Take me away – Lash ‘Take Me Away’ is a song by a Australian alternative/punk rock band called Lash, the song was released on March 19 2001 as their debut single and the main track for their album ‘The beautiful and the damned’. It peaked at number 33 on the Australian singles chart and was nominated for breakthrough artist Single at the ARIA music awards from 2001.
Then in 2003 the song gained the worlds attention when it was covered by Christina Vidal for the Disney film Freaky Friday starring Lindsay Lohan. The song is performed in the movie by the movie band called band Pink Slip during a rehearsal take scene. Lash formed in Perth in the late 1990s. The band disbanded in 2003 after a brief but successful career.
Time is running out – Muse ‘Time Is Running Out’ was released as the second single from their third studio album ‘Absolution’ on 8 September 2003. The track was a breakthrough for the band and became their first top 10 hit in the uk, where it peaked number eight . It also gained traction in the United States, reaching number nine on the billboard modern rock tracks chart. The song was one of the last to be written for absolution.
Bassist in muse Chris Wolstenholme noted that the band aimed to create a groovy, funky feel, drawing inspiration from Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”. They experimented with various sounds, including processing the bass through multiple effects pedals and using a Roland synthesizer through a Marshall amp. The track features unique elements like claps and clicks, and a wagon wheel struck in sync with the snare drum, making its distinctive rhythm.
The music video was made by John Hillcoat and is inspired from Stanley Kubrick’s film Dr.stranglelove. It shows military officials seated at a round table, moving in sync with the band’s performance, eventually going into into a frantic behavior, symbolising the madness of political power structures. ‘Time Is Running Out’ has since become one of Muse’s best songs, known for its intense energy and political undertones. It remains a favourite in their live performances.
American idiot – Green day’s ‘American idiot’ is the title track from Green Day’s seventh studio album released on September 21 2004. The song was a direct dig to the political state at the time, particularly in the time of the Iraq War and George W Bush’s presidency. It’s a punk rock anthem with an anti establishment message, critiquing American consumerism, media influence, and political influence.
The song was written by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and is known for its fast tempo and aggressive style. It was also Green Day’s first song to be released as a single from the album, and it quickly became a massive hit, reaching No. 1 on the billboard modern rock tracks chart. The song’s music video, made by Samuel Bayer features an intense style of performance with visual references to America such as the American flag in the background.
The song was marked a significant shift in Green Days sound. While they’ve always had their punk influences, this album showcased a more politically charged, concept style album, which was different from their earlier pop-punk sound. The song and album then earned them widespread popularity and critical acclaim that helped them gain a new crowd of fans.
You really got me – Van Halen’s ‘You really got me’ is an old rock song originally written by Ray Davies from The kinks in 1964. The version we know the most though is Van Halen’s version, which appeared on their 1978 self titled debut album. Van Halen’s version of ‘You Really Got Me’ became one of their most popular songs and is widely considered one of the important songs in hard rock history. The band’s guitarist Eddie Van Halen, singer David lee Roth, bassist Michel Anthony, and drummer Eddie’s brother Alex Van Halen took the original song and changed it, turning it into a sonic sounding, energetic song that played a massive role in the influence of arena rock in the late 70’s-80’s.
Eddie Van Halen’s unique guitar solo in this song and his unique approach to playing guitar (which has a heavy use of tapping & plate reverb creating a different sound) turned the riff into an iconic piece of guitar playing and creativity. The song’s energy and riff, combined with David Lee Roth’s charismatic vocal style, made it an instant hit. While the Kinks original was a massive hit in the uk, Van Halen’s version of ‘You Really Got Me’ had a much bigger impact in the USA and around the world. It helped put the band’s place in rock history and became a favourite in their live performances. The song’s success also played a main role in bringing Van Halen into mainstream, and it remains one of the most popular songs in their lineup.
Little sister – Queens of the stone age’s ‘little sister’ is a song by Queens of the stone age from their 2005 album lullabies to paralyse . The track was released as the bands 3rd single and became one of the band’s most famous songs. The song has a driving rhythm, catchy riff, and a blend of desert rock, stoner rock, and some alternative elements all of which are the main characteristics of Queens of the Stone Age’s sound.
