:07In a way, the song itself is the ultimate sugar-coated pill,
09:10a feel-good tune on the outside with a seriously gritty message at its core.
09:15🎵 I'm not listening when you say 🎵
09:18🎵 Goodbye 🎵
09:21Number 11, Paper Planes, M.I.A.
09:29British rapper M.I.A. pulled off a masterclass in misdirection with her hit single Paper Planes.
09:34At first glance, it sounds like a song about gangster violence,
09:38complete with gunshot sounds and the cha-ching of cash registers.
09:41But those sound effects were incorporated to tell a different story,
09:45one about immigration and xenophobia.
09:47🎵 We packed and delivered like UPS trucks 🎵
09:50🎵 Already going home, just pumping my gas 🎵
09:52Drawing from her own struggle to secure a U.S. work visa,
09:56M.I.A. highlights the hardships immigrants face, and pokes fun at Western stereotypes.
10:01Even with lines about robberies and the clear gunshot effects,
10:04the whimsical delivery makes it easy to miss the social commentary.
10:08No wonder so many people were too busy grooving to realize,
10:11and helped propel it to unexpected commercial success.
10:14🎵 All I wanna do is come down, come down, come down, come down and take your money 🎵
10:20Number 10, Lights, Ellie Goulding.
10:26After dropping out of university and signing with Polydor Records to pursue a music career,
10:30Goulding first broke real ground with her smash hit Lights.
10:33And while it could be interpreted simply as a story about facing your inner demons,
10:38Ellie actually drew upon memories of her biggest childhood fear,
10:41sleeping with the lights off to compose the airy electropop single.
10:49In fact, the British chanteuse verified her lyrics origins in a radio interview in L.A.,
10:54admitting that the anxiety that sets in while immersed in
10:57darkness still pervades to this very day, unless she is sleeping with someone else.
11:06Number 9, Can't Feel My Face, The Weeknd.
11:11🎵 Can't go without it 🎵
11:13Who would've guessed that the track that reigned the radio waves all summer 2015
11:18was secretly about illicit drugs? It should hardly surprise us that Abel Tesfaye,
11:23better known as The Weeknd, would pen an infectious love song as an ode to
11:27narcotics instead of a woman. 🎵 I can't feel my face when I'm with you, but I love it 🎵
11:35Although casual listeners likely assumed the R&B crooner was so overjoyed about his
11:39romantic feelings that he couldn't suppress a smile, the shady truth is that the MJ-influenced
11:44club banger is describing the numbing effects of the drugs.
11:48Number 18, Turning Japanese, The Vapors.
11:51🎵 I got your picture of me and you 🎵
11:56Although once falsely reported to be a naughty British euphemism for pleasuring oneself,
12:00The Vapors have stepped forward to set the record straight.
12:03Turning Japanese has nothing to do with the people of Japan or self-pleasure.
12:08🎵 Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so 🎵
12:13So what sort of metamorphosis were the short-lived New Wave group going on about?
12:18In reality, the transformation they sung about simply revolved around changes
12:22and becoming something unexpected, that's all.
12:24Not a terribly dark theme, but one that expresses how adolescence and formative
12:28teenage years bring about all kinds of changes,
12:31often leaving you feeling like a totally different person.
12:34Number 7, If You Seek Amy, Britney Spears.
12:38🎵 Oh baby, baby, have you seen Amy tonight? 🎵
12:41You can always count on Britney to start a scandal, and If You Seek Amy is no exception.
12:45Throughout the song, the racy lyrics seem to spell out a single desire to,
12:49if you seek Amy.
12:51Say it slowly and you'll hear a sexual innuendo
12:53that has drawn comparisons to the profane wordplay of Shakespeare.
12:56🎵 Love me, hate me, say what you want about me 🎵
13:00🎵 But all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to if you seek Amy 🎵
13:03However, others have noted that the song is not about looking for a woman named Amy
13:08or sex, but about how the public perceives Spears' life.
13:11The thinly-veiled sexual message did get the Parents Television Council up in arms though,
13:16as they threatened to launch indecency complaints
13:18against any radio station that gave the song daytime airplay.
13:22Number 6, The A-Team, Ed Sheeran.
13:24🎵 White lips, pale face, breathing in snowflakes 🎵
13:30Ed Sheeran is known for imbuing his music with a lot of personal significance,
13:35and in the case of The A-Team, his own experiences with being unhoused.
13:38Sheeran has been open about surfing from couch to couch while he supported himself by playing gigs.
13:43So when his career started to pick up steam,
13:46he performed a show at an emergency housing shelter.
