If you looked at all the pop songs from the 19th century to today, a huge majority of those songs are about one thing: love.
Then, if one took the time to analyze the lyrics of love songs by women and love songs by men, there’s a distinct difference. Most songs performed by women are either about their heart being broken, trying to get over a guy, or how much they want to be with a guy. Taylor Swift is a classic example of performers whose songs fall into this category. Her popular songs are inspired by failed relationship after failed relationship. On the internet, there is actually a website that catalogs some of her songs by the boyfriend that probably inspired the song. I’ll admit that some of her songs are pretty good. However, the problem I have with her is that she portrays males as victimizers in most of her songs. Some of her most recent hits are “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “I Knew You Were Trouble”. Each song points to the guy as the problem in the relationship. While I’m not in her shoes and may not know the full picture of what happened, it seems one-sided.
[one_third]Most songs performed by women are either about their heart being broken, trying to get over a guy, or how much they want to be with a guy.[/one_third]
On the contrary, most love songs by men are about wanting to save the relationship, wanting to sleep with the woman, or how beautiful the woman is. On the radio, songs in this category would be “Mirrors” by Justin Timberlake (which is about wanting to get back together), “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke (which is about wanting to sleep with the woman), and “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars (which is a little older, but you get the point).
Just a month ago, All Time Low (my absolute favorite band) released their single “A Love Like War” featuring Vic Fuentes from the band Pierce the Veil. The only classically ‘male’ aspect of the song is that it’s sung by guys. The song doesn’t point out specific genders. What I really like it is that it’s a serious song about love but not in a cheesy ballad form. It talks about one of the core aspects of a relationship: “We go together or we don’t go down at all.” In a relationship, you need full commitment from both sides. Yes, sometimes it will feel like a war, but whether you both stay strong and work it out together or give up decides the relationship.
Thankfully, there are more artists and songs other than All Time Low that perform unconventional songs like “A Love Like War”. Unfortunately, most of these more unique songs are by alternative rock bands that aren’t well known and don’t easily cross over to pop radio stations. Honestly, I’d choose these rock bands over most (if not all) of the pop artists playing on radios today.
