The song "I Want You to Want Me" is generally interpreted as a pop-rock anthem about co-dependent romance or a playful, over-the-top expression of desire, not an attempt to force someone into a relationship in a harmful sense. However, if any song—regardless of its original intent—is used as a "weapon" to repeatedly harass, coerce, or intimidate an individual, that behavior could become illegal under specific circumstances, such as contributing to a hostile work environment or as part of a pattern of stalking or harassment. The Song's Meaning The song, famously performed by Cheap Trick, was actually written by guitarist Rick Nielsen as a sendup of saccharine pop ballads of the day. The lyrics express a strong, almost desperate, desire for reciprocal affection ("I want you to want me, I need you to need me, I'd love you to love me"). The general context is one of a mutual, albeit potentially co-dependent, romantic feeling, not one of force or coercion in a legal or abusive sense. When Playing Music Can Be Illegal Using a song can cross the line into illegal behavior depending on the context and intent: Harassment/Stalking: Repeatedly playing a specific song at a person in a targeted manner, especially in a way that causes them distress, fear, or mental anguish, could be used as evidence in a harassment or stalking case. The key would be the pattern of behavior and the effect on the victim, not the song itself. Hostile Work Environment: In a workplace setting, playing music with sexually derogatory, violent, or otherwise offensive content constantly and publicly could contribute to a hostile work environment and become a form of discrimination, especially if an employer fails to address complaints. Coercion: If playing the song is part of a larger pattern of behavior intended to force someone to do something against their will, it could be considered coercion. The song itself would be a piece of evidence in proving a pattern of intimidating behavior, which is unlawful. In short, the song itself is not inherently illegal, but the way in which it is used can be a component of an actionable legal claim if it forms part of a pattern of harassment, coercion, or abuse.