Does "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve seem resonant in our era now more than when it came out and any other songs that feel like this? : r/Music Skip to main content

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Does "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve seem resonant in our era now more than when it came out and any other songs that feel like this?

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I'm not trying to get too philosophical or political here.

I'd discovered a few years ago suggested meanings of the song being about life being beyond one's control as one interpretation of it, or that it's a man who can't change himself but doesn't know how.

Songmeanings.com etc. are opinion pieces etc. and until we have word of God, i.e. the creator themselves stating it, it can't be taken as fact.

"Hotel California" is obviously the big one people speculate on.

With the way things are right now which I won't go into as that'd be too political, do you think this song seems even more resonant in our era then when it was released in June 1997?

Interestingly, this song used to be used as muzak in some shopping centres near me for some reason, why I don't know; it's not a typical muzak-type song is it?

FWIW, I was a fan of Britpop back in the day and would get CDs of it when I could with pocket money as a teenager; showing my age now, I'm 39!

Any other songs that feel like this.

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I certainly feel the "Tryin' to make ends meet, you're a slave to money then you die" line way more after 25ish years of working than I did at the time it came out.

u/LukeNaround23 avatar

A resonates more with you now because you’re not 12 anymore. Not the kind of song lyrics that resonate with a 12-year-old.

I don't know if it resonates more or less but I'm terrified of The Rolling Stones' lawyers so it's best to not discuss this song.

u/Cool_Foot_Luke avatar

Try out Eve of Destruction by Barry Mcguire.
Now that is a song that could be written today just shy of 60 years after Sloane wrote it.