It's difficult not to sound blatantly self-promotional when you put your band name in your lyrics. Near the end of "Sunless Saturday" on "Saturday Night Live," Fishbone shouted out its name, which fit in with the cacophony, to an extent. In "Whoever You Are," Geggy Tah promotes itself with the lyric, "On the mic is Geggy Tah..." That's not out of place in a novelty song, though.
In their high-energy track, "Just Don't Know," however, St. Louis band The Urge promotes itself in the best way. The closing track on the "Puttin' The Backbone Back" CD puts the group's passion for its ensemble front and center with the lyrics, "You just don't know--how I feel--about this band!" In that context, the lyric, "The Urge put the backbone back," is appropriate self-promotion--especially with the blistering rhythm section's infectious accompaniment.
Self-promotion is tricky business, but there's a smart way to do it.
