The Rolling Stones have always been known for their unapologetic swagger and biting wit, but Mick Jagger's latest lyrics are causing a stir – literally. On their new album 'Foreign Tongues', the band unleashes a fiery track called 'Mr Charm' that drops like a bombshell, directly referencing Elon Musk in all its glory. The line "Is it Boeing, is it NASA, is it mad mogul Mr Musk?" has left many wondering if Jagger's jibe was a veiled insult or simply a clever quip.
But fear not, Stones fans – the legendary frontman is here to set the record straight. In an exclusive interview with The New York Times, Jagger let rip on critics who've been piling on the pressure, calling his lyrics "lazy" and missing the mark. And as for those who thought he was having a pop at Musk? Think again – Jagger insists that when he called him "mad", it was meant as a compliment.
The rock legend revealed that his mind was whirling back to childhood dreams of blasting off into space, and who would you trust to make the journey possible. And let's be honest, Musk did seem like the go-to guy – after all, he'd managed to get those astronauts safely on board when others had flaked out. "He was the one I remembered could do it," Jagger said with a wink, adding that his choice of words might not have been the most tactful, but it was meant as a nod of respect.
'Foreign Tongues' is shaping up to be quite the tour-de-force, with an all-star cast of collaborators joining forces with the Stones. You'll find cameos from Paul McCartney, Robert Smith of The Cure, Steve Winwood, and even Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. And did we mention that Charlie Watts makes a posthumous appearance too? It's a masterclass in legacy-building.
But don't just take our word for it – The Rolling Stones have also launched a six-part podcast series, 'Speaking In Tongues', narrated by Norah Jones and featuring Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Watts in all their glory. And if that's not enough to keep you hooked, Mick has been spotted waxing lyrical about the talents of young British singer-songwriter Sam Fender – "excellent" is how he described 'People Watching', by the way.
So what do we make of it all? NME seems pretty chuffed with 'Foreign Tongues', calling it "fresh and refined" and hinting that this might be just the beginning of a new creative chapter for the Stones. And if you're not sold on Jagger's justification yet, don't worry – he's got his work cut out winning over those who are still convinced they've been stung by a mad mogul.