Is Foo Fighters' The Pretender a secret protest song?
21 August 2024, 13:46
Foo Fighters - The Pretender
It's one of Dave Grohl and co's most memorable anthems, but is it about US politics or just a universal song of defiance?
Foo Fighters' released their Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace album in September 2007.
The band's sixth studio album saw them work with producer Gil Norton for the second time to deliver singles such as The Pretender, Let It Die and Long Road to Ruin.
The first single on the record and the first to be released from Dave Grohl and co is clearly an anthem of defiance, but just who and what is it about?
Is The Pretender political and about President George W. Bush's administration or is it merely about standing up for yourself in any situation?
We delve into the history behind the track here...
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The Pretender was released on August 21st 2007, as the first single from Foo Fighters' Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace album.
With a punchy title and even punchier lyrics to boot, the stomping fast-paced track hints at being deceived by a higher power, or at the very least, someone who doesn't have your best interests at heart.
Keep you in the dark
You know they all pretend
By the time the song crashes into it's chorus, Dave Grohl asks asks a series of questions such as: "What if I say I'm not like the others?" and "What if I say I will never surrender?"
It's pretty clear Grohl isn't happy about something or someone, but is he taking aim at the government or society as a whole?
Is Foo Fighters' Pretender a secret protest song?
Despite its visceral imagery and the combat-like language, it's never fully clear who or what Dave Grohl is referring to.
He did allude to its roots being inspired by the political unrest of the time, but stopped short of fully explaining their meaning, telling Xfm back in 2007: "That's the thing with lyrics, you never want to give away specifics, because it's nice for people to have their own idea or interpretation of the song. But, you know, everyone's been fucked over before and I think a lot of people feel fucked over right now and they're not getting what they were promised, and so something to do with that."
Despite Grohl not wishing to reveal the target of his vitriol, he did allude to "a lot of people" being deceived and disenfranchised. So could the time of the song's release could provide some clues to what inspired it.
George W. Bush served as the President of the United States from 2001 - 2009. During his tenure, the politician led the War in Afghanistan, followed by the War in Iraq. The US has entered into the longest post-World War II recession and by 2007 Bush's once high approval numbers had declined.
Was this the pretender Grohl was referring to? Were the "others" and "souls" he refers to those marching into war?
Grohl's politcal stance has become even clearer as he's aged, with the Foo Fighters performing Times Like These during Biden's Inauguration celebrations.
The special event, dubbed Celebrating America, saw Dave Grohl and co deliver a moving rendition of the single, which he dedicated to his mother Virgina and all the "unshakeable teachers" out there during the pandemic.
Foo Fighters perform Times Like These for Biden Inauguration celebrations
Speaking to the Daily Star's Wired column ahead of their performance, the Foos shared their relief at not having to feel the "humiliation" of being associated with the Trump presidency.
"I can see positives now," said bassist Nate Mendel. "If nothing else, just to not have the consistent barrage of humiliation as a US citizen will be nice.
"We've had a bunch of goons in the executive branch for four years, a lot of damage has happened - it could've been worse.
"To have competent leadership I can't help think we're gonna be in a better place."
However, he also revealed that agreeing to perform at the Celebrating America TV special didn't got down well with some of their fans.
The Learn To Fly rocker added: "There are people on there kind of shocked, 'I can't believe they're doing this, I thought Foo Fighters were apolitical."
Drummer Taylor Hawkins, meanwhile, was much stronger in his opinions, revealing he was thrilled to play a small part in "the firing of that clown".
The 48-year-old sticksman declared: "Trump is a piece of s***, I'm not afraid to say it. Trump divided the States more than ever.
"I'm happy to have contributed to the firing of that clown."
Despite The Pretender's potentially heavy themes Grohl has admitted there was a much more innocent inspiration for the song: Sesame Street.
The rocker has previously shown himself to be a huge fan of the show and their One of These Things ditty does sound very similar to Grohl's chorus.
Sesame Street: One of These Things
We may never know what exactly Dave Grohl was thinking about when he wrote this track, but it is clear that he wanted the single to be as universal as possible.
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