Blog 9/23 – English 2100 x 90: Fall 2020

“Thunder” by Imagine Dragons

0:02-0:16- people are walking around; it’s black and white
0:18- three streaks of light fall from the sky
0:23- Dan Reynolds (lead singer) starts singing
0:25- there is an alien-like guy standing next to Dan; his eyes are white and his face is sculpted in a particular pattern. He is also wearing an unusual outfit
0:27- another alien-like guy is shown; there are things on his face and he is a wearing an unusual black outfit
0:33- a unusual looking woman is shown; her eyes are black, she is wearing an unusual sparkly outfit and her hair is very long and a little messy
0:42-0:46- the woman and the first guy start looking around
0:47- the second guy starts dancing in the middle of sheep
0:50- Dan dances while the other members watch him and the other three with blank expressions
0:58-1:14- Dan and the others dance continue to dance in a particular way
1:31- the three unusual people start harmonizing in a line
1:38- the members start multiplying
1:40- the 3 unusual people dance in a peculiar way while the members keep multiplying
2:00- there are a bunch of the same cars driving down a highway; the three people are inside there
2:21- There are hundreds of the same cars on either sides of the road, emphasizing on how everything is the same
2:30- the multiplied members formed a couple of rings around the three people, while they are dancing
2:37- as the lady is dancing in the building, there are colorful fireworks going off in the background, adding some color to the black and white city
3:01- there are a bunch of the unusual people dancing on the sides of buildings, as if they took over
3:06-3:16- they all continue to dance, there are still fireworks lighting up the sky, and there are small sheep in the air

Analysis

This song is important for the band, especially for the lead singer, Dan. It is about one not conforming to society’s expectations. That’s why the they added the three peculiar dancers because they weren’t considered the “norm” of society. It is also about how the lead singer was able to achieve his goals, that other people discouraged him from. In the beginning of the song Dan sings about how people have told him to “fit the box, fit the mold”, in other words they told him to be “normal” and “ordinary”. He was told not to dream too big. In the second part of the song he sings about how he was actually able to achieve his goals, despite the challenges and hardships he had to face along the way. One particular part that stuck out to me was when he said, “Kids were laughing in my classes/While I was scheming for the masses…Now i’m smiling from the stage while/You were clapping in the nose bleed”. These lines speak out to me because of how powerful his message is. Despite people making fun of him, he still went to achieve his goals, and when he did his haters would watch him on stage.

The genre for this song is pop, but the band is considered to be rock. They intended this song for all audiences. They may have specifically wanted to reach out to those people who have big dreams, but may have things holding them back, whether that’s other people or themselves. They want people to understand that it’s okay to reach for your goals and that not everyone has to fit to the society’s norms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKopy74weus

ATM – J. COLE

0:00-0:39

Children riding on a platform of drugs, pills and money through the distorted clouds reaching for something. Chains connecting these entranced children by a lost king flying drugged through this same space of clouds, draped in gold and on top of a gold chair. The throne in fact connects to a dollar bill, and the children are chasing after the dollar bill in the air.

0:40-0:54

Cole sits in a room with bright colors and unconventionally angled geometric shapes. He wears a track suit with chains and brightly colored clothes and fancy glasses while counting stacks of money and having a female by his side. Money bags and wads of cash are thrown throughout the room piling up, almost disregarded.

0:55-0:59

Cole is in a straight jacket, trapped within a room encased with cash everywhere. His movements are ecstatic and erratic which continues throughout the video.

1:17-1:24

Cole reaches into one of the money bags only to see a comically smaller J. Cole counting the money and then attacking the larger iteration of himself. Most likely showing how self harming these life practices of focusing on money can be.

1:30- 1:46

Children smash the window and chase J Cole and the unnamed objectified female partner out of the room, to trespass and smother themselves in taking his money, all with entranced drugged faces. The children look almost to be animals with how they move.

