Song For Whoever

The Beautiful South's 'Song For Whoever' is a satirical take on the music industry's commercialization of love songs. The lyrics are delivered from the perspective of a songwriter who confesses his love not for the women he writes about, but for the benefits their stories bring him. The opening lines, 'I love you from the bottom, of my pencil case,' immediately set the tone for this ironic love letter, where the affection is directed towards the act of songwriting and the financial rewards it brings, rather than the muses themselves.

The song lists a series of women's names—Shirley, Deborah, Julie, Jane, Jennifer, Alison, Phillipa, Sue, Deborah, Annabel—emphasizing the interchangeable nature of these muses. The repetition of names and the line 'I forget your name' highlight the superficiality of the songwriter's relationships. These women are not individuals with unique identities but rather tools for the songwriter's success. The mention of 'PRS cheques' (royalty payments from the Performing Right Society) further underscores the transactional nature of his 'love.'

The Beautiful South, known for their witty and often sardonic lyrics, use this song to critique the formulaic nature of pop love songs. The line 'Deep so deep, the number one I hope to reap, depends upon the tears you weep' suggests that the emotional pain of these women is merely fodder for hit songs. The final verse, which talks about turning 'grief into glory,' encapsulates the exploitative nature of the songwriter's craft. By the end of the song, it's clear that the true love of the songwriter is not for any of the women but for the success and money their stories bring him.