It's All Coming Back To Me Now - ...Look Back In Anger

Raaaaaage!!!!

Don't Look Back In Anger

by Jo Michelmore

The things that make me angry list is not a very long one, because I tend to compartmentalise the things on the list into sections and generally the things that make me angry fall into only a couple of categories:

Ignorant people (which can be generally sub-grouped under thoughtless/stupid people)

Arrogant people (which can be generally sub-grouped under thoughtless/stupid people)

Red traffic lights and stop signs.

Hypocritical people (which can be generally sub-grouped under thoughtless/stupid people)

Homophobic people (which can be generally sub-grouped under thoughtless/stupid people)

Sexist people (which can be generally sub-grouped under thoughtless/stupid people)

The use of the word ‘literal’ when something is not ‘literal’

Racist people (which can be generally sub-grouped under thoughtless/stupid people)

That thing when a fast food outlet offers some deliciously tasty treat for a limited time and you just get to really love it and then they take it off the menu.

Thoughtless/stupid (read: inconsiderate/unkind/uncaring/selfish/insensitive/rude/untrustworthy/impolite) people

The point is this: something happened this week which kinda annoyed me, to the point (for a minute there) of anger. The thing that happened related to one of the ten categories above. You decide which. Until you’ve figured it out, I’ve found some of my favourite angry songs, some a bit vintage, some new vintage, mostly 90’s (wow, people seemed to be super angry in the 90’s, didn’t they?) which I like to play loudly and sing (or scream) loudly when I’m angry. Then I get over it, ‘cause I’ve usually figured out after a song or two that if someone is to make me so angry, they’re probably not worth my energy. Then I get really happy ‘cause I remember that mostly for me, music makes everything better and even angry songs make me happy. Then I start listening to something happy and less angry and probably vintage and cheesy (hello Whitney!) and everything is ok again.

 Head Like A Hole (1990)

by Nine Inch Nails

This is one of my favourite angry songs. There’s nothing better than singing the chorus, loudly, in the car. Ok, that may be an exaggeration. Don’t tell me you haven’t felt that angry about someone or something at some stage. You haven’t? You haven’t lived. I’ll dedicate this one to ignorant people.

“Head like a hole, black as your soul, I’d rather die than give you control”

 Shitlist (1992)

by L7

I’m going to admit, I’ve never been a big fan of L7 (which might make anyone who is into their 90’s music a little angry; oops, sorry) but I’ve always liked the concept of this song. I’ve never actually written a shitlist. Maybe I should put that on the bucketlist. But then, the bucketlist concept makes me angry and I want to put people who make busketlists on my shitlist and then I realise I’ve never written one and the cycle starts again. I’ll dedicate this one to arrogant people.

“When I get mad and I get pissed, I grab my pen and I write out a list of all the people that won't be missed, you've made my shitlist”

Killing In The Name (1992)

by Rage Against The Machine

 

It’s an angry, angry tirade against the system, and considering their name, it’s probably like a theme song. It’s Rage Against The Machine at their best, especially the repeating of the lyric over and over at the end. Only after the sixteenth time do you really get it. Oh, right, duh, you won’t do what I tell you. I’ll dedicate this one to red traffic lights, even though I always do what they tell me.

“Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me” (repeat x 16)

Rearviewmirror (1993)

by Pearl Jam 

I’m going to admit a couple of things here. 1) I love Eddie Vedder. 2) This song appears in my ‘most played’ list on my ipod. 3) This is one of my favourite road trip songs. 4) This song ALWAYS makes me feel better when I’m angry. Always. I’ll dedicate this one to hypocritical people.

“I gather speed from you fucking with me, once and for all I'm far away….saw things so much clearer, once you were in my rear view mirror”

Army of Me (1995)

by Bjork

She’s so tiny, she doesn’t look much, but if there’s one person you don’t want to mess with, it’s Bjork. You probably don’t want to mess with an army of Bjorks either. You probably don’t really want to mess with an army of anyone, unless you have an army of your own, which isn’t likely, if you’re reading this blog. I’ll dedicate this one to homophobic people.

“And if you complain once more, you'll meet an army of me”

Violet (1995)

by Hole 

 

So, apparently this song was written about the failed relationship of Courtney Love and Billy Corgan. I’d be kinda angry if I’d been in a relationship with Billy Corgan too. I’ll dedicate this one to sexist people.

“Go on, take everything, take everything, I want you to”

You Oughta Know (1995)

by Alanis Morissette

Oh don’t be silly, you didn’t think I’d do a post full of 90’s anger and not include Alanis, did you? Still one of the greatest revenge songs, everyone should be forced to listen to this song as a rite of passage at like, 13 years old, before some idiot somewhere, sometime breaks their heart, which is bound to happen. As well as that, anyone who has been lucky enough to do karaoke with me knows it’s not karaoke without Alanis. I’ll dedicate this one to those who incorrectly use the word ‘literal’ (and ‘ironic’ for that matter).

“I'm here to remind you of the mess you left when you went away”

Not Ready To Make Nice (2006)

by Dixie Chicks 

Written after the controversy following a comment made by one of the Dixie Chicks which was a little anti-George Bush, who was the US President at the time. A lot of people got crazy angry over her comment and those people then made the Dixie Chicks angry, which is great, because then they wrote this song, which I love. I’ll dedicate this one to racist people.

“Forgive, sounds good, forget, I'm not sure I could, they say time heals everything, but I'm still waiting”

Good Day (2009)

by The Dresden Dolls

Come on, did you think I’d do a post of angry songs and not include something involving AFP? She does anger so, so well. Quietly, sadly, loudly, beautifully. I chose this one because it’s so deliciously venomous, sarcastic and includes one of my fave Dresden Dolls lyrics. Amanda, why do you always know what’s in my head? I’ll dedicate this one to fast food outlets.

“Rather be a bitch than be an ordinary broken heart”

Fuck You (2009)

by Lily Allen

You know what kind of anger I’m really fond of? Sweet, cute, well-spoken anger. Sweet, cute, sarcastic well-spoken anger, that’s close to my favourite. Sweet, cute, sarcastic well-spoken anger with a touch of comedy, that’s the best. This one? I’ll dedicate this one to thoughtless/stupid people, everywhere!

“Fuck you, fuck you very very much”


Ten songs of anger. Wow, I feel fantastic now. So happy. I can’t even remember why I was angry anymore. Someone pass me a Whitney CD!