Beck's a Bit Gloomy in New CD

As his record contract ends, the musician's not sure what's next

(NEWSER) - This week Beck will release Modern Guilt, his last record under a 14-year-old studio contract—an event that prompted the New York Times to ask him what's next. No idea, Beck said. “I haven’t bothered to plan anything. I don’t know where the record business is going to be in six months. Or three months.” More»

Group has three in the works after Bono's surgery

(NEWSER) - Instead of shutting him down, Bono’s recent emergency surgery has prompted a creative burst: U2 is planning three new albums, including one produced by pop guru Danger Mouse, reports Australia's the Age . “We have about 12 songs with him," the singer says. "At the moment that looks like the album we will put out next because it's just happening so easily.” More»

Lyrics by Lennon, the Boss and others make the list

(NEWSER) - "'Scuse me while I kiss this guy" and other misheard song lyrics, it turns out, are just the tip of the iceberg. List Universe runs down what it calls 10 of the most misinterpreted songs in music. Some highlights to see if you agree:

• "Hotel California": Listeners think devil worship because of the "kill the beast" line, but the Eagles themselves say that's nonsense. It's a reflection of the rock-and-roll lifestyle they were living in Los Angeles at the time.

I want it that way. Wait, you want what what way?

(NEWSER) - Some lyrics are just so ambiguous you have no idea what you’re singing about when you sing along. Willa Paskin lists 20 “songs that make you go, huh?” on BlackBook :

• “I Want It That Way,” Backstreet Boys: “Make up your minds dudes, is ‘that way’ a good or a bad thing? Or is it anal sex?”
• “Push It,” Salt N’ Pepa: OK, maybe this one isn’t so vague: “Yeah, the ‘it’ in this song is pretty definitively ween.”

(NEWSER) - Some complain about the explicit lyrics in rap, but modern MCs have nothing on early-20th-century blues singers. Compared to them, “the members of NWA are levelheaded concerned citizens,” says Cracked. A sampling:

• "A to Z Blues," Blind Willie McTell, 1956: "I'm gonna cut A, B, C, D on top of your head; That's gonna be treating you nice like mama you ain't gonna be dead." Don't worry—he finishes the alphabet.