1:55-2:25

We see Cole in a gambling poker like casino scenario gambling his life away. He continuously gambles all he has left. We see everyone at the table with ridiculously colorful and outlandish outfits similar to his to show the comedic style of the rich. While also displaying neon signs in the background often used to coerce people into indulging in such businesses.

2:29-2:36

We now see many adults on the street looking up at the sky also in a trance, with their eyes colorfully swirling in a cartoony manner, gazing at the sky. They begin to float to the sky.

2:49-4:25

At a used car sale they attempt to buy a new car, however the price is said to be outrageously high. Reaching into the bag it is empty, and so he quite literally cost him an “arm and a leg,” following the phrase and pulling his limbs off to barter for the car. Regrettingly shaking his hand he takes the car into the road and into that same sky, eventually falling and crashing, losing his life.

Analysis

The video’s genre is the genre of hip hop/rap with elements of trap infused to mimic the current state of mind of many rappers and kids in general battle within this lifetime. This chasing the next Euphoria mind state of money and drugs holding indescribable power within our lives, distorting our natural sense of balance and reality. Its intended audience is exactly who it speaks about, the lost kids who lost their life to money and drugs driving them, selling weed to make their racks stack faster, as their minds grow to dissociate from reality. It’s a change seen within the younger generations today that Cole notes as almost subtle and exhibits through his mannerisms within the music video. The historical message is deep rooted within the way that society has monopolized on manipulating the masses to this ideology of wanting to feel good all the time and seek wealth. From what is taught in classrooms to what is forced down our throats, we live in a “feel good,’ society that cares only to please one’s desires constantly. This is even further perpetuated within the lives of rappers and kids from the hood, all attempting to escape their nasty realities, believing money and drugs is the way to do so, thus losing their touch with reality. Cole goes in depth as well by even showing how far a person will go for attaining the luxuries or the “look,” of wealth, even losing a limb for it, to symbolize this as an extremely self destructive lifestyle.

BTS – Spring Day

BTS’s music video ‘Spring Day’ is a commemoration of the lives lost due to the Sewol Ferry incident.

(0:10-0:35) – The beginning scene of ‘Spring Day’ features one of the members named Taehyung (or V) placing his head on the snowy train tracks. This scene shows that Taehyung is acknowledging the survivor’s guilt, this guilt of being alive rather than being dead like their loved ones.

(0:40-0:43)- In this scene, Jungkook is reminiscing about his friends who have died.

(0:44-0:49)- Jimin went back to the ocean to think about those who passed. This is where the song begins and the first lyrics being sung is “miss you”.

(0:55-1:02)- In this scene, RM is surrounded by abandoned suitcases which represents the students who went to the ferry with all their belongings but never returned. According to reports of the incident, the captain instructed the students to stay put instead of evacuating from the sinking ship. As a result, most of the students drowned while the captain and the staff members evacuated from the scene. The Korean government received a lot of backlash in how they dealt with the incident, the media did not fully report the truth and most families did not receive the assurance that they needed.

(1:11) – RM is going to the back of the train and says “My heart is running on the time alone on the Snowpiercer.” RM refers to the Korean movie ‘Snowpiercer’, where the setting of the movie is on a train symbolizing human society; the ‘front’ of the train meant for the upper class and government officials while the ‘tail’ of the train is composed of the working class. The movie creates a parallel to our human society by showing how the wealthy treats the working people harshly. Similarly, RM exposes the harsh society where the students who drowned were oppressed by the authorities. Furthermore, in the movie ‘Snowpiercer’ one person built the courage to face the injustice and started to go in front of the train, similarly, RM is seen doing the same.

(1:08-1:13) – RM is running to some sort of motel called ‘Omelas’ and right underneath there is a neon sign saying ‘no vacancy.’ Omelas is a fictional place from the book ‘The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas.” This fictional piece involves a Utopian society where happiness and prosperity is dependent on someone else’s sufferings. The 2 members, Jhope and Suga, are standing next to the ‘no vacancy’ sign to show that Omelas has a large population.

(1:15-1:20)- RM is going to the ‘front’ of the train to symbolize the fight for justice.

