Something Corporate is one of my favorite bands ever. I love Jack's Mannequin, Andrew McMahon's solo project, as well, but it's SoCo who stole my heart. Andrew's voice is musical, it is so raw and vulnerable and clear and pure. His poetry is phenomenal, and his lyrics are inspiring. Here are 9 Something Corporate Songs that move me – sometimes to tears.
This was the first SoCo song I ever heard, and it's still one of my favorites. To say why would probably be to quote the whole song. Both the lyrics and the tone are absolutely breathtaking. This song is so moving, I can't hear it without getting shivers. And let's just say that the phrase “firefly stare” has worked its way into my writing more than once.
This song is unquestionably epic, which is one of the reasons I love it so much. It makes me want to be a girl like Konstantine – looking beautiful, standing there in my underwear. Well, maybe not necessarily that scenario, but you get what I mean, right?
This song is the most beautiful lullaby I've ever heard in my entire life. I love when it's just Andrew and his piano. This song makes my heart ache, every single time I hear it. Is there any wonder? “In the car, the radio leaves me searching for your star / a constellation of frustration driving hard / singing my thoughts back to me, like watching heartache on TV.” Oh sigh.
So, “Heroine” is actually an earlier version of “Punk Rock Princess.” It's slower, there are a few lyrical changes, and it's only on piano. I love both versions, but “Heroine” is my favorite. Want to know why? The cadence of this line in that version: “Maybe when I'm done with thinking, maybe you can think me whole / maybe when I'm done with endings, this can begin.”
This song is all about freedom to me. It's about freedom and adventure and going somewhere but not quite knowing where it is until you get there. It's one of my favorite road trips songs as well. In spite of what the Better Half says, that's not solely because I tend to fall asleep on car trips, and then not know where I am when I wake up.
I just think “Cavanaugh Park” is sweet, not to mention moving. It's nostalgic to me for a number of reasons, and evocative of experiences I had when I was younger. We always love those songs, don't we? The ones that make you think of things that happened when you were young.
This song is so haunting, and it has the best opening: “It's a good year for a murder.” The story therein is haunting as well, and as always, Andrew does it beautifully. I love the music, I love the chorus – oh man, I just love this song.
I love this song for any number of reasons, one of which is because it, too, is evocative to me. Haven't you ever felt that way? Have you ever loved someone so much but gone through times that made you feel like they were painting you blue? Oh sigh, again...
I like, and am thus including, the original version of this song, rather than the version that's available on the Played in Space album. Again, I like both of them, but I prefer the original. Regardless, I love the rhyming scheme, and Andrew's vocals rock in this. They're so … I don't even know, but again, they give me the shivers.
Something Corporate is an inspiration to me. I love running across musicians like that; they make me better at what I do. If I'm missing anything here, why don't you tell me about your favorite SoCo songs?
Top Photo Credit: sonarproductions