Chances are that about 99% of the weddings you've attended since 1994 have played "Macarena." The international dance hit, with its very own signature moves, ranks No. 7 on Billboard's All Time Top 100. But did anyone ever care to ask what the Spanish song actually means?
Well, according to Huffington Post's translation, it appears that this girl named Macarena has a boyfriend, but she is cheating on him with two of his friends – probably at the same time, while he is getting drafted into the army. Ouch! That doesn't seem like a nice song to dance to at weddings.
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Canadian rocker Bryan Adams topped the charts in 1985 with his smash hit "Summer of 69." At face value, the protagonist in the song seems to be reminiscing about this incredible summer during his youth: "those were the best days of my life."
If we do a little math, however, we find Adams was only ten years old in 1969. That's ok, maybe he's telling someone else's story; musicians often do that. But as it turns out, that is actually not the case.
Adams came right out and admitted, during an interview in 2009, that the song has nothing to do with the year 1969. "A lot of people think it's about the year," Adams said, "but actually, it's more about making love in the summertime. It's using '69 as a sexual reference."
- Also ranks #7 on Song Titles With Hidden Messages, Ranked By Cleverness
- Also ranks #7 on The Best Rock Songs Of The '80s, Ranked
- Also ranks #7 on The Best '80s Songs For Weddings
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Believe it or not, Lady Gaga's international hit single, "Poker Face," has absolutely nothing to do with playing cards. Gaga does a good job of throwing in her fair share of innuendos, however, she has admitted that the song is totally about sex. She explained that the idea for "Poker Face" came about when she was dating a guy, but every time she made love to him, she would think about girls.
Rolling Stone asked Lady Gaga what she meant exactly by the "Poker Face" lyric, "bluffin' with my muffin." She replied:
"Obviously, it's my p*ssy's poker face! I took that line from another song I wrote but never released, called 'Blueberry Kisses.' It was about a girl singing to her boyfriend about how she wants him to go down on her, and I used the lyric. [Sings'] "Blueberry kisses, the muffin man misses them kisses."
- Also ranks #6 on 14 Popular Songs That Aren't About What You Think They Are
- Also ranks #9 on The 25+ Best Songs About Playing Poker Or Cards
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When The Four Seasons released "December 1963," it became an instant global hit. But Frankie Valli and his pals are not just talking about a really fun night, or even a great love affair. The band has admitted that they had to downplay the sexual angle of the song. Valli himself has come out and said that the song was about "losing your cherry."
The sexual encounter described in the tune was also a one night stand, and there is also the falsetto part which pretty much describes an orgasm:
And I felt a rush like a rolling bolt of thunder
Spinning my head around and taking my body under
Oh, what a night!Buy at
"Barbie Girl" was everywhere in 1997. However, the song about Barbie and Ken dolls became extremely controversial. Mattel even sued MCA Records Inc. for violating copyright laws – turning Barbie into a sex object and confusing consumers who may have thought the toy company backed the song. A California federal appeals court eventually declined to reinstate the lawsuit.
Here are some of the more inappropriate lyrics that have been criticized for being demeaning towards women and being overtly sexual.
I'm a blond bimbo girl, in a fantasy world
Dress me up, make it tight, I'm your dolly
You're my doll, rock'n'roll, feel the glamor in pink
Kiss me here, touch me there, hanky panky
You can touch you can play
If you say 'I'm always yours'- Also ranks #3 on Classic '90s Middle School Dance Songs That Were Totally About Getting Busy
- Also ranks #3 on The Easiest Songs To Sing At Karaoke
- Also ranks #4 on The 25+ Best Songs About Girls Having Fun
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"Sweet Caroline," is a bar band staple and karaoke favorite. The song has become so popular that it's played during the 8th inning of every Red Sox game at Fenway Park. Neil Diamond finally revealed in 2007 that he innocently wrote the song for a young Caroline Kennedy when her father was president.
However, Diamond's lyrics definitely have at least a hint of sexuality to them: "One, touching one / Reaching out, touching me, touching you."
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In 1982, The Pointer Sisters topped the charts with this incredibly upbeat dance song – a perfect example of when people are used to singing often-heard lyrics without really thinking about them. "I'm So Excited" is actually about a woman who is really, really fired up to have a sexual encounter.
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'Longview' - Green Day
It took three albums, but Green Day finally broke out into the mainstream in 1994 with their hit single "Longview." One of the song's lyricists, Billie Joe Armstrong, said that "Longview" is about being bored and lonely. Different people do different things when they're bored, but for Armstrong, having extra time on his hands meant having too much time to masturbate.
