Placebo – One of a Kind

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  General Comment:Does anyone else notice the similarities between Placebo's One of a Kind and The Who's I'm One?

  Flag NHow89on March 22, 2013   Link

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  My Interpretation:I think the song is about finding one's way in life socially. Many songs on "Meds" are about mental disorders or illness and I think this songs blend in on the part of social interaction, being special, or just being different.
  He's from "top of the world" - he's good, or special or superior to others in some way - but he "gets nothing done", at least can't reach his targets.
  "back of the class is where I was" - keeping a low profile, "keeping quiet, playing dumb" - trying not to attract attention. although the image of school is suggesting itself, it could also be a metaphor for life in general and him hiding.
  "I'm on a race, it's killing time" - referring to the race of life, he has no goals. there's no goal, no finish, just the race he got to race without the prospect of some sort of fulfillment.
  "I don't need yours, I keep it with mine" - he doesn't want pity. He came to accept his existence and life as it is, an he doesn't want any compassion.
  "Two of a kind and no one home" - this could either point to a needlessness of relationships or to a bipolar disorder, as implied in "Meds".
  "I'm in a crowd and I'm all alone" - whether there are people around or not, there's still no one able to understand him, to give him the feeling of being understood, bcs he's one of a kind.
  "into the void" - life doesn't really make much sense to him. and all the things that normally make life worth living just make him "annoyed".
  "I am one" - He is ONE. he doesn't fit into a collective. he doesn't blend in with others. there's nobody comparable to him. He is one of a kind, unique, special.
  but he is. It's no coincident that the chorus repeats the words "I am" that often. He is. He exists. It may not be the best of all existing. It may not be the best life possible. But it is. He is. And this is to acknowledge. Whether it's good or bad, he's on that "race and doing fine"

  Flag pORG13ion December 01, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Sounds more to be about not fitting in. "I'm in a crowd and I'm still alone." "Cause one of a kind is all I own."
  
  I also agree with DARK as well.

  Flag Exonauton January 26, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:Me and my friend both agree that this song sounds like it's about a guy who's about to do a school shooting. The "back of the class" verse seems a lot like that to me.

  Flag cinnamonXsynonymon June 24, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:I wish I didn't relate so much to every single word of this lyric.

  Flag arwsugaron October 06, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:"I don't need yours i'll keep it with mine"
  
  "I'll Keep It With Mine" is a song by bob dylan:
  
  bobdylan.com/songs/…

  Flag laurelinwyntreon May 27, 2008   Link

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    Brian must have an affinity with Bob Dylan, as there's the obvious reference to "Maggie's Farm" in the Placebo song "Slave To The Wage". It's funny though, I couldn't see my friends who are Dylan fanatics enjoying Placebo. Placebo has their faults, but it's songs like these that make my heart grow fonder for them.

    Flag mmmhmmxymoxon February 23, 2010  
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  General Comment:i am like one of kind, everyone is diferant from me... so this song really gets through to me, how tough life can get sometimes even when you don't realise it so much

  Flag .:placebo:.on May 01, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:This songs could refer to a person that is living in his/her own terms for life and is more realistic than people that looks forward to socialize to feel approved and sheltered for people acceptance.
  "On top of the world and you get nothing done" is a sentence defining how there are people that looks more for a group belonging for not being labeled even when they could feel empty inside than be faithful to their own desires. The kind of person that is surrendered by social schemes but deep inside still values and idolatre the ones who break up the rules and follow their own thoughts.Stereotypes in resume word.

  Flag DARKon March 07, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:Yeah, a boy called Cody born last Oct to his partner Helena Berg. Heard the rumors but he confirmed it in a few interviews during the Meds release publicity.

  Flag chastityon March 07, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:really! I didn't think Brian had a son! if he has i'm shocked! REALLY SHOCKED!

  Flag rhale_toucan.co.ukon March 06, 2006   Link

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