(1:23-1:30)- This scene is contradictory to it’s meaning. BTS is in this celebratory state, such as Jhope throwing the cake at RM, when in actuality this scene represents the attacks one receives from seeking justice similar to how society/government reacts when one is trying to confront injustice. (One example in American society: police brutality)

(1:32- 1:40) – All the other members, besides Jin, are going up the stairs. Jin represents the ones who have died due to the accident. He is at the bottom of the stairs watching the others climbing up and growing up unable to live life with them.

(1:43-1:47) – This scene shows Jungkook in front of a worn down Merry-Go-Round which symbolizes a loss of childhood. The lyrics keep saying “I miss you, I miss you.”

(2:00-2:12) – These collective scenes shows the daily lives of the survivors. The lyrics captures the empty feelings of the survivors, “how many sleepless nights do I have to spend to see you” as well as counting the days they can see their loved ones “until the days of the spring”.

(2:19) – Jimin picking up the shoes of a survivor of the Sewol ferry accident that washed up on shore

(2:31-2:35) – There is a note on the dryer that says “Don’t Forget” which are the pleadings of survivors who are telling others to not forget the people who died even though society is telling them otherwise.

(2:38-2:53) – Suga is on top of this enormous pile of clothing. This mountain of clothing is an artwork created by Christian Boltanski. The clothes represents the souls lost and the ‘souls’ of the clothes who went to a ‘higher place.’ Suga raps, “Yes I hate you, you left me but I never stopped think about you”, he raps from a survivor’s perspective.

(3:16) – Lights of the Merry-Go-Round lights up symbolizing the realization that it is the boy’s duties to fight for justice. The yellow ribbons of the Merry-Go-Round is alike to the Sewol Ferry Yellow Ribbon Campain.

(3:30-3:45) – Jungkook is following RM’s path in seeking justice along with the other members.

(3:47-3:55) – As the train goes past, this scene symbolizes that what is done is done. No matter how far you are in seeking justice, the dead will not come back to life.

(3:59-4:05)- Jungkook is playing with a match stick, when he strikes the match stick the other members are around him. This scene conveys that as long as we remember the death they will forever live in our memories. This scene refers to the fairy tale “Little Match Girl” where a girl lights up a match to see her dead loved ones.

(4:39- 4:43) – Jimin breaking free from the oppressive society which is symbolized by the train and ushering us to follow him

(5:00- 5:10) – tree of life and brand new spring day

(5:20) – shoes are hung on the tree to commemorate those who have passed away.

You Need to Calm Down

A music video that speaks to me is “You Need to Calm Down” by Taylor Swift. The music video begins with Taylor Swift waking up in her trailer home, but it is decorated in a very glamours way. At the 0:26 second mark, Swift throws her phone onto her bed and it lights on fire. This stood out to me because it shows how Swift no longer cares what the media says about her. Even though people have their own opinion of her and voice it on the internet, she could care less. This is part of the message of the video, to not care about what others think about you. This message is reinforced again in the video at the 1:10 mark. Here, a man is dancing like no one is watching. He does not care if his neighbors look on, he is dancing for himself.

Then at the 1:30 mark, a gay couple is getting married in front of their loved ones. They do not care that second prior there were people holding up hate signs. The couple is getting married because they love one another, not because they need approval from society. These protestors with hate signs are seen again at 2:12, but none of the characters even look at them. They are too busy celebrating themselves and working on their tans. Both of these scenes in the video have a historical connection. It was not until recently that gay marriages were legalized in the United States. Despite the fact that gay couples can be married, there are still Americans who boycott this right and believe marriage should solely be between a man and woman.

At the 3:19 mark, Swift is seen with fellow artist Katy Perry. This element represents a historical context. It was always said in the media that there was a feud between Swift and Perry because Perry stole her back up dancers for a tour. By including Perry in her video, Swift showed that there is no feud. Instead, they are dressed up as French fries and a cheeseburger. The two embraced in the video and are surrounded by a heart, showing that they love one another. Perry’s incorporation into the video furthers the message too. The two do not care what others think about them or the rumors that are being spread, in the end they are friends.