13:49🎵 A-Team, stuck in her daydream 🎵
13:53While the title of the song is about a sex worker with a dependence on a Class A
13:57illegal substance, the subject matter is about a girl he met at the gig named Angel,
14:02thereby giving us the angels-to-fly lyric.
14:04He produced the song in general to raise awareness
14:07about those struggling to get by on the street.
14:09Number 5, Some Nights, Fun.
14:12🎵 Some nights I stay up, cashing in my bad luck 🎵
14:17Although you may assume fun is all about having a good time,
14:20the indie pop band's road to stardom was marred with potholes,
14:24and they weren't certain if proceeding with music was the right thing to do.
14:27🎵 Most nights, I don't know 🎵
14:32Some Nights touches on fun's creeping feelings of doubt and regret
14:35after making it big in the music industry,
14:37far away from the band's homes and families.
14:39Of course, many celebrities are plagued by these same conflicts once they realize
14:43their dreams are not necessarily what they were built up to be,
14:46but fewer artists have the courage to express it in their work.
14:49Number 4, Hey Ya, Outkast.
14:52🎵 One, two, three, four, five, baby, don't mess around 🎵
14:56One of the biggest songs of all of the 2000s,
14:59Hey Ya had everyone shaking it like a Polaroid picture,
15:02but how many were truly privy to what they were getting down to?
15:05If you listen closely to the verses,
15:07Andre 3000 is lamenting the impermanence of relationships,
15:11and expressing an anxiety that they're ultimately futile because
15:14all love, like all things, eventually comes to an end.
15:17🎵 So why yo, why yo, why yo, why yo, why yo 🎵
15:20🎵 Are we so in denial, we know we're not happy here 🎵
15:24Hey, yeah, that is pretty depressing.
15:26This iconic track might emit a zen acceptance of our fates,
15:30but it isn't nearly as cheery as we once thought.
15:39Number 3, Pumped Up Kicks, Foster the People.
15:42🎵 Rob's got a quick hand 🎵
15:45After being moved by the alarming rise of mental illness among teenagers,
15:49lyricist Mark Foster wanted to delve inside the head of an
15:52isolated youth who goes on a rampage at his school.
15:55🎵 All the other kids with the pumped up kicks 🎵
15:58🎵 He's better off, better off, faster than my bullet 🎵
16:03With an up-tempo indie rock flair, Pumped Up Kicks is easy to sing along to,
16:07but just listen to the lyrics and the tune becomes startlingly dark.
16:10Although its aim was to shed light on gun violence and mental illness,
16:14certain radio stations decided to pull the song from air once they learned of its painful context.
16:22Number 2, Like A Virgin, Madonna.
16:24🎵 I made it through the wilderness 🎵
16:28The essence of this one must be easy to pin down, right?
16:31An adolescent Madonna is crooning about the thrill of growing up,
16:35finding true love, and being touched for the very first time.
16:38However, songwriter Billy Steinberg claims he initially wrote the Madonna
16:41single as a heartache-tinged ballad following a harsh breakup.
16:45🎵 Like a virgin, hey 🎵
16:49🎵 Touched for the very first time 🎵
16:52It left him feeling emotionally battered,
16:54and Like A Virgin was his way of working through personal hardship.
16:58It was only upon resurfacing from that relationship that a new partner came
17:01along to help him feel shiny and new.
17:04Thus, the song was able to adapt an optimistic tempo
17:07and flourish into the career-making track it was for the rising starlet.
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17:27Number 1, Chandelier, Sia.
17:29🎵 Party girls, don't get hurt, can't feel anything 🎵
17:33Famously mistaken for a party anthem due to its 1-2-3 drink refrain,
17:37the chandelier Sia actually happens to be singing about swinging from
17:40is a metaphor for her treacherous experience with alcohol use disorder.
17:44The release of the single was our first reintroduction to Sia
17:47after she donned the blonde and black wig and eschewed the celebrity spotlight.
17:51🎵 I'm gonna swing from the chandelier 🎵
17:59She admits the track has dark undertones,
18:01but turning her condition into art is exactly what gave it such an everlasting effect.
18:06Party girls, don't get hurt goes the opening line,
18:08and when she says it like that, it's impossible not to believe her.
18:12🎵 Just hold on on for tonight, on for tonight, on for tonight 🎵
18:17Which of these deceptive tunes had you the most fooled?
18:20Let us know in the comments below.
18:22🎵 Started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this? 🎵
18:25🎵 It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss 🎵
18:28Do you agree with our picks?
18:30Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo,
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