The Undertones' song "My Perfect Cousin" tells the story of the narrator's cousin named Kevin. The narrator describes Kevin as a perfect and ideal person in the eyes of their family. Kevin is always clean, neat, and well-dressed, wearing an expensive sheepskin jacket. He is praised by their mother and considered the pride and joy of the family. However, the narrator feels different from Kevin. They do not share the same interests or hobbies. Kevin excels academically, having degrees in economics, maths, physics, and bionics. In contrast, the narrator dislikes university challenges and feels inferior to Kevin's intellectual abilities. Kevin's intelligence and accomplishments also make the narrator feel inadequate. Kevin consistently outshines the narrator in activities like playing Subbuteo, a tabletop football game. The narrator admires Kevin's skills but feels frustrated and inferior. The song also highlights Kevin's obsession with himself. His mother buys him a synthesizer, and he joins art school boys, making loud music and rejecting the attention of girls who try to impress him. Kevin's self-centeredness and narcissism contribute to the narrator's frustration. Overall, "My Perfect Cousin" is a playful and ironic song that explores feelings of jealousy, comparison, and insecurity. The narrator admires Kevin's achievements but feels overshadowed by his cousin's perfection.