Reflecting back on the video, the genre would be satire. It uses sarcasm and irony in order to expose other people. In particular, Swift is exposing members of the media and the general public who believes rumors that are being spread about her. In addition, Swift is exposing people who do not support gay marriage. The intended audience for this video would be known people who have an issue with Swift, such as Kanye West. He is being told to “calm down”. People who criticize Swift are also part of the intended audience. She wants them to know that she does not care what they have to say about her.

Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkk9gvTmCXY

THE ARK- The Light

(0:03-0:13) The music video starts off with a teenage girl in school uniform coming across a store and sees a book bag that she wants, but her mom pointed out that her book bag can still be used. Based on the girl’s reaction.

0:23 shows the mom’s affection to her teenage daughter by bringing milk to her in the morning and then kissing her forehead.

(0:26) At this point of the video, it can be concluded that the main character is in a single parent household, since the mom is the only one seen preparing breakfast for her daughter and no one else in their home.

0:28 shows a chaotic morning for the mother, she’s preparing breakfast with two stoves, as well as packing lunch for her daughter (0:31).

(0:35-0:38) Even though the girl was gently smacked on her hand for trying to take one of the kimbaps, her mom still smiled gently seeing her daughter happy from the food.

(0:38-0:45) The girl is seen to be looking for her matching set of joggers. Upon finding that her mom mistakenly wore her pants, she became frustrated and mad at her mom.

(0:47)The mom is seen folding a sweater for her daughter and putting it in her orange backpack, she notices how old her bag was.

0:54-0:57 is when we first see the mom actually taking care of herself and putting on makeup, but then rushed by her daughter.

At 1:04-1:12, we can see how the mother holds her daughter’s arm and was shook off, but she still smiled gently. Her daughter was joking with her, and they both seem to enjoy starting the day off with each other. Being the mother that she is, the mom constantly looks after her daughter by tidying her daughter’s appearance.

1:22-1:25 shows the lively daughter waving her goodbye as she headed off to her bus, and she reminds her mom to smile.

(1:33-1:48) The daughter is on a coach bus with her classmates and it seems like they are heading on a trip. The daughter is playing games and having fun with her classmates, in contrast to the next scene where the mom is working as a waitress and causes a lid of a dish to fall.

(1:53-2:08) While working, the mom comes across a news report on a car accident, she discovers that her daughter was in it and is gone .

(2:09) The music video goes back to the store from the first scene, the mom looks at the bag that her daughter wanted.

(2:19-2:35) The day starts off just like any usual morning for the mom, except that her daughter is gone. She drank her milk like usual and prepared her breakfast. She had bought the bag from the store and can be seen preparing food to visit her daughter.

(2:39) She looked into the mirror and reminded herself to smile, just as her daughter told her to before she left.

(2:59) The mother walks dreadfully with a suitcase full of food for her deceased daughter while facing the sunlight.

At 3:06, it can be seen that the mother organized food for her passed daughter at what seems like a highway.

(3:11-3:31) The mother hugs the backpack and flashes back memories of the time when her daughter was still alive.

The is a narrative music story that is attended for everyone. The storyline is about a selfless mother’s love for her child. The emotions in the storyline can be applied to not just family, but also friends, lovers. The mother is like most other mothers in the world, preparing meals for her child, caring for her child, and more. The music video resonated with me in that my mom also cares for me by working hard to provide for the family and that she selflessly gives us attention and care. When getting ready in the morning, the mom is the one making breakfast, preparing her daughter’s lunch, and folding her daughter’s clothes. Throughout the whole music video, the only thing the mom did for herself was the scene where she was putting on makeup. The video gives a message for people to be thankful for the little things in our daily lives, it is so common that we tend to forget it. The video portrays a simple, yet resounding message the the public can relate to. It shows how everyday life is full of love, but this lifestyle can disappear one day, whether it is accidents or growing up. It teaches one to cherish what they have now and give back the things they receive.

