What are some examples of songs that take a swipe at the rock industry?

Question

Korn - Y'All Want a Single – It would have been great fun being a part of the video.

Neurosonic - So Many People – These lyrics are hilarious.

Cypress Hill - (Rock) Superstar - The classic cautionary tale.

Dani G - great call, totally forgot about RBF.

Sookie - What would Buggles think of MTV now, I wonder? Laguna Beach killed the video star.

Answer 1

"Dinosaurs Will Die" - NOFX (dinosaurs is a reference to the major labels)...actually NOFX has a lot of songs that take a swipe at the industry - "Please Play This Song On The Radio" and "It's My Job To Keep Punk Rock Elite" are some others.

"EMI" by Sex Pistols

"Radio Friendly Unit Shifter" by Nirvana

"MTV Get Off The Air" by Dead Kennedys

"We've Had Enough" by Alkaline Trio

"The Radio Still Sucks" by The Ataris

I think "Five Corporations" by Fugazi is, but I can't tell for sure. The lyrics are kind of vague. I think it's referring to the major record labels (there were five at the time the song was written, but there are now four).

Answer 2

Bloodsucker by Deep Purple and Death on 2 Legs by Queen are 2 songs about greedy managers in the music industry.

Mr Recordman by Ugly Kid Joe....(ironically at the end of this song a drunken manager says to the band, "you guys are gonna be huge, really huge"...wonder what happen.

Shooting Star - Bad Co, Teenage Idol - Blackfoot, Juke Box Hero- Foreigner (songs about the dark side of being a rock star)

Answer 3

Guess what? Everclear did a song called "Rock Star" too!

It took me a while to come up with that one, because I'm drawing a total blank here. The first thing that popped into my head was The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star", which was more of a swipe at MTV.

Edit: LOL. Laguna Beach is going to be the death of all of us. :)

Answer 4

I don't know if this song counts, because it's more of a swipe at idiotic fans than the music industry, but it's still great nonetheless. It's "Hooker With A Penis" by Tool

I met a boy, wearing Vans 501s, and a
Dope Beastie-tee, nipple rings,
New tattoos that claim that he
Was OGT
back from '92
on the first EP

And in between
Sips of Coke
He told me that
He thought
We were sellin' out,
Layin' down
Suckin' up
To the man

Well now I've got some
Advice for you, little buddy.
Before you point your finger
You should know that
I'm the man,

And if I'm the man,
Then you're the man, and
He's the man as well so you can
Point that f*ckin' finger up your a**.

All you know about me is what I've sold you,
Dumb f*ck.
I sold out long before you ever even heard my name.

I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip sh*t
And then you bought one

I've got some
Advice for you, little buddy
Before you point your finger
You should know that
I'm the man

If I'm the f*ckin' man
Then you're the f*ckin' man as well
So you can
Point that f*ckin' finger up your a**.

All you know about me is what I've sold you,
Dumb f*ck.
I sold out long before you ever heard my name.

I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip sh*t,
And you bought one

All you read and
Wear or see and
Hear on TV
Is a product
Begging for your
Fat a** dirty
Dollar

Shut up and

Buy, buy, buy, my new record
Buy, buy, buy, send more money
F*ck you, buddy.
F*ck you, buddy.
F*ck you, buddy.
F*ck you, buddy.

Answer 5

Guess Goldfinger is pretty well known for songs of this nature...much like NOFX.

Goldfinger - Open Your Eyes
Bouncing Souls - All of This and Nothing (more of a jab intended for MTV but I think they bought the rights to the term "rock industry").

Not sure if this was already mentioned but Neil Young's "This Note's for you" came to mind also.

Answer 6

Freak On a Leash is another one by Korn, Territorial pissings by Nirvana and Kill Rock 'n Roll by System of a down. There are not many, artists taking swipes is like shooting themselves in the foot.

Answer 7

Into The Great Wide Open - Tom Petty

And I can't help but think of the little rant Maynard goes off on towards the end of Aenima. It's more Hollywood than Rock & Roll, but if the shoe fits....

Answer 8

"Kill The Music Industry" by Cold is an obvious one for me. "Y'all Want A Single" from Korn was a good one to mention, I liked that video to. I heard somewhere that "Ticks & Leeches" by Tool is about the record industry as well. Chevelle has a hate song about American Idol called "Get Some."

Answer 9

Billy Joel "The Entertainer"


I am the entertainer
And I know just where I stand
Another Serenader
And another long-haired man
Today I am your champion
I may have won your hearts
But I know the game, you'll forget my name
And I won't be here in another year
If I don't stay on the charts

I am the entertainer
And I've had to pay my price
The things I did not know at first
I learned by doin' twice
Ah, but still they come to haunt me
Still they want their say
So I've learned to dance with a hand in my pants
I let 'em rub my neck and I write 'em a check
And they go their merry way

I am the entertainer
Been all around the world
I've played all kinds of palaces
And laid all kinds of girls
I can't remember faces
I don't remember names
Ah, but what the hell
You know it's just as well
'Cause after a while and a thousand miles
It all becomes the same

I am the entertainer
I bring to you my songs
I'd like to spend a day or two
I can't stay that long
No, I've got to meet expenses
I got to stay in line
Gotta get those fees to the agencies
And I'd love to stay but there's bills to pay
So I just don't have the time

I am the entertainer
I come to do my show
You've heard my latest record
It's been on the radio
Ah, it took me years to write it
They were the best years of my life
It was a beautiful song
But it ran too long
If you're gonna have a hit
You gotta make it fit
So they cut it down to 3:05

I am the entertainer
The idol of my age
I make all kinds of money
When I go on the stage
Ah, you've seen me in the papers
I've been in the magazines
But if I go cold I won't get sold
I'll get put in the back in the discount rack
Like another can of beans

I am the entertainer
And I know just where I stand
Another Serenader
And another long-haired man
Today I am your champion
I may have won your hearts
But I know the game, you'll forget my name
I won't be here in another year
If I don't stay on the charts

Answer 10

"Vance Can't Dance" by John Fogarty. It is a song about how his producer stole money from him. The music video was pretty good too (Vance is portrayed as a greedy, sneaky pig). The man's name was Zans, and the original name of the song, but John was made to change the name in the song due to a lawsuit by "Vance". Go figure.