47 Songs About Manipulation (Pop, Rap & More)

Foundations of Music

47 Songs About Manipulation (Pop, Rap & More)

I. Country Songs About Manipulation

1. The Gambler by Kenny Rogers

Artist: Kenny Rogers
Album: The Gambler
Year: 1978

“Control” by Janet Jackson
“Manipulation” by Ray J
“Gaslighting” by Halsey
“Sucker” by Jonas Brothers
“Lie to Me” by 5 Seconds of Summer

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2. I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty

Artist: Tom Petty
Album: Full Moon Fever
Year: 1989

The song is about not giving up and continuing to fight even when the odds seem insurmountable.

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3. The Boys of Summer by Don Henley

Artist: Don Henley
Album: Building the Perfect Beast
Year: 1984

The song is about the summertime and young love. It talks about how summertime is a time for young love to blossom and how it is a time for memories to be made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeBTFjSUNMM

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II. Pop Songs About Manipulation

1. You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette

Artist: Alanis Morissette
Album: Jagged Little Pill
Year: 1995

The song is about a woman who is angry with her ex-boyfriend because he left her for another woman. She sings about how he should know how she feels and how he has hurt her.

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2. Sorry by Justin Bieber

Artist: Justin Bieber
Album: Purpose
Year: 2015

The song is about a break-up and how Bieber is sorry for what he did.

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3. Papa Don’t Preach by Madonna

Artist: Madonna
Album: True Blue
Year: 1986

The song is about a teenage girl who is pregnant and is telling her father not to preach to her about what she should do. She says that she is going to keep the baby and that she knows what she is doing.

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4. Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley by Robert Palmer

Artist: Robert Palmer
Album: Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley
Year: 1974

The song is about a woman who is trying to be sneaky and sneak through the alley. She is hoping that no one will see her and she can get away with whatever she is doing.

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III. R&B Songs About Manipulation

1. The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson

Artist: Michael Jackson
Album:
Year:

The Way You Make Me Feel is a song by Michael Jackson that was released in 1987. The song is about a man who is in love with a woman and he is telling her how she makes him feel.

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2. You Can’t Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones

Artist: The Rolling Stones
Album: Let It Bleed
Year: 1969

The song is about how sometimes you can’t get what you want in life, but you should keep trying anyway.

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3. I’m Every Woman by Whitney Houston

Artist: Whitney Houston
Album:
Year: 1992

“I’m Every Woman” is a song written by Chaka Khan and produced by Arif Mardin for Khan’s eponymous debut album. The song was released as the album’s lead single in 1978. It is one of Khan’s most popular and best-known songs.

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4. Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones

Artist: The Rolling Stones
Album: Beggars Banquet
Year: 1968

The song is told from the perspective of Satan, who sympathizes with humans and their struggles. He talks about how he has been around for centuries, and has seen humans at their worst and their best. He talks about how humans are capable of great evil, but also great good. In the end, he says that he will be there for humans until the end of time.

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5. Nasty by Janet Jackson

Artist: Janet Jackson
Album: Control
Year: 1986

The song is about a woman who is tired of putting up with her man’s infidelity and decides to get revenge by having an affair of her own. She is not afraid to be “nasty” and enjoys being the one in control for once.

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6. Brown Sugar by The Rolling Stones

Artist: The Rolling Stones
Album: Sticky Fingers
Year: 1971

The song is about a man who is addicted to a woman who is a drug dealer. The woman is brown sugar and the man is addicted to her.

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7. Dirty by Christina Aguilera

Artist: Christina Aguilera
Album: Stripped
Year: 2002

In the song, Aguilera is talking about a relationship she was in where she was cheated on. She is reflecting on how she felt at the time and how she wishes she could have seen the signs earlier. She is saying how she was “blinded by the sun” and didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late.

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8. Control by Janet Jackson

Artist: Janet Jackson
Album: Control
Year: 1986

The song is about a woman who is in control of her own life and destiny. She is not afraid to take risks and is confident in her own abilities. She is also comfortable with who she is and is not afraid to show her true self to the world.

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IV. Christian Songs About Manipulation

1. I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe

Artist: MercyMe
Album: The Worship Project
Year: 1999

The song is about a person imagining what it will be like to be in heaven. The person imagines being in a beautiful place with no more pain or suffering. They imagine being reunited with loved ones who have died and being able to worship God freely. The song is a reminder that even though we don’t know what heaven will be like, we can trust that it will be better than anything we can imagine.

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2. Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong UNITED

Artist: Hillsong UNITED
Album: Zion
Year: 2013

The song is about continuing to walk through life even when the going gets tough. It talks about how the oceans may seem like they are too big to cross, but with faith, anything is possible. The song is a reminder that God is always there for us, no matter what.