I was just in a creative rut. I was in-between houses sleeping on people's couches. It's a song about trying not to feel pathetic and lonely. I didn't think that masturbation was really seen from the point of view that I was looking at it. In songs like 'Turning Japanese' it always seemed more about people pulling a pud or something. I was coming from a lonely guy's perspective: No girlfriend, no life, complete loser.
- Also ranks #7 on The 40 Best Sad Punk And Pop Punk Songs
- Also ranks #14 on 23 Inappropriate Lyrics Every '90s Kid Sang Along To
- Also ranks #53 on The Best Rock Songs Of The '90s, Ranked
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Here's another artist whose main target market was in the tween/teenage girl range. "Genie in a Bottle," one of Christina's signature songs, was certified platinum in almost every single country it was released. It was the song of the summer in 1999.
But could Aguilera be singing about the fact that she has had nothing but bad sex? She feels totally trapped, you know, like a genie in a bottle. She sings, "I feel like I've been locked in tight / For a century of lonely nights / Waiting for someone to release me."
- Also ranks #1 on Classic '90s Middle School Dance Songs That Were Totally About Getting Busy
- Also ranks #8 on The Best Pop Songs Of The '90s, Ranked
- Also ranks #9 on The Greatest Throwback Songs for Your '90s & 2000s Playlists
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"Little Red Corvette" from Prince's album 1999 was finally the hit that the Purple One needed to breakout and become a bonafide Rock God. It was his first song to reach the Top 10 in the United States, and it also has nothing to do with cars.
Prince had no issue with writing songs that were clearly about sex; "Head," "Dirty Mind," and "Soft and Wet" being obvious examples. Much more cloaked in mystery, however, is "Little Red Corvette." If we examine the lyrics, it becomes clear that it is a song about a one night stand: "Gimme the keys (Gimme the keys) / I'm gonna try to tame your little red love machine."
- Also ranks #1 on The 75+ Best Songs About The Color Red
- Also ranks #5 on The 50+ Best Songs About Cars
- Also ranks #8 on The Best Prince Guitar Solos Of All Time
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Never one to shy away from controversy, Madonna's song and subsequent video for her chart-topping hit, "Like a Prayer," angered religious groups around the world. In the video, Madonna witnesses a heinous crime and hides in a church. Also, she dances in front of burning crosses.
The religious outrage was so severe that the Vatican condemned the video and Pepsi, who was facing a boycott, dropped the song from its commercial.
But is this a religious song where Madonna is getting on her knees and praying to God, or is it a song about Madonna getting on her knees and performing a sexual act? Knowing Madonna, the latter is more likely.
- Also ranks #1 on Every Song On Madonna's 'Like a Prayer' Album, Ranked By Staying Power
- Also ranks #23 on Songs You'd Never Want Your Dad To Have As A Ringtone, Ranked
- Also ranks #25 on The Best 1980s Music Videos
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'Milkshake' - Kelis
Kelis's 2003 single, "Milkshake," rose to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was written and produced by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, AKA The Neptunes.
Kelis has changed her mind on what the exact meaning of "milkshake" is in her song. At one point, she claimed the meaning was up to interpretation. However, she later said, "A milkshake is the thing that makes women special. It's what gives us our confidence and what makes us exciting."
Of course, the urban dictionary (and many other people) believe that "milkshake" is a metaphor for oral sex.
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For a band with mostly tween and teenage fans, the Spice Girls had several songs that were pretty darn inappropriate. Their debut album's third single, "2 Become 1," topped the charts around the world and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
There really is no doubt, however, that "2 Become 1" is all about sex.
I need some love like I never needed love before (Wanna make love to ya baby)
I had a little love, now I'm back for more (Wanna make love to ya baby)
Set your spirit free
It's the only way to beAt least the British pop band is promoting sex safe: "Be a little bit wiser baby, put it on, put it on / 'Cause tonight is the night when two become one."
- Also ranks #7 on Classic '90s Middle School Dance Songs That Were Totally About Getting Busy
- Also ranks #22 on 23 Inappropriate Lyrics Every '90s Kid Sang Along To
- Also ranks #39 on The Best '90s Karaoke Songs
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The "candy shop" in 50 Cent's 2005 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit has nothing to do with Sour Patch Kids or Gummy Worms. There are several sexual metaphors in 50's song as the rap tune gets pretty down and dirty. Imagine how many young innocent kids were walking around singing this song thinking it was actually about a lollipop.
Here are just a handful of the more sexual lyrics:
Got the magic stick, I'm the love doctor
I ain't finished teaching you 'bout how sprung I got ya
Wanna show me how you work it baby? No problem, get on top
Then get your bounce around, like a little riderBuy at