Five Finger Death Punch's "Sham Pain"

(hat tip to Broadway World for the pic)

Last week, I discussed a song that looked at wealth and celebrity with respect (Weezer's Beverly Hills). This week, I am flipping that view to the inside perspective from Five Finger Death Punch's Sham Pain.



The verses of Sham Pain cover a laundry list of complaints from the perspective of a rock star. For example (lyrics from Google):

I never cared about the money never really needed fame
You think it would've changed me, but I've always stayed the same
The label tried to sue me, TMZ tried to screw me
Blabbermouth can fuck itself 'cause they never fucking knew me
Everybody seems like they're waiting for me to die
Talk shit behind my back, can't look me in the eye
They say I'm overrated, that I should've already faded
Give a shit about it all 'cause I love to be so hated

However, the chorus is a reality check for the singer:

All in all it's a good life I got what I want
I can't complain (I can't complain)
I'm living the good life a toast to you now
It's all sham pain (it's all sham pain)

Of course, "Sham Pain" is a play on words, from the phrase "it's all champagne", which is a common joke, meant to say sarcastically "it's all good". In the case of this song, it's more of a poking fun at one's own complaints about their own wealth and celebrity.

Overall, Sham Pain did well, hitting number 1 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock charts this year. But the idea behind this song isn't exactly original. Consider Joe Walsh's Life's Been Good:



While Walsh, like Five Finger Death Punch, tends to poke fun at his own lifestyle, there are more serious takes on the life of a rock star, with Bob Seger's Turn the Page standing out as one:



If there is a lesson in all of this, it is that no matter what your situation is, or how good it may be, money and fame don't eliminate problems from your life. Wealth and celebrity don't make your life better or worse. They just make it different.