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Have a Cigar, Pink Floyd.
Life’s Been Good to Me So Far, Joe Walsh.
Lito Shuffle, Boz Scags.
Jukebox Hero, Foreigner.
Piano Man, Billy Joel.
(Yes, I am old.)
Have a Cigar was the first song I thought of.
“Oh, by the way, which one’s Pink?”A fun industry fact: Have A Cigar was sung by Roy Harper, as he happened to be in the studio and the members of Floyd thought he could be a good fit. Roy Harper is perhaps more known in the mainstream through the Zeppelin song Hats Off to (Roy) Harper than through his own recordings, though he’s still alive and active.
Harper didn’t feel like he was appropriately compensated for his work on Have a Cigar, which is ironic considering the overall thematic.
I love that some music industry asshole actually asked them that once, and the quote made it into the song.
I love that there’s a little guitar break right after that question, almost like a response
Primus’ rendition is also awesome. https://youtu.be/aEf0SpAEnIc?si=PVfnyKpxFRuslQXo
Not bad, but let me present you with the definitive cover: The Main Squeeze - that solo trounces everything, I’d go as far as, even the original.
From most favorite, descending:
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Bomb the Music Industry! - Side Projects are Never Successful (punk)
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Backini - Radio (hip-hop)
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They Might Be Giants - Hey Mr. DJ I Thought You Said We Had a Deal (alt-pop)
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Reel Big Fish - Sell Out (ska)
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MC Lars - Download This Song (cross-genre)
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Billy Joel - The Entertainer (pop)
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Barr - The Song is the Single (rock)
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They Might Be Giants - Working Undercover for the Man (alt-pop)
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Ben Folds - Rockin’ the Suburbs (pop)
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David Rovics - The Pirate Radio Song (acoustic punk)
Edited to provide links and genres.
MC Lars - Download This Song (cross-genre)
You’ve reminded me of my answer to this question:
Weird Al - Don’t Download This Song
I thought about it, but it doesn’t rise to “favorite” for me
I see you updated your initial comment to replace Piano Man with The Entertainer (or at least, I don’t remember seeing the latter there before). I’m not sure I like it better than the Weird Al song, but it could give it a run for its money. (I wouldn’t answer Piano Man, which is a song I live, only because IMO it’s not “about the music industry” enough.)
Rounding out my list would be Sell Out by Reel Big Fish, The Load-Out/Stay by Jackson Browne (if it doesn’t have the same problem as Piano Man), and Life’s Been Good to Me So Far by Joe Walsh. That last one is not because I particularly like it, but because it’s the only one that came to mind without having to read other people’s answers.
I did add it, before I started editing in links. I never had Piano Man on there, which is definitely about the performance life but not about the industry.
Of the ones I listed, “Radio” and “The Entertainer” are definitely the most critical of the industry.
They Might Be Giants - Rhythm Section Want Ad
They Might Be Giants - We’re the Replacements
They Might Be Giants - the entirety of Venue Songs
I almost included “The End of the Tour” but decided against.
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EMI, Sex Pistols
Unlimited supply!
Dinosaurs Will Die - NOFX
Against Me - Unprotected Sex with Multiple Partners
Reel Big Fish - Sell Out
Tool - Hooker With A Penis
Please play this song on the radio - NoFX
Rockin’ the suburbs - Ben Folds
Complete Control by The Clash
Maggie’s Farm by Bob Dylan
Radio Friendly Unit Shifter by Nirvana
All the Best by R.E.M.
Intro by The Prodigy (not a song, technically, but a clear statement of intent from Liam Howlett)
Hmm songmeanings.com has following opinion about the nirvana song:
Kurt said it himself that this song has no meaning and that it’s a bunch of random poetry lines thrown together to a kick ass motherfucking melody. This is one of my favorite Nirvana songs.
Yeah, I’m going mainly by the ironic title to be honest - it always feels to me like Cobain’s snarky response to studio pressure to make another Nevermind. I’ve not looked into closely though, I have to admit.
I agree that it’s still saying something about the music industry, just not with the specific lyrics, but rather with the sound and the title.
I’d argue that Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb belongs here: AFAIK it’s about a band manager injecting the strung out musician with drugs, so he can get up and perform the show that night.
I think the most obvious album to point out which is about many things (including the abuse of the music industry) is To Pimp a Butterfly. I’m surprised I haven’t seen it here yet. Even the title is very on-the-nose – the “pimp” in reference is both the music industry and (more frequently) the US government/social structures, and the “butterfly” is a fledgling Kendrick/black rappers/black Americans in general (context depending on the exact song). It’s meant to be listened in exact order. Many people say it’s overrated but I really disagree. It’s an amazing narrative and powerful symbolism with good music.
Death on two legs, by Queen, is a track of reckoning with their former manager.
Plus it’s a pretty little known but great early queen rock song. Freddie’s viciousness really spews out from it.
I think Hank Williams III with the Grand Ole Opry Ain’t so Grand deserves a shout-out. Basically a song about how the institution that chewed up and then expelled his grandfather can eat shit.
Interstellar555, the music video movie that accompanies Daft Punk’s Discovery album
Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This - Eurythmics
