This thread is for those songs that move you after hearing it once, and you just have to let other people know about it. That, and how do my fellow Escapists feel about music as a medium for such messages. Music has, of course, long been a primary medium for social commentary and expression, but the question I pose is do you think music is still an effective medium for such messages?

For example, MTV (which, believe it or not, does stand for Music Television) doesn't play music videos anymore; instead, it's filled with "reality TV." Sure, there's MTVU and MTV2, but those channels need to be paid for separately. Even radio stations will often only play one or two genres of music, severely limiting the exposure music could receive. While people will always "hear what they want to hear" the chance of accidental exposure is notably limited in music as opposed to other mediums.

The example I put forth is "Handlebars" by Flobots, a hip-hop band in Denver, Colorado. I never listen to hip-hop of my own accord, but because the Flobots don't really sound at all like a typical hip-hop group, my local rock-alternative radio station played "Handlebars" to let listeners decide if they wanted to keep it on the playlist. It is easily one of the most moving songs I've heard in a long time, and if it weren't for the chance play on the only radio station I listen to, I probably still wouldn't know about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuK2A1ZqoWs

Check it out. Share your thoughts on it and music as a medium, and share the music that has moved you as well.

Clubbed to Death, by Rob Dougan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFS4zYWxzNA&

I don't know why, but the DNB and classical elements of this song work to gether so well. Even without lyrics, the song is very powerful.

"Finish the Fight" From Halo 3 soundtrack was really "moving".

Music is still effective for conveying a message. I often hear older people saying "There are no good protest songs anymore". Fuck you, you just don't listen to them anymore.

Metal has remained the primary ground for this stuff, and you just don't listen to it.

As for moving songs, Two Minutes to Midnight managed to change me into a rabid headbanger in 3.5 seconds. Does that count?

No leaf clover - Metallica. Truly moving if you really listen to it.

I find most Metal songs have a meaning behind them, alot more than hip-hop or R&B. It's just you have to get past the fact that with some songs you need to did deeper.

To Live is to Die by Metallica, it is very sad and absoultely beautiful, tears well up in my eyes just thinking about the song

EDIT: I think a lot of metal songs have a very deep meaning that u just cant seem to find elewhere in todays modern world some more examples of songs with very deep meanings are: Down with sickness, (yes just disect it), pretty much any song from metallicas 2md-4th album has deep meaniings as well

Usnota:
pretty much any song from metallicas 2md-4th album has deep meaniings as well

Mostly any song from Metallica has a deep meaning if you really think about it. You just might not see some as easily as others.

"Buy my album so I can be even richer!...Bitch!"

conqueror Kenny:
Mostly any song from Metallica has a deep meaning if you really think about it. You just might not see some as easily as others.

Yeah, but those songs are just my favorites

Smells like teen spirit - Its hard to tell what hes saying but hes talking about teens mentality.

Repeat a few more nirvana songs and then moving along.

Losing my religion - REM

Alice's Resturant by Arlo Guthrie is the best protest song in the history of the world ever

I'm deeply moved by music often. Someimes I get that feeling that I want to perform songs I hear, like just listening to them isn't enough. Sometimes it's different, and I just want to find the perfect time to play them. And sometimes a song just... moves you.

Examples!
The Woodlands National Anthem by The Arcade Fire
Like A Child by Junior Boys
Amsterdam (Live) by Coldplay

bixby canyon bridge- death cab for cutie

he is going back to where is girlfriend died
and like keeps revisiting it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcXm4DzZj94

Leningrad - Billy Joel

Really inspiring Cold-War era piece that basically tells of the unfortunate-ness bestowed upon the people by war and competing governments. Such as:

Father dying
Being sent to an army town
Trying to drown the hate
Losing your childhood innocence
Watching friends go off to war and dying

When you say, "With a message" is that limited to the conventional sense of "save the planet" and that type of stuff, or are you actually spreading to the entirety of "messages" as in conveying a story as well?

TheNecroswanson:
When you say, "With a message" is that limited to the conventional sense of "save the planet" and that type of stuff, or are you actually spreading to the entirety of "messages" as in conveying a story as well?

Anything that has meaning thats deep. New-hop is instantly disqualified because it has a double standard.

"A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke. I cry every time I hear that song.

HORSE the Band's album A Natural Death comes to mind. I think Lord Gold put it best when he said,

Lord Gold:
"A Natural Death is about the futility and arrogance of creation and destruction, the overwhelming scale of space and time, and the brutal majesty of nature, the horror of birth and the beauty of death. Everyone who will ever live will die a natural death, and will soon after be forgotten for eternity. Hopefully this album will serve as a warning to the human race to stop taking itself so seriously, as we have seen the dire consequences of its actions in the future. You are nothing."

Black Rain from Ozzy's new album and War Pigs are pretty deep.

How about "the message":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3kRuJhIVIo

I do like metal and Metallica a lot, but I think it's bull to say that they are really paragons of "meaningful" song-writing who tower above all the rest.

