On a random trip through the band links, I came upon a song by SEISMIC 3 I could really identify with. "Loser On A Power Trip" is a hard-hitting revenge number directed at some poor slob who probably had the bad taste to share his honest opinion with the songwriter (I wonder who?). Click "Read More" below to to hear more about Seismic 3's musical sucker-punch.



On "Loser on a Power Trip", Seismic 3 fires a couple rounds of guitar and drums at your head before unleashing a lyrical invective seemingly designed to cause severe emotional distress for some poor soul. Their message might carry more of a sting if the lead vocal didn't remind me of Paul Reubens "Hamburger Dude" in Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams. Still, the intent seems pretty clear and the guitars do all the necessary dirty work. It also got me thinking about an artist's motivation.

Revenge is probably the most self-satisfying motivation for songwriting, but it's a technique that's proven very effective in getting the listener to identify with the music. Who wouldn't want to TKO an amorous adversary or an asshole boss with a well placed lyrical barb? Think of Alanis Morisette's venomnous outburst at an ex-lover in "You Oughta Know" or how about John Lennon's alleged post-Beatle pique at Paul McCartney in "How Do You Sleep At Night?". You can almost hear the writer's seething contempt toward their target.

Only the writer knows for sure who the song is really about, which must give him an exquisite sense of power every time he performs it. Or does he just have to relive the hurt feelings all over again? Be careful what you write about, or you may be condemned to sing it over and over and over again.

"Loser On A Power Trip" by Seismic 3 (lyrics reprinted with permission) Lost in your own mind / someone needs to find you / let you know what's up / 'cause you don't know what's wrong You might like to say / that I'm going to make a big mistake / But that means nothing / you're opinion is so easily changed / I know you wanna be what everybody wants to see that means something in your warped reality If you only knew what people really thought of you / yeah, well I know (what you're all about) Empty, you better look for something To fill all of the gaps in your life / Empty, even if you always hate me / But a Loser is all you’ll ever be

Hey, if I knew what people really thought of me I'd probably never sleep at night. - Mitch

_____________

Do you have a revenge song in your repertoire? Know of another local example? Perhaps you were the target of such a malicious, musical attack. Feel free to share using the "Comments" button below.