Misinterpreted ‘Love songs’

CEBU, Philippines - While it is true that songs are a veritable outlet for expressing our deepest emotions, it is also true that there are a number of "doppelganger songs" up and about, songs which appear as allusions to specific emotions or situations but really mean something else.

Here are some of the world's more well known "love songs", songs which have been largely misinterpreted over the years.

Every Breath You Take (The Police)

Released in 1983, Every Breath You Take is considered by many as The Police/Sting's signature song, bagging the "Song of the Year" title for The Police at the 1984 Grammy Awards.

Ranked #84 in the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, the song essentially tells of a man who intends to be there for a woman, watching "every breath you take, every move you make…"

While the lines do bear romantic tone, a close inspection of the song's lyrics paints the image of a man who is actually obsessing about a woman, following her every move ("every bond you break, every step you stake… I'll be watching you") the way an obsessed stalker would.

Sting himself is noted to have talked about the sinister and dark aspects of the song (as conveyed by its dark-themed MTV), yet it is still accepted as a sweet love song by many.

Crash Into Me (Dave Matthews Band)

The sweet love song vibe of Crash Into Me didn't fall on deaf ears when it was released in the mid-90s, leading to the song's nomination for "Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals" in the 1998 Grammy Awards.

Described by Matthews himself as a "worship of women" song, Crash Into Me actually delves into that worship from a voyeur's point of view ("I watch you there through the window…").

Though the song - as with all forms of art - can be interpreted in various ways, it has been included in Clear Channel's list of "songs with questionable lyrics".

The One I Love (R.E.M.)

In the days when over-the-radio dedications were the thing, R.E.M.'s The One I Love wasn't a stranger to call-in-request DJs at the time.

With its catchy refrain ("This one goes out to the one I love…"), the song has long been banded as a classic love song standard, with the title described as R.E.M.'s first major hit.

Released in 1987, the love song vibe of The One I Love is actually misinterpreted, as defined by the line, "a simple prop to occupy my time" (referring to whom the song is dedicated to and to the song itself), which essentially downplays the actual sincere love song intent of the piece.

The song drives this point further, by its third verse, in the line, "another prop has occupied my time."

The One I Love is not the only misinterpreted song by R.E.M., with Losing My Religion being its most notable.

Contrary to what its title implies about the song, a close inspection of its lyrics would reveal that the song is not about religion, but is rather about a man who is at his wits end in facing someone he has a huge crush on.

Pride (In The Name of Love) (U2)

Pride (In The Name of Love) may come as an ode to the trials and tribulations a man must go through to fight for his love, but that "love" is not the kind of love which lovers think about.

Released in 1984, the song is actually about Martin Luther King Jr., defined by the line "Early morning, April 4, shot rings out in the Memphis sky…" a reference to the day Martin Luther King Jr. was shot.

Though Bono has acknowledged an error in his part with the line (occasionally changing the lyrics in live performances to "Early evening…"), the song is essentially a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., not to stalwart Romeo’s fighting for their love.

The song also bears allusions to Jesus Christ, defined in the line "one man betrayed with a kiss…".

With Or Without You (U2)

With Or Without You is argued to be U2's signature song, a title that is rivaled by the band's ever popular hit, One.

Released in 1987, the song has been the subject of mixed interpretations, delving into the story of a troubled romance between two lovers, at the same time the subject of interpretations steeped in religious contexts.

While the subject of a love-hate relationship is the popular interpretation of the song, a close inspection of its lyrics would also reveal that it also refers to man's relationship with the almighty.

With U2's reputation for injecting religious focus points in a number of their songs (If God Would Send His Angels, Please), With Or Without You is known to take two different meanings, which can be best appreciated depending on the overall mood one listens to it.