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Have you ever thought about the real meaning behind some of your favorite songs? There’s no shortage of examples of songs that have hidden — and sometimes surprising — meanings.
Apple Music had over 100 million songs late last year — and the platform was adding 20,000 tracks daily. So, with so many songs in existence, there are bound to be more than a few of them with meanings that require digging beneath the surface to uncover deeper messages.
Continue reading to look at four popular songs with hidden messages you may not know about.
1. “Chandelier” by Sia
“Chandelier” by Sia was an electropop hit when it dropped in 2014. Sia’s jaw-dropping vocal performance got people off their fannies and onto the dance floor. But when she penned perhaps her best song to date, Sia was detailing her previous struggle with alcohol abuse and addiction, which resulted after her boyfriend was hit and killed by a taxi in 1997. Fortunately, Sia emerged okay after seeking help to deal with her issues, and the artist has said she’s now sober. So, the next time you’re out partying and the DJ plays “Chandelier” by Sia, you’ll know the profoundly personal message hidden within the lyrics.
2. “Firework” by Katy Perry
Katy Perry’s “Firework” was released in 2010. It’s an understatement to say the song was a radio, party, and dancehall staple. While the song is still regarded as a motivational anthem about empowerment and owning the moment, Perry herself has acknowledged that it’s actually about death and going out with a literal bang. She has said that she wants her remains to be placed inside a firework so that the firework can be lit and propelled over the Santa Barbara Ocean. So, the next time you hear that song being played, remember that the A-list songstress penned the song about what she wants to be done with her remains after her inevitable passing.
3. “Royals” by Lorde
“Royals” by Lorde was released in 2013. At first glance, it appears to be a song in which the singer discusses never achieving the notoriety and riches of the Royal Family across the pond. In reality, the song is about anything but. Lorde has acknowledged that she got the idea for “Royals” after seeing a picture of George Brett, who was a player on the Kansas City Royals baseball team at the time. In the photo, Brett was being harassed by fans who wanted his autograph. Recounting the experience, Lorde said that she noticed the word “Royal” on Brett’s shirt and liked the word. She came full circle by meeting Brett at some point after releasing the song.
4. “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd
“Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd quickly became a hit when it was released in 2015. Most people assumed the song described the exhilaration of being in a relationship. It’s easy to see how people came to that conclusion. But the reality is that the song was actually about the artist’s previous drug abuse. He has acknowledged using drugs in his youth. The Weeknd used this song to paint a vivid picture of what it was like to be hooked on drugs.
You don’t have to look far into the past to find popular songs with meanings you might not expect. You can check out the meanings of some modern tunes, perhaps songs you might not be familiar with, to see how creative minds can weave complex ideas into songs containing stirring lyrics, breath-taking vocals, and catchy hooks and choruses.
It’ll be hard for you to listen to songs the same way again. And perhaps that’s not a bad thing after all.
