8 Songs About Being Different (Misfits)
Being a misfit means feeling like you don’t quite fit into a particular group, community, or societal norm. It often results from a perceived disconnect between an individual’s personal values, interests, or characteristics and the prevailing standards or expectations of a given environment. Misfits often experience a sense of isolation or alienation due to these differences.
It’s important to note that feeling like a misfit is not inherently negative. Many misfits go on to achieve great things and contribute uniquely to society. Embracing one’s individuality and seeking out like-minded communities can help individuals find a sense of belonging and purpose. Being a misfit can be a stepping stone to personal growth, creativity, and authentic self-expression.
1. Alessia Cara – Wild Things
The track has been regarded as an anthem for outsiders. It is about self-acceptance since Alessia urges the listeners to embrace their uniqueness instead of conforming to what society says is cool. In an interview with iHeartRadio, she had this to say about the track:
‘Wild Things’ is an anthem. It’s written like an anthem, the production is very anthem-like, and the lyrics are very anthem-like, and I wanted it to be like that. I wanted it to be something that people could really sing along to and believe in, because it’s such an important message, and it’s really about accepting yourself. Whether you’re young, or old, or whatever your circumstances are. Oftentimes, people constantly tell us that we are not good enough for that, and we’re not going to do anything with ourselves. And that’s not true obviously, and this is a song about saying, ‘I don’t care what you say, and I don’t care what you do to try to stop me from being happy. I’m going to be happy, and we’re gonna just do whatever we want.’”
2. Hailee Steinfeld – Most Girls
This is a female empowerment anthem where we see Hailee celebrating all kinds of girls regardless of what they choose to wear, love or what they want to do with their lives. She stated this about the song, “The song basically says it’s okay to want to change certain things about yourself. If you feel better with make-up on, put make-up on, take the extra time out of your day and wear it, it’s really all about “Yeah, you’re awesome the way you are.” And for me, as a young woman looking around and looking at other women and being inspired by them and finding them incredibly strong and unstoppable and smart and wanting to be like that.”
3. Ava Max – So Am I
The song is about anybody who feels misunderstood and is called crazy for their different way of thinking. In reality, one is just thinking outside the box, which should be the new normal. Ava revealed that she first felt like a misfit in seventh grade when she got kicked out of middle school for standing up to a bully. She said this in an interview:
About what makes people unique and different from each other. It’s about loving yourself, being different, being an outcast and not fitting in the format that society wants to put us in — just celebrating what really makes you different. Whenever I’m feeling down, I remind myself that my flaws make me perfect, because in reality there is no perfect.
4. Ed Sheeran feat Khalid – Beautiful People
The song is part of Ed Sheeran’s No. 6 Collaborations Projects. It is about remaining true to yourself and not trying to become like those people who are obsessed with material things and stature. Ed and Khalid sing about different uncomfortable social situations where a person can be surrounded but still feel alone.
The song debuted at #26 on the Hot 100 and peaked at #12 on the chart.
5. Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber – I Don’t Care
The singers sing about being at a party but wanting to leave due to feeling like they don’t belong there or having social anxiety. However, their partners make things better for them.
The song debuted and peaked at #2 on the Hot 100.
6. Taylor Swift – The Outside
The track was written by Taylor Swift when she was just 12 years old. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she had this to say about the song:
It’s about what I was going through at the time. I was a complete outcast at school and never fit in, never felt like I belonged. A lot of times back then when I was 12 or 13, I would write songs about relationships, when I wasn’t in relationships, because I would look at other people and try to observe what they were going through. But in the case of ”The Outside,” I was writing exactly what I saw. I was writing from pain. And I’ve always felt so lucky because I’ve never needed an escape like drinking or drugs or anything like that to escape from the bad days. Music has always been that escape for me.
7. Eric Church – Mr Misunderstood
This is a song with an older person talking to a young kid who is an outsider and thinks differently than the kids his age. The older guy tells the youngster to stay on track because he used to be just like him. Eventually, he will make it big and leave others wondering how they could have ever missed him.
8. Lorde – Liability
Lorde describes the song as a strange part of herself for a lot of people to look at. It is based on her life of feeling like an outsider and being alone most of the time. She further stated this in an interview:
It’s kind of not really about anyone. It’s about me and just feeling the pressure of people finding it difficult to be friends with me- to be close to me. It was very much a product of me sitting alone in taxis and alone in my living room, and working out how to be my own best mate really.