Do you know the type of songs that you once loved but got overplayed on social media? Or maybe it’s that song that you can’t remember the name of; a song that has been lost in time among generations of new music. I experience this a lot, and I know it always feels good to find a song that you haven’t heard before, or rediscover one that hasn’t been talked about in a while. Here are four great songs that I would considerunderrated, and I think you will enjoy.
“Wot’s…uh the deal” – Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd has sold over 250 million records worldwide. Many know the band from their popular albums The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall. Those albums are amazing, but a great song called “Wot’s…uh the deal” that hides in their album Obscured by Clouds is overlooked. I connect to this song because it reminds me of going through hard things growing up, then later on finding comfort being in a different place now that I am older. I think this song represents longing for something and then eventually, after waiting patiently, finding relief in getting what you wanted. This song overall has a soothing and emotional feel.
A lyric that sticks out to me is “Heaven sent the promised land/ Looks alright from where I stand/ ‘Cause I’m the man on the outside looking in/ Waiting on the first step/ Show me where the key is kept/ Point me down the right line because it’s time.” This line reminds me of waiting a long time for something and that feeling when you’ve almost got it. I can relate to this as a senior who has been through a lot, like many other high schoolers, and am so ready to graduate. Another great lyric is “Someone sent the promised land/ And I grabbed it with both hands/ Now, I’m the man on the inside looking out.” I like that the song ends with an achievement after what sounds like waiting so long. We can all relate to having to be patient sometimes, but it’s also good to remember that eventually we will get there, and we will be looking back with the satisfaction that we made it through.
“Into Dust” – Mazzy Star
Mazzy Star is my all-time favorite band. The band’s songs have gotten me through good and hard times in my life. Their music is peaceful, while the lyrics are deep and emotional. Many know the band from their top hit “Fade Into You.” This band has songs that will make you feel understood and at peace with your feelings. One song that I think deservesmore attention is “Into Dust” from the album So Tonight That I Might See.
My favorite line from “Into Dust” is “It was you breathless and torn/I could feel my eyes turning into dust/And two strangers turning into dust/Turning into dust.” There are multiple interpretations of the meaning behind this song. To me, this song is about two
people who loved each other going their separate ways and slowly losing each other completely, becoming strangers. This song is very emotional but also very relatable because we all have relationships that grow stronger and some that fall apart in life. The dreamlike sound of the song is very calming. The lyrics do leave a little bit to interpret for the listener, but that’s what makes it even more intriguing of a song—there’s a little bit of mystery and wonder.
“I’d Love to Change the World” – Ten Years After
This song is Ten Years After’s greatest hit. I’m including this on this list of “underrated” songs because some might not have heard for a while or haven’t heard at all, although it was a huge hit in the ’70s and is still listened to by many today. I was introduced to this song by my music-loving hippie grandpa. I love how upbeat the music is and how relevant the lyrics are.
I think many of us can relate to that feeling of wanting to make a change but not knowing where to start. This song expresses that feeling perfectly. When we don’t know what to do to make a change, it’s often our instinct to let someone else handle it. Whether we are talking about something big, politically, or something smaller, like changing a bad habit, we try to convince ourselves that someone can change it for us. This lyric describes this feeling, but from the perspective of wanting to change the world: “I‘d love to change the world/But I don’t know what to do/so I’ll leave it up to you” I feel like this is a relatable song for most of society because we don’t live a perfect world, and there are things we can’t fix on our own. Sometimes we can only hope someone with the power, or that we as a community, would come together to make a change.
“Politik” – Coldplay
This is a song from Coldplay’s album A Rush of Blood to the Head. I grew up on this album, so it’s very nostalgic for me. Coldplay wrote this album after 9/11; some people think the song’s meaning is connected to this event. Though this would make sense for some of the songs, we can’t be sure. Coldplay’s music has a very comforting and soft feel with a lot of emotion in the lyrics. Chris Martin’s voice feels sincere when he sings, which makes the lyrics come to life.
The song “Politik” is about trying to find yourself when the world around you feels crazy. It’s about finding meaning in life. A strong lyric in this song is “Look at earth from outer space/Everyone must find their place/Give me time and give me space/ Give me real, don’t give me fake/Give me strength and self control/ Give me heart and give me soul.” I feel like a lot of high schoolers can relate to trying to find their place in the world at this point in life, me included. If you like this song, I recommend the rest of the album.
