Rolling Stone's Top 20

"Satisfaction"- #2

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Released- 1965

 

This song expresses a teenage rebellion from media and modern relationships that was rampant during the 1960s. The song clearly states discontent in the chorus and proceeds to describe the reasons behind this lack of “Satisfaction” in the proceeding verses. The first verse mentions a speaker on the radio who is trying to arouse a response using “useless imagination” where the Stones are able clearly see through this propaganda. The second verse mentions a television ad. The Rolling Stones voices a displeasure in the advertisements that they see due to contrasting advertisements that imply that the ad man “can’t be a man ‘cause he doesn’t smoke the same cigarettes as [the singer’s].” The final verse talks about modern relationships. The singer is continually spurned by women and cannot find his satisfaction through relational success. In the end, this song presents a state of continued searching for value and

fulfillment.

 

Themes: Media, Rebellion, Advertisements, Relationships, Dissatisfaction