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3. 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) by Matt Redman, Steve Angrisano

Artist: Matt Redman, Steve Angrisano
Album: Spirit & Song: Disc M
Year: 2013

The song is a worship song about giving thanks to God for all the reasons He blesses us. It starts with the reasons we have to bless the Lord, such as His love, His faithfulness, and His mercy. Then it talks about how we should bless the Lord even when we don’t feel like it, because He is worthy of our praise. The chorus is a declaration that we will bless the Lord always, no matter what.

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4. How He Loves Us by Passion Conferences

Artist: Passion Conferences
Album: Passion: Awakening
Year: 2010

The song is about how God loves us unconditionally and passionately, despite our flaws and shortcomings. It is a reminder that we are never alone, and that His love for us is never-ending.

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5. Mighty to Save by Hillsong Worship

Artist: Hillsong Worship
Album: Mighty to Save
Year: 2006

The song Mighty to Save by Hillsong Worship is a powerful song about the saving power of God. The song starts out with a strong declaration of faith that God is mighty to save us from our sins. It then goes on to talk about how God is our refuge and strength in times of trouble. The song ends with a powerful declaration of faith that God is worthy of all our praise.

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6. Cornerstone by Hillsong Worship

Artist: Hillsong Worship
Album: Forever Reign
Year: 2012

The song is about how Jesus is the cornerstone of our lives and how we need to trust in Him. The song is sung from the perspective of someone who is struggling and trying to find their way. The song is about how we need to surrender our lives to Jesus and trust Him to lead us.

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7. Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin

Artist: Chris Tomlin
Album: The Ultimate Playlist
Year: 2016

This song is about how God is a good father and how we can trust him. It is a worship song that is sung in many churches.

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8. What a Beautiful Name by Hillsong Worship

Artist: Hillsong Worship
Album: Let There Be Light
Year:

The song is about the beauty of God’s name and how it is worth praising. The lyrics talk about how God’s name is above all other names and how it is the only name that can save us. The song is a worship song that is meant to praise God and give thanks for His name.

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9. In Christ Alone by Passion (feat. Kristian Stanfill)

Artist: Passion (feat. Kristian Stanfill)
Album:
Year:

The song is about the hope that is found in Christ alone. It talks about how Christ is the only one who can provide us with true hope and how He is the only one who can save us from our sin.

10. Reckless Love by Cory Asbury

Artist: Cory Asbury
Album: Reckless Love
Year:

The song Reckless Love by Cory Asbury is a song about the never ending, reckless love of God. No matter what we have done, God’s love is always there for us. His love is never ending and always forgives us. This song is a reminder of how much God loves us, no matter what.

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V. Rock Songs About Manipulation

1. Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones

Artist: The Rolling Stones
Album: Out of Our Heads
Year: 1965

The Rolling Stones song “Satisfaction” is a song about a man who is not content with his life and is looking for something more. He is not satisfied with his job, his relationships, or anything else in his life. The only thing that seems to make him happy is his money. He is always looking for new ways to make more money and he is never satisfied with what he has.

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2. Psycho Killer by Talking Heads

Artist: Talking Heads
Album: Talking Heads: 77
Year: 1977

The song is about a psycho killer who is on the loose. The song is told from the point of view of the killer himself, and he seems to be quite proud of his murderous spree. He taunts the police, and seems to be enjoying the game of cat and mouse. The song is rather dark and eerie, and the killer’s identity is never revealed.

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3. I Can’t Get No Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones

Artist: The Rolling Stones
Album: Out of Our Heads
Year: 1965

The song is about a man who is trying to find satisfaction in life but is unable to do so. He is looking for satisfaction in all the wrong places and is not able to find it.

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4. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap by AC/DC

Artist: AC/DC
Album:
Year: 1976

The song is about a man who will do any dirty deed for the right price. He is a mercenary who will kill, steal, or cheat for the right price. He is a cold-blooded criminal who does not care about the consequences of his actions.

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5. Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top

Artist: ZZ Top
Album: Eliminator
Year: 1983

The song is about a well-dressed man who is looking for a woman. He is looking for a woman who is also well-dressed and who will appreciate his style.

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6. Hurt by Nine Inch Nails

Artist: Nine Inch Nails
Album: The Downward Spiral
Year: 1994

The song is about a person who is struggling with addiction and depression. They are in pain and feel like they are losing everything.

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7. Just by Radiohead

Artist: Radiohead
Album: The Bends
Year: 1995

“Just” is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Kid A (2000). The song was written by Radiohead singer Thom Yorke, and produced by the band and Nigel Godrich. “Just” is a piano-based song with a minimalist arrangement. The song’s lyrics are written in Yorke’s falsetto register and deal with themes of isolation and insecurity.