Team – Lorde

0:00-0:18 The video opens up with a view of the water, then goes to focus on a person tied up in a boat with his head covered. Then we get a close up of their destination, a place of ruins. They head towards the decaying community.

0:19-0:21 Now we see our Queen Bee, the ruler. (Queen Bee is mentioned in Lorde’s most famous song, Royals, it is a nickname she gave herself. Here in this music video we see the real Queen Bee.)

0:22-0:34 The community prepares for the arrival of the mysterious person with the sack on his head. Giving a direct look at their home/the place of ruins.

0:35-0:54 Queen Bee (Lorde) sings about the fascinating luxuries her ladies are entitled to. Teenagers sit around her, they live uncomfortably but they are free from society.

1:02-1:10 New kid arrives, he shows no fear, no resistance.

1:16-1:48 New kid wanders, he looks at this community, one that looks as if it is falling apart, but it’s thriving inside. Graffiti covers the walls, the walls are falling down. His tour guide has a limp, the new kid is confused but then two kids catch his attention as they are talking to each other. They have no judgement, they are living freely within this community, as is his tour guide. They’re happy.

2:05-3:05 The boy is quickly assimilated into the society of lost children. With such little communication the sense of freedom from society is soaring throughout this community. The teenagers communicate with hand signs and looks, showing that they truly know how to run things. Teenagers are capable of far much more than given credit for. The new kid is made to partake in what looks to be a test involving motorbikes. Uncertain of the aim of the test, as he tumbles off the bike and comes up bleeding, he has a smile on his face. No judgement insight, just a team.

3:06-3:18 The group carried the injured boy to the Queen Bee, this all is alluding to the initiation and hierarchy that Lorde is trying to portray in this “land of misfit toys” type of situation.

This bittersweet, dreamy track by one of my favorite artists really speaks about the way that not everything in life is picture perfect. The genre for this is Alternative Electricpop, which is a really good way to sum up most of Lordes discography. Lordes intended audience is extremely specific, she writes her music for teenagers and young adults, and she has said this multiple times. The context of this song was for kids who come from small cities that they love but they are desperate to leave. Mostly because these cities aren’t ones portrayed in mainstream media. Coming from a small city, somewhere that feels unimportant, you just wanna get out of there and that’s the main reason I love Lorde’s music so much. Her other songs such as 400 Lux, Royals, and mostly her whole genius album Pure Heroine touches up on this subject. The message seems to be summed up pretty well in: “We live in cities you’ll never see on screen. Not very pretty but we sure know how to run free. Livin’ in ruins of the palace within my dreams. And you know we’re on each other’s team.” This implies some disconnect with the rest of the world, and a unity between everyone. Alluding to the fact that we have the freedom to create our own life and not blindly follow instructions. Love your thoughts, out loud. Figure out all of the things you are capable of. Teenagers are capable of far much more than given credit for. Even creating a community that goes against societal norms, where everyone is free. Lorde shows teenagers in their own world, a world with hierarchies and initiations. This video seems a little like “Lord of the Flies” to me, but without the chaos and much more unity. Depicting a kind of broken Neverland, but it only seems broken because it isn’t something you’d watch on netflix.

Run – Joji

VIDEO:

0:00- 0:16 – Joji wakes up on a limousine confused, starting to stumble around

0:16-0:28- He starts walking through the limousine stumbling, people are drinking and talking to each other, ignoring the fact that he exists.

0:30 – He is laying on the dry cracked ground, and as he is singing about his past relationship his skin begins to crack like the ground.

0:40-0:55- Joji starts to pick up his pace and is realizing that the limousine seems endless, he continues to pass people that seem to be enjoying their time.

1:05- The people on the limousine start to acknowledge his presence but are grabbing at him and laughing at him. As he is running through this endless limo he sings “I know that I’m stuck in this misery”

1:15 – Frame back to him on the dirt, his skin forming more and more cracks as he chooses to “run”

1:30 – As he runs through the people repeat themselves, it’s like he is running through a never-ending loop. The people on the limousine now start to grab at him and pull him back, trying not to let him continue through the limo but Joji is able to escape their grips and continues on.

