10 great indie songs that ask questions

18 April 2025, 10:00

Who? Why? How? What? Rock ’n’ roll is full of questions - some more stupid than others.

Radio X counts down some of the great music imponderables from How Was It For You? to What Difference Does It Make?

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. The Killers - "Are we human? Or are we dancer?"

   We still don’t understand what Brandon Flowers means, all these years later.

   

   The Killers - Human (Official Music Video)

2. Arctic Monkeys - "Do I wanna know?"

   "...if this feelin' flows both ways?" Alex Turner ponders whether he wants to hear the bald truth.

   

   Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know | Live at Radio X

3. The Smiths - "What difference does it make?"

   “It makes none” - Morrissey answers himself in this classic song. Fine.

   

   The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make? (Official Music Video)

4. The Clash - "Should I stay or should I go?"

   “If I go, there will be trouble / And if I stay it will be double.” Well, you’ve had it either way, haven’t you?

   

   The Clash - Should I Stay or Should I Go (Official Video)

5. Travis - "Why does it always rain on me?"

   “Is it because I lied when I was seventeen?” More likely because you live in Scotland, Fran.

   

   Travis - Why Does It Always Rain On Me? (Official Video)

6. Moby - "Why does my heart feel so bad?"

   Dunno Moby - maybe go and see a doctor?

   

   Moby - Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?

7. The Zutons - "Why won't you give me your love?"

   Another needy lot - this time, from Liverpool.

   

   The Zutons - Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?

8. R.E.M. - "What's the frequency, Kenneth?"

   Michael Stipe based this 1994 track on an incident in which US TV newsreader was appaerently attacked by two men who cried, "Kenneth, what's the frequency?"

   

   R.E.M. - What's The Frequency, Kenneth? (Official Music Video)

9. James - "How was it for you?"

   A post-coital query (we think) from Tim Booth. “Well that's the best it's ever been” - ooh, cheers!

   

   James - How Was It For You?

10. Oasis - "What's the story, morning glory?"

    Liam asks: “What’s the story?” About that “morning glory”. Go and look it up. Actually - DON’T.

    

    Oasis - Morning Glory (Official HD Remastered Video)