10 Upbeat Rock Songs With Darker Meanings

3. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People (2010)

This is one of the most widely cited examples of a song that has such a drastically different musical tone to its lyrical content.

It was undoubtably one of the biggest and catchiest choruses of any song, at the time of its release. With the upbeat, pop-rock melody so engrossing, it almost completely drew the attention away from the troubling subject matter of Mark Foster's lyrics.

The decision to sing from the perceptive of someone about to commit a school shooting, drew a degree of criticism and caused controversy, with allegations that the song promoted violence.

The chorus hook "You better run - faster than my bullet" was certainly a strange, artistic decision but one Mark Foster has defended, explaining it was intended to open a dialogue about the issue of mass shootings and gun control in America.

It's almost chilling watching Foster The People play this live, with crowds of young kids singing the chorus, perhaps unaware of the songs context. In the same breath, however, it's a great example of how horrific, real life events can inspire a defiance in music lovers, who are unwilling to be broken by tragedy.

Contributor

Before engrossing myself in the written word, I spent several years in the TV and film industry. During this time I became proficient at picking things up, moving things and putting things down again.