You must log in or register to comment.
“Bury me in analog” by Mischief Brew, even though it now feels slightly darker after Erik Petersen’s death.
“Please play this song on the radio” by NOFX
“Sell out” by Reel Big Fish
I’d argue that Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb belongs here: AFAIK it’s about a band manager injecting the strung out musician with drugs, so he can get up and perform the show that night.
Death on two legs, by Queen, is a track of reckoningv with their former manager.
Plus it’s a pretty little known but great early queen rock song. Freddie’s viciousness really spews out from it.
I think the most obvious album to point out which is about many things (including the abuse of the music industry) is To Pimp a Butterfly. I’m surprised I haven’t seen it here yet. Even the title is very on-the-nose – the “pimp” in reference is both the music industry and (more frequently) the US government/social structures, and the “butterfly” is a fledgling Kendrick/black rappers/black Americans in general (context depending on the exact song). It’s meant to be listened in exact order. Many people say it’s overrated but I really disagree. It’s an amazing narrative and powerful symbolism with good music.
Gillian Welsh - Everything is Free.
Great song about the difficulties of making a living off music now that everything is available for nothing. Father John Misty recorded a version when he was invited to the Spotify Sessions, which was a nice little fuck you to the people inviting him.
Teya & Salena represented Austria in Eurovision last year with “Who the Hell is Edgar?”, it was written from the perspective of wanting to be taken seriously in the industry, veiled through a fun song about being possessed by the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe, though the bridge gets quite blatant and singles out Spotify for not paying its artists properly. It was one of the favourites in the Eurovision community last year and I think it would’ve done better had the Finland vs. Sweden rivalry not happened.
Life’s Been Good - Joe Walsh
Drive By Truckers - Gravity’s Gone
Elton John someone saved my life tonight song
Gillian Welch - Everything is Free
Oh and somewhat tangential but Hayes Carll I Got a Gig song - “playing for my dinner six nights a week, hurricanes, Easter, and New Years Eve, I got a gig baby!”
Mr. Recordman by Ugly Kid Joe
Reel Big Fish - Sell Out
Tool - Hooker With A Penis
There’s a good Russian song “The main problem of music in Russia” by Zakhar May
Too Long To Learn Russian: The main problem of music in Russia is that you’re listening shit!Welcome to the Machine by Pink Floyd is right up there.