1:45-1:54 – The aspect on the limo now seem to get more complex, rather than the same scene a hot tub now appears in the aisle and once he climbs through it he passes shrubbery that looks forest like inside the limo with things grabbing onto him

2:05-2:20- The little limo hallway begins to spin challenging his run through it even further, it then stops and he is now running without any barriers, there is no one else on the limo just him running and running

2:20- Another cut of him on the ground, his skin now very cracked

2:29-2:40- It seems that Joji has approached the end of this limo as we see a very bright light, he begins to stumble towards it while we see flashbacks of his journey through this limo between cuts of him getting closer and closer to the white light

2:42 Joji is suddenly in a room with the passengers of the limo circling him like large looming god figures.

2:49-2:55- Joji begins to hit at the white bright light and it begins to break like a tv screen would, but he is hitting it and hitting it trying to shatter it.

2:57 – Cut to Joji now running on a barren looking planet which is what he was previously laying on when his skin was cracking.

3:14- Joji finally breaks through this screen, it shatters like glass, the song itself ending.

3:21-3:26 – Joji is seen running through this barren area, and slowly you hear an overhead voice telling him to wake up

3:27- Joji wakes up in a spacecraft setting, with the wake-up voice still heard in the background

3:53 – He walks around the spacecraft and grabs what looks like an itinerary sheet and the wake-up voice is still present along with some sort of machine noise.

4:05 – The voice is now repeating please hold as he looks at the image of a car on what looks like the place where he was running outside.

4:23-4:35 – The voice continues to repeat wake up as the camera pans out on Joji standing in the middle of the spacecraft, and the video ends.

In order to fully understand the song and the video, one has to take a look at Joji’s past. He started off his career in the entertainment industry as a YouTuber known by FilthyFrankTV, and as he garnered popularity, began to make music side projects that differed to his content. Eventually, when he had a sizable audience he wanted to pursue his true passion, music, leaving one industry that he began to feel burnt out it and entering a new one full of its own complexes. Run is a music video that could be placed into a multiverse, carrying aspects and “Easter eggs” to previous videos which is a concept he had in his YouTube videos. The song itself is about a relationship that he cannot forget and how he still has feelings for his ex but knows she doesn’t feel the same. I feel like the whole never-ending limo concept is him trying to show how he is trying to run from his feelings and thoughts but can never escape them. I think that the people in the limo have more to do with his career rather than the woman who the song is about. As a fan of his from the YouTube days, I know that many of his YouTube fans feel like they were abandoned by him and constantly criticize his emergence into the music industry, so I feel like those people in the limo trying to pull him backward signify that. He is running from multiple problems but can’t seem to get too far, until he reaches the screen that he begins to break, maybe like breaking through the constraints of his thoughts. When he wakes up in the shuttle ( which is from a previous music video ) it’s like he woke up from a bad dream, but now he is all alone. With the voice in the background constantly telling him to wake up and the machinery noise, it’s like he is in a coma in a hospital with someone telling him to wake up but Joji doesn’t seem to realize that. Overall I think this song and music video is trying to show him fighting and escaping all of his struggles trying to find peace with himself, but having to go through multiple stages of acknowledging everything that he feels.

