Psychos are frightening yet fascinating characters, making them ideal subjects for music. Here are some of the best songs about psychos.
Study results revealed that those scoring highest on an identification test for psychopaths favored listening to My Sharona by The Knack and Titanium by Sia as their preferred music choices – possibly helping researchers detect them before any severe acts occur.
Talking Heads – “Psycho Killer”
Talking Heads were unfailingly consistent throughout their entire catalog, and “Psycho Killer” served as an introduction to their unique sound. It’s a paranoid love song featuring a shimmery guitar riff and slide guitars. Furthermore, “Psycho Killer” features David Byrne’s distinctive vocal style – where his trademark whine alternates with a cartoonishly stentorian lower register – creating an iconic voice for a band steeped in decades of pop history yet searching for ways to articulate self-awareness within itself.
David Byrne’s sinister laugh and sinister lyrics on this deceptively funky new wave track were an echo of Anthony Perkins from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. This track opened Talking Heads 77’s debut record, released in 1977; its live soundtrack, Stop Making Sense, contains it too – showing Byrne at work inhabiting characters as he was later put to use leading a genre-defying group of art punks.
Byrne, Frantz, and Weymouth wrote this song while attending Rhode Island School of Design in 1974. Their band, The Artistics, would play it multiple times throughout that year to round out its set with originals like this one.
Carly Simon – “You’re So Vain”
Carly Simon’s 1972 hit song has long remained shrouded in mystery and speculation; its theme of an arrogant love interest has inspired speculation and discussion, even though Carly herself has not identified its subject.
One of the greatest mysteries in pop music history, its lyrics have been widely interpreted to allude to various iconic men – possibly including ex-husband James Taylor (whom Simon denies was her inspiration), Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens, and Jack Nicholson. Simon has hinted that her song may refer to several narcissistic men; however, she has yet to confirm which particular individuals it relates to.
Simon made an astounding revelation recently when she revealed that the second verse of You’re So Vain may indeed refer to Warren Beatty, whom she dated in the early ’70s and named among other “crappy guys” in You’re So Vain. However, she did not specify which verse(s) or specific individuals featured within it are related to Warren or any others specifically mentioned – including unnamed men in one instance and women in others; she claimed she has also spoken of how its first verse may refer to unidentified men while her third verse might even involve women; making “You’re So Vain” one of the most iconic songs ever written and this mystery may never end!
Red Velvet – “Psycho”
Red Velvet released their music video for “Psycho” on Monday, featuring each member dancing within an ornate palace-esque setting and wearing lacy high-fashion clothing featuring black and white colors. This pop/R&B single deals with obsessional romantic relationships that others may not understand; since its upload, this 3 1/2 minute clip has received nearly 3 million views online. It was the inaugural release from their repackaged album The ReVe Festival: Finale, which compiles two prior EPs plus three new songs.
Red Velvet’s album debuted at number one on the Gaon Weekly Album Chart, making their tenth top-ten debut and breaking their record for most number-one albums among South Korean girl groups; it quickly went on to become August 2019’s fourth best seller and eventually one of fifty-one sold during 2019. Furthermore, its success gave rise to the hit single “Umpah Umpah.”
“Psycho” is an R&B and future bass track featuring vocals from all members of the group, complete with haunting piano melodies and electronic beats that add a seductive edge. Music critics praised this song due to its catchy and structured production – receiving favorable reviews, of course! – reaching number two on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart in North America as well as being tied with 2NE1 for the highest female group chart position on that chart.
Kasabian – “You’re in Love With a Psycho”
Kasabian released this single on March 17, 2017, to promote their sixth album, For Crying Out Loud. Featuring a guest appearance from comedian Noel Fielding and written by band members Tom Meighan and Serge Pizzorno, its music video takes place in West Pauper Lunatic Asylum (a nod to the 2009 album by the same name), depicting band members as inmates, mental health charity Time to Change condemned this clip for reinforcing stereotypes associated with mental illness while Fielding joined his fellow inmates for a dance routine at its conclusion!
Black Box Recorder – “Child Psychology”
Child Psychology is an emotive ballad about love gone wrong. Its dark lyrics paint an intimate portrait of a relationship gone sour between two individuals who knew they were potentially dangerously unstable yet still chose to pursue their romance anyway. It is a haunting ballad that will keep listeners on edge. Additionally, this song serves as a potent reminder that mental illness is a real issue that must always be acknowledged when the signs surface.
Black Box Recorder was formed by Luke Haines of The Auteurs and Sarah Nixey and released two albums before disbanding. They became known for their dark humor and ambient music influences that created an original sound that was both contemporary and timeless – their debut was England Made Me, while Girl Singing in the Wreckage was more commercially successful.
Child Psychology is a dynamic song that explores the long-term impacts of childhood trauma on a person’s life, with its dark topic coupled with an accessible melody that makes it truly memorable. Many mental health organizations and professionals have praised Child Psychology for starting conversations about this type of trauma and its effect on individuals’ lives.
