John and Yoko in New York in 1980, a year before his death. Photograph: AP/Sands
Good art illuminates the world we already know in a new way. But truly great art sees the world as it might be and will be. In other words, it is prophetic. And after this week's story of the Bosnian couple who are divorcing after discovering that they had been conducting a secret online romance with each other under their internet aliases, it's time to acknowledge Rupert Holmes' Escape (the Pina Colada song) as a great work of art as it chillingly foretells Sweetie and Prince of Joy's predicament. And you thought it was just an insufferable novelty song. Boy, is your face red?
There have been many songs throughout rock's history regarded as prophetic. Finnish punks Hanoi Rocks' song Dead By Xmas gained an eerie resonance when drummer Razzle was killed in a car crash on December 8. Then there were the various predictions Tupac allegedly made of his death. The rapper is supposed to utter "Suge shot me" in the first three seconds of 7 Day Theory though this is only truly prophetic if you believe that cuddly community leader and successful businessman Suge Knight was somehow involved.
The chronicling of a death foretold seems to be a popular pastime with our pop prophets - Yoko Ono believes her 1980 club classic Walking On Thin Ice forsees John Lennon's death. In another Beatles connection, Charles Manson believed Helter Skelter predicted a race war. And then there's the creepy coincidence of The Coup's Party Music exploding World Trade Centre cover so close to 9/11. Unfortunately, however, despite the oft-quoted anecdote, the lead singer of Drowning Pool does not appear to have drowned in a pool. It was your common-or-garden cardiac arrest in the tour bus. Don't let that stop you repeating it, though, as it's a great story.
We should recognise and venerate our pop prophets. So let's begin right here and now - what are the songs that foretold the future with an accuracy that baffles the believers and confounds the sceptics? Bonus points for anyone who can top Busted's submarine vision of the year 3000.