The Bigger Picture-Lil Baby

Aaron Amirian

Professor Glick

English 2100

17 September 2020

The Bigger Picture

The opening scene is of people marching through the streets rallying for black lives and fighting for their beliefs
0:02 people carrying posters that say “say their names” to show the issue of police brutality and unequal treatment toward the black minority group
0:06 little girl looking sad showing her poster that says “stop racism across the world”
Overall series mood to the video
They look like they are going into war and they are, but this war is against racism in this country
0:10 shows news of rallying and people fighting, burning buildings, mobs destroying things
Voices protests in minneapolis protesting as demonstrators were lashed by tear gas
Before any actual singing or rapping begins, the video start off with those lines, bringing up the continued police brutality that was used on people protesting
0:20 “they want to see those officers involved arrested” while people are marching with megaphones standing up for their basic freedoms
0:25 “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe” a slogan used to portray the horrid acts done onto george floyd as he was murdered by police, by placing their knee on his neck till he passed out and died
0:36 News clips of things burning and everything falling apart
He wear a mask that says “no peace no justice”
1:04 Him and a bunch of people holding their arms up as they rally
1:15 people tipping over and massacring a police car
1:23 women holds defund the police sign
Through all these parts the people look distraught as they going to let this horrid behavior continue
1:30 Black women hugs black child as though to show him not to be scared of all cops
This is illustrating how these action done by police onto the black minority group has struck fear into the hearts of them and their children
1:50 White women crying holden poster as she stands with black people
2:25 New post “6th day of protest” burning buildings and cars
Continued showing of him singing with a small black girl looking into the camera conveying he fear and sadness to see these things going on to her people and to the world
2:45 Police wearing riot shield equipment and beating black people that are protesting showing that the problem is still present and there is a lot more work to be done before they can stop fighting.
2:49 Women and her partner hold up sign that says “#Breonna Taylor, #Say Her Name, #Black Lives Matter, #PERIOD!!!”
The black community and the world is outraged and devastated by the killings of Brionna Taylor, George Floyd, and many others that were wrongfully killed by the police due to their skin color
3:04 Graphic content of an officer beating a white man that is rallying
Rallying is his right as an American according to the constitution and it the police’s responsibility to be way more respectful of their constitutional right
The passion in the eyes of the people of this video shows that they did not do it for the money
Each and every person in this video looked as though they truly cares for the cause
They looked distraught from everything that is going on and they just seem to want to have equal rights and be treated the same as every other person
3:30 “Why people die for us to be free”-Lil Baby is expressing that people fought and died so that black people could be treated equally so why are they not treated equally by the police
This video is beautiful and struck deep with me as it really portrayed how tough it is to be black in america and totally addresses the problem of police brutality
As an artist Lil Baby has a tremendous platform and its very formidable and brave of him to put his artistry on the line to fight for his beliefs
The blatant disregard for the lives of black people is recognized by many people in this country and this video is a direct representation of their frustration as it illustrated

The Bigger Picture.

Eminem-Stan by Vlad S

^^ I think, for me at least, the uncensored version of this gives the listener a better understanding of what Eminem is not only saying, but thinking.

Just to get things straight… Stan is a fictional character who Eminem created. Stan is a portrayal of an obsessed fan who will do literally anything to meet their idol. Stan has a mix of the crazy thoughts and experiences Eminem had about his idols growing up. These thoughts and motives generated from Eminem growing up with a lot of hate from peers around him, not to mention his dad leaving him when he was only six months old and his mom being an alcoholic who never showed him any attention. Eminem is very humble here and knows what it is like to come from nothing and then have everyone want to be your friend. Eminem’s story is very deep and can teach you many things. He gets away with a lot of the things he says due to his reputation and the fact this story was told 20 years ago. Eminem is scarred and emotionally messed up in many ways but this is what makes him one of the best rappers and lyricists of all time.

0:30 – Stan is dying his hair blonde in the bathroom on a rainy night as his pregnant girlfriend walks in. She does not approve of him going to such depths just to look like his favorite rapper. Her backlash causes Stan to get angry and rush out of the bathroom.

1:50 – Stan heads down to his basement where he has posters and different records of Eminem all over his wall. He starts writing a letter to Eminem. This isn’t the first letter Stan is writing though; Stan thinks his other letters either got lost in the mail or Eminem was too lazy to read them. Stan starts talking about how he is giving his daughter the same name that Eminem’s daughter has. He continues to prove in detail how he is Eminem’s biggest fan.

2:10 – There is a consecutive chorus throughout the song of Eminem’s girlfriend, Kim, which contributes well to the melody.

