The song at #82 on my list of 100 Best Songs of the 2010s is “Cough Syrup” by Southern California alternative rock band Young the Giant. This is the second song by them on this best of the decade list, their other being “Superposition” which ranks at #91. “Cough Syrup” is one of their most well-known songs, and my personal favorite. It was released in 2011 as the second single from their eponymous debut album Young the Giant, but the song actually predated the band, as it was composed when they were called The Jakes, and first appeared on their 2008 EP Shake My Hand.
It’s a beautiful song, with gorgeous swirling guitars, somber cello and spirited drumbeats creating a stunning backdrop for band front man Sameer Gadhia’s passionate vocals. About the song’s meaning, Gadhia has stated it was written at a time when the band was unsigned, had no money and “felt somewhat oppressed by the universal expectation of what to do in Orange County…in suburbia in general. I think we really yearned to break out of that and do something a little bit different. [The song] is kind of a cry for help to break free, not necessarily from oppression, but from the common symptoms of suburbia like boredom, normality and homogeneity.”
I saw Young the Giant in concert in August 2019 (in a double bill with Fitz & the Tantrums), and here’s their wonderful performance of “Cough Syrup”.
ECLECTIC MUSIC LOVER 
Cool song! I’m enjoying this series immensely. There’s so much music I missed over the past decade, and your recent posts have given me a chance to catch up!
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Yay Marc, I’m so happy you’re enjoying it!
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Thumbs up on this one.
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Really cool song. Saw the Rickenbacker and knew I was going to like it.
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Ha, interesting that you noticed the guitar.
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yea it’s my dream guitar…one day I will own one…I own 12 but not a Rick.
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I’m really starting to think Max and I are somehow related. Like in his case, the first thing that caught my attention was that beautiful black Rickenbacker guitar one of the guys in Young the Giant is playing – I swear, I’m not making this up!
Apart from the cool guitar, I also like this tune. If it’s representative of their other music, I guess I should check out these guys more closely!
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That’s too funny. I wouldn’t know a Rickenbacker from a Fender – or any other make of guitar. Sadly, I’ve never learned to play a single instrument, not even a kazoo!
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This great tune introduced me to Young The Giant back then. One of my favorite songs of the 2010s for sure!
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