10 Upbeat Rock Songs With Darker Meanings

10. Time To Pretend - MGMT (2008)

This noughties take on psychedelic space rock was a favourite on the indie scene, back when plimsoles, vibrant skinny jeans and people straightening their fringes, was the ultimate sign of rebellion.

The world of MGMT was the lighthearted, carefree side of alternative rock, the place you would turn when you needed a break from the introspective tracks of Arcade Fire, or the hectic and rebellious energy of The Libertines or early Arctic Monkeys.

But the synth-pop infused track Time To Pretend spoke of something darker then the melody would imply.

MGMT wrote the song whilst still at college, and the lyrics were a troubling exploration into the state of youth culture at that time, idolising the hedonistic and romanticised ideas of the often short-lived lifestyles of musicians.

The lyrics detailed the imagined life trajectory of the two band mates, after becoming successful rock stars. With references to forgetting friends and loved ones, shooting heroin, cocaine binges, a string of supermodel wives, followed by the classic rock star death, choking on vomit...

The song's heavy subject matter was eloquently disguised in the carefree and spacey synth melodies, that resulted in it becoming one of the defining youth-culture anthems of the late 2000s.