-- Alex

I love Flobots and I think Fight with tools is an excellent album. However, I think handlebars has the weakest message on the entire cd. Maybe I'm missing something, but I've almost cried when listening to "Anne Braden", but always felt uplifted by "We are Winning" and "Stand Up."
I just watched the video for Handlebars, and I can see a message there. However, with just hearing the song, it sounded like a typical "I'm a badass and I can do anything big or small" song with a hint of "you can do it too."
I understand why Handlebars is the radio hit for Flobots. It's comparatively safe. Unlike every other song on Fight with Tools, it's not blatantly political, but for me, that fact weakens it.

"Crazy Bitch" by Buckcherry. Clearly, it illustrates the importance of, uh, crazy bitches.

"Message in a Bottle" by The Police clearly has a message...in a bottle.

juandonde:
"Message in a Bottle" by The Police clearly has a message...in a bottle.

"Roxanne" by The Police for me. Now that really conveyed a message.

Alex_P:
I do like metal and Metallica a lot, but I think it's bull to say that they are really paragons of "meaningful" song-writing who tower above all the rest.

-- Alex

Yeah? You name a song by them that has no deep meaning.

This is really daft, since ALL songs have meaning to them, whether it's simple teeny-bopper "I wanna be your girlfriend" or a Metallica rock epic like One (seriously though guys, you're looking to Metallica for deep meaningful lyrics? I mean, Metallica are great and all but Hetfield's lyrics ain't exactly poetry,) or the angsty expression of Radiohead.

If you mean songs that have a message like 'save the world', 'don't trust your government', or 'look at the hypocrisy of X' then these are my choices:

Bullet In The Head - RATM. Quite possibly the best song ever written about television.
God Save The Queen - Sex Pistols. Antiestablishmentarianism anyone?
Del Amitri - Nothing Ever Happens. A lovely ode to urban loneliness, alienation and the harsh realities of life.

conqueror Kenny:

Alex_P:
I do like metal and Metallica a lot, but I think it's bull to say that they are really paragons of "meaningful" song-writing who tower above all the rest.

-- Alex

Yeah? You name a song by them that has no deep meaning.

So What would be prime contender for that one. Sample Lyric:

"I've done Skank, I've done speed, I've jacked up until I bleed, So what? So what? So what you boring little cunt?!?"

Poetry, clearly.

Dr. Stein by Helloween, one of my favorite songs ever, is a clever allegory for parental neglect. On the surface, the lyrics are sort of goofy, but on that other level, you can find a reference to the issue in every line of the song. Plus it has one of my favorite main riffs (during the verses) ever. Listen to the live version, though. It's a lot better than the studio recording.

Another good one (in the opposite sense) is Rise of the Morning Glory by Edguy. On the surface, the lyrics are about breaking free from societal constraints and hurrying up to enjoy life, but they actually (and the lead singer has publicly stated this) refer to waking up with a hard-on.

I'm glad no one's mentioned Wonderwall or Viva la Vida yet. Let's keep it that way.

Strafe Mcgee:

conqueror Kenny:

Alex_P:
I do like metal and Metallica a lot, but I think it's bull to say that they are really paragons of "meaningful" song-writing who tower above all the rest.

-- Alex

Yeah? You name a song by them that has no deep meaning.

So What would be prime contender for that one. Sample Lyric:

"I've done Skank, I've done speed, I've jacked up until I bleed, So what? So what? So what you boring little cunt?!?"

Poetry, clearly.

So What is a cover, so its not really their song. However Whiplash, or The Four Horsemen, or anything off the first two albums really, i would say do not have a deep meaning.

Oh, and nearly forgot: Lateralus by Tool has a brilliant message about how we can improve ourselves by being open to the possibilities that are available to us, both individually and as a collective race.

i really liked the message that "land of confusion"(also a music video) bye disturbed had.

Flobots are amazing. Watch the video for Radiohead's 'All I Need'

TMAN10112:
i really liked the message that "land of confusion"(also a music video) bye disturbed had.

seconded however the song was originally by Genesis...creepy puppets
Disturbed have a lot with messages - 10 thousand fists and believe album. not sure about indistructible since i havent heard them all yet.

inside the fire

conqueror Kenny:

Alex_P:
I do like metal and Metallica a lot, but I think it's bull to say that they are really paragons of "meaningful" song-writing who tower above all the rest.

-- Alex

Yeah? You name a song by them that has no deep meaning.

A lot of their songs are artfully done but thematically simple. What's the nuanced, multi-layered message of "Wherever I May Roam"? How about "Nothing Else Matters"?

Are you going to sit here and tell me that "King Nothing" is a better, more nuanced song about the futility of wealth than, say, Pink Floyd's "Dogs"?

Most musicians who really stand the test of time have sort of "deep meaning" in their songs. It's ridiculous to pick one band -- especially a band that does, realistically, has about five or six thematic elements that they like and do well and has been recycling them for twenty years -- and say they're geniuses without equal.

(It's the same elements that every metal band sings about, pretty much, really.)

-- Alex