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Song Stories

“Men's Needs”

The Cribs | 2007

With the energetic tune "Men’s Needs," this three-piece English band takes on gender stereotypes in rock & roll. "We were a little disillusioned by the attitudes of indie bands," Cribs bassist and singer Gary Jarman said. "It seems like bands would be singing slightly misogynistic lyrics. So we just tried to flip it around." A dance-y, frantic guitar riff drives the song. In the video, the band members emasculate themselves as a nude woman objectifies them while they try to perform. "She’s the dominant force in the video," Jarman said.

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Song Stories

“The Pretender”

Foo Fighters | 2007

This song wasn't part of the planned track listing for 2007's Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, and was put together in a day. "It happened after we recorded a lot of stuff," said Dave Grohl. Yet it ended up as the album opener and the lead single. Grohl called it "a stomping Foo Fighters uptempo song with a little bit of Chuck Berry in it." The singer hinted at the lyrics' political overtones: "Everyone's been f---ed over before and I think a lot of people feel f---ed over right now and they're not getting what they were promised."

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