I'm Medicated, How Are You?

Danger. Addiction.


1. Blur, Beetlebum
Blur (1997)

The song's title seems to be a reference to "chasing the beetle" which means to inhale the smoke from heated heroin that has been placed on a piece of tin-foil. Lyrics are strongly related to drug abuse ("Beetlebum, get nothing done, you beetlebum, just get numb") and sex. It is believed by many that the lyrics are about heroine experiences lead singer Damon Albarn shared with his former girlfriend, Justine Frischmann (ex-Elastica).


2. IAMX, Nightlife
The Alternative (2006)

The drug use is presented here as being part of the nightlife, some kind of a mysterious and daring element that keeps you alive and helps you to see the truth. However, this (somehow) positive approach is attenuated by the phrase "I want to know how to survive in the nightlife", which implies the idea that things aren't actually what they seem to be.


3. Jesus and Mary Chain, Some Candy Talking
Psychocandy (1987)

At first sight, it seems that the lyrics are about heroin use, but lead singer Jim Reid denied that, telling it is just a misunderstanding. Hm, let's see.
"I'm going down to the place tonight
To see if I can get a taste tonight
A taste of something warm and sweet
That shivers your bones and rises to your heat"
No, this has nothing to do with drugs. Right.


4. Nick Drake, Been Smoking Too Long
Time of No Reply (1987)

This is not just about drug abuse, is more about the feeling one has after the drug effects end and he's again all alone with himself. Drug is seen as a shelter, but the hero knows that this shelter is only temporary, and he'll eventually have to face reality again. It's a very pessimistic song; the way Drake sings it makes it even darker. Don't try this when you're too depressed, it might have very negative effects.


5. Placebo, Special K
Black Market Music (2000)

"It's comparing the rush with falling head over heels in love or being infatuated with someone and coming upon controlled substances of any kind." says Brian Molko about this song. This parallel between ketamine and love got the single banned in UK; however, it remained one of the most famous Placebo songs to date. It's such a strong piece, that even the pa-dam-pam-pam-padadadam thing becomes pure perfection.


6. Queens of the Stone Age, Feel Good Hit of the Summer
Rated R (2000)

"Nicotine, valium, vicodine, marijuana, ecstasy and alcohol… Co-co-co-co-co-cocaine" – now that speaks for itself I'd say. The band managed to convince their record label to let them include this song on the album, saying that it doesn't actually have references to drug use. Americans didn't buy that one and the song hasn't been released as a single in the US.


7. Suede, Heroine
Dog Man Star (1994)

This one is even more interesting and poetic than Special K. At the first listening, it seems that it's nothing more than another obsessive love song, but Anderson & co go farther away than that. A double addiction, to the loved one and to the drug, is suggested not only lyrically ("I'm aching to see my heroine"... "I'm with her and nobody knows") but also through the title (heroine, which is very close to heroin).


8. The Velvet Underground, Heroin
The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

The band had been accused of glorifying drug abuse on this track. However, the song is actually descriptive rather than glorifying; lyrics are written from a junkie's point of view, presenting the feelings he has every time he uses the drug ("Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life"). Not only journalists misunderstood the meaning of this song. Lou Reed was hesitant to play it live due to fans that were coming at him and saying they "shot up" while they were listening to Heroin.