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8. The Joker by Steve Miller Band

Artist: Steve Miller Band
Album: The Joker
Year: 1973

The song is about a joker who is in love with a woman who does not love him back. He is trying to make her laugh and feel better, but she does not seem to be interested.

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9. The Hand that Feeds by Nine Inch Nails

Artist: Nine Inch Nails
Album: With Teeth
Year: 2005

The song is about a person who is being controlled by someone else. The person is being told what to do and how to think, and they are starting to resent it. They are tired of being used and manipulated, and they want to break free.

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10. Paranoid Android by Radiohead

Artist: Radiohead
Album: OK Computer
Year: 1997

The song is about a person who is paranoid and angry, and about the world around them.

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11. Closer by Nine Inch Nails

Artist: Nine Inch Nails
Album: The Downward Spiral
Year: 1994

“Closer” is a song by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released on May 30, 1994, as the second single from their second studio album, The Downward Spiral (1994). It is the ninth track on the album and was produced by Trent Reznor and Flood. The song is built around a sample of “Closer to God” by Coil. Lyrically, the song is about sex and obsession, and includes numerous references to oral sex, sadomasochism, and pornography.

The song was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and number six on the Billboard Hot 100. The accompanying music video, directed by Mark Romanek, generated controversy due to its sexually explicit and violent content, and was banned from MTV. “Closer” has been included in several Nine Inch Nails compilations and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1996.

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12. Head like a Hole by Nine Inch Nails

Artist: Nine Inch Nails
Album: Pretty Hate Machine
Year: 1989

The song is about a person who is addicted to drugs and alcohol and is struggling to break free from their addiction. The song is dark and intense, and reflects the desperation and hopelessness that many addicts feel.

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13. Karma Police by Radiohead

Artist: Radiohead
Album:
Year:

Karma Police is a song by Radiohead about a society controlled by an oppressive force that punishes people for their bad deeds. The song is critical of the government and its use of force to control the people.

VI. Rap Songs About Manipulation

1. The Story of O.J by Jay-Z

Artist: Jay-Z
Album: 4:44
Year: 2017

The song is about the struggles of being a black man in America, and how material possessions will never be able to fix that. It also touches on how African Americans are often stereotyped in the media.

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2. No More Parties in LA by Ye

Artist: Ye
Album:
Year:

The song is about how the narrator is tired of going to parties in LA because he feels like he’s seen it all before. He’s looking for something new and exciting, but he can’t seem to find it.

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3. Panda by Desiigner

Artist: Desiigner
Album: Panda
Year: 2016

Desiigner’s “Panda” is a trap song about, well, a panda. Over a dark, atmospheric beat, Desiigner raps about how he’s “a motherfucking panda” who’s “got broads in Atlanta” and drives a “Maserati” with the top down. It’s a braggadocious song about luxury and wealth, with a hook that will stick in your head for days.

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4. All the Way Up by Remy Ma, Fat Joe

Artist: Remy Ma, Fat Joe
Album: Plata O Plomo
Year: 2017

This song is about Remy Ma and Fat Joe being successful in their careers. They rap about how they have made it all the way up, from the bottom to the top. They boast about their accomplishments and how they are better than everyone else.

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5. Might As Well by A$AP Ferg

Artist: A$AP Ferg
Album: Always Strive and Prosper
Year: 2016

The song is about making the most of a situation, even if it’s not ideal. Ferg is saying that if he’s going to be stuck in a bad situation, he might as well make the most of it. He’s also saying that he’s not going to let a negative situation get him down, and he’s going to keep fighting.

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6. Control by Big Sean

Artist: Big Sean
Album: Control
Year: 2013

“Control” is a song by American rapper Big Sean from his second studio album Hall of Fame (2013). The song features guest verses from Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica. Production was handled by No I.D. and Key Wane. The song was released on August 12, 2013, as the album’s lead single.

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7. For Free by DJ Khaled

Artist: DJ Khaled
Album: Major Key
Year: 2016

The song is about a woman who is beautiful and independent, and how DJ Khaled is attracted to her. He talks about how he would do anything for her, and how he is willing to give her anything she wants.

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8. No Shopping by French Montana

Artist: French Montana
Album: Montana
Year: 2019

The song is about a man who is telling his girlfriend that he is not going to buy her anything, but she doesn’t seem to mind.

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9. FDT by YG

Artist: YG
Album: Still Brazy
Year: 2016

The song is about the current president, Donald Trump. The artist, YG, is not a fan of the president and he makes that clear in the song. He talks about how Trump is dividing the country and how he doesn’t believe in what Trump stands for.

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