It was written by the band’s frontman, Josh Homme, and features a slightly lazy, bluesy vibe with lyrics that are displayed as as dealing with themes of desire, manipulation, and a complicated relationships with self or others. ‘Little Sister’ stands out because of it’s iconic riff, which was inspired by desert rock and surf rock sounds, giving the track a unique energy compared to the rest of the album.
The song performed well by both critics and fans, with its rhythmic structure, It became a favourite in their live shows and received good radio play, particularly on rock stations. Lullabies to paralyse helped the band move on after the departure of Nick Oliveri, the band’s bassist, with the band having to adapt to a new lineup.
Helena – My chemical romance’s ‘Helena’ is one of My chemical romance’s well written songs, released as the second single from their second studio album ‘three cheers for sweet revenge’ on March 8 2005. The song became a hit for the band, helping them gain traction and solidifying their place in the mid 2000s emo and alternative rock scene.
The song was written by the band’s lead vocalist Gerard way and is written about his personal grief about the death of his grandma and the emotional challenges that followed. The lyrics describe his feelings of loss, mourning, and the sense of being trapped in one’s feelings.
The song stands out not only for its powerful and emotional lyrics but also for the music. The track features a thrashing rhythm, harmonising guitar, and a mix of clean and screaming vocals, a characteristic of MCR’s sound at the time.
The music video for “Helena” was made by Marc Webb, and has a crucial role in the song’s meaning. The video is the band performing at a funeral, surrounded by a gothic atmosphere, including in sync dancing women in funeral attire, and it ends with the band’s lead singer, Gerard Way, being carried away in a coffin, showing the singer may feel he wished he was following his lost relative. ‘Helena’ massively helped MCR break through, reaching No.1 on Alternative rock charts and receiving a lot of play on MTV.
Waiting room – Fugazi ‘Waiting room’ released in 1998 as the lead single from their debut album 13 songs. Fugazi a hardcore band formed in Washington, D.C. was known for their intense energy and political messages.
The song is known for its funky bass line which was made by Joe Lally. It features a mix of agressive punk and experimental rhythms, showing the band’s approach of blending punk rock and elements of jazz, funk, and hardcore.
The song has a catchy rhythm, quick tempo, and raw, spoken word style vocal delivery by vocalist Ian Mackaye. Lyrically ‘Waiting Room’ shows a feeling of frustration with the slop of daily life, the feeling of being stuck in a cycle and a desire for change. A frustration of consumerism and the passive role many people play in their own lives, stuck in the repetitive cycle of waiting for something to happen.
The song reflects Fugazi’s sharing of social and political awareness, with a focus on personal development and action. The song has become a classic in the post hardcore genre, showing the rebellious and experimental side of Fugazi. Fungazi continues to be a main piece of their live shows. And the song helped establish Fugazi as one of the most important and influential bands of the 1980s and 1990s underground scene.
Be quiet and drive – Deftone’s ”Be quiet and drive (far away)’ is a song from their 1997 album ‘Around the fur’. It’s one of the band’s most popular tracks and a song from their early career, blending elements of alternative metal, shoegaze, and nu metal that would create the band’s distinctive sound.
The song was written by Chino Merino (The vocalist) and Stephen carpenter (guitarist), its lyrics express a sense of emotional battle, alienation, and a longing to escape from life’s pressures. ‘Be Quiet and Drive’ is often seen as a reflection on feeling trapped in a situation or relationship and the desire to break free from it.
The title itself pokes at a sense of quiet rebellion and internal conflict, with the “drive” expressing wanting to escape. Musically, the song’s verse is built with heavy reverberated guitar along with. Angelic and melodic vocals from Chino Moreno. It starts with a soft intro, gradually building in intensity until it ends into a massive, heavy chorus. The track has energetic riffs and a dreamy feel, which became a hallmark of Deftone’s style, a cocktail of aggression and beauty that set them apart from their competition in the nu-metal scene.
‘Be Quiet and Drive’ was a huge track in the progression of Deftone’s sound, showing their desire to depart from the more straight forward heavy metal influences from their 1st album Adrenaline and toward to a more unique, atmospheric approach. This attitude of the band would continue on later albums like in white pony where they would further experiment with mood and changing sound, blending heaviness with moments of dreamy tones. The song was critically well acclaimed, often highlighted for its emotional depth and intensity. This song helped Deftone become one of the more unique and influential bands in the alternative metal scene during the late 90s and early 2000s. The song is loved greatly in live performances and is considered one of the band’s best work.