2:45- Stan continues to aggressively write about how Eminem ignored Stan at the concert and made him wait outside in the cold to get an autograph for his brother, but Eminem ignored them.

3:10 – Stan even goes as far to say that he cares more about Eminem than his actual girlfriend. To justify this Stan cuts out a portrait of Eminem and puts it over a picture of Kim. Stan says she doesn’t understand how they are different from everyone else.

3:50 – Stan catches his girlfriend looking through his letters that he is going to send Eminem from his basement. Stan gets furious about this and decides that he does not need her and only wants to meet Eminem. Stan, then, takes his pregnant girlfriend and shoves her in the trunk of his car as he drives away and tries to send a message to Eminem over the radio about what he has become.

4: 10 – Stan, in deep agony, tells Eminem that everyone of Stan’s decisions up to this point in his life was due to him. Stan tries making Eminem feel bad by telling him he is going to crash his car into a bridge and end his mental pain.

4:40- Stan and his wife are dead from the crash into the water off of the bridge.

4:55- Eminem finally receives Stan’s mail and tells him how he meant to write him sooner. He is glad he is having a daughter and tells Stan he is sending his brother an autograph. Eminem says he is deeply sorry and never saw Stan at the concert. Eminem can tell Stan is going through severe mental challenges inside his head and recommends he gets some help but that he would love to meet him one day. Eminem says for Stan to calm down and appreciate what he has in life.

5:50 – Eminem hears about the car crash on the news and finally realizes it was Stan and that he is dead. It’s too late…

This song isn’t the typical song Eminem would make but rather shows his abilities as a lyricist. The song is not a rap really but is made by a rapper and more importantly just tells a very deep message. There is no specific genre.

The audience meant for this song is pretty much any person with an idol who they love. It is meant to teach them about what obsession can lead to.

This song doesn’t have any real historical context but it shows the audience the sort of social relationship they can have, or rather should not have with their idol.

Eminem is trying to teach us the importance of loving what you already have as well as understanding that deep down everyone is the same human being who needs to be able to live their life. Eminem can’t individually talk to everyone of his fans but is trying to show them how, in spirit, he is there to help them with the story telling in his songs.

She Knows J. Cole

0:10 The video begins with a zoom in of a lower middle class neighborhood where Kyle lives
0:25 Kyle can be seen stealing money from his mother’s sock drawer while his father calls for him
1:00 Kyle and his mother drive silently on the ride to school
1:10 Kyle’s mother looks in the rearview mirror after dropping him off at school, making eye contact with him while he stands at the gate
1:15 Kyle’s somber expression changes as soon as he sees his friend
1:35 Kyle and his friend skip school and skate to a deli
2:15 Kyle and his friend share a joint, drink a 40 malt, skate, and have a relaxing time together
2:45 A cop catches them chilling at a skate park and chases them on foot
3:00 Kyle’s bag gets caught on the fence but he leaves it behind
3:25 Kyle and his friend walk back home
3:40 Kyle walks in on his mother and J. Cole in bed together
3:50 Kyle runs from home and his friend follows alongside him, with no explanation
4:07 Although Kyle angrily pushes his friend off, he stays by his side and they walk together back to school
4:40 They part their ways with a special handshake
4:45 Kyle gets into the backseat of his father’s car and they drive home together
5:10 As Kyle’s father is reciting grace at the dinner table, he angrily glares at his mother. Kyle’s father can sense the tension but says nothing.
5:35 The video ends with a zoom out of the neighborhood

The genre of this music video is modern American rap. The video was created based on J. Cole’s personal experience; he experienced the same thing that Kyle did. Through the video, we can see Kyle skipping school, running from the cops, and catching his mom with another man at home. This video always stuck with me through the years because of the message, “she knows, but he knows too”. Kyle’s mother knows that he hadn’t gone to school that day, yet she didn’t snitch on him. Kyle caught his mother cheating on his dad, yet he didn’t snitch on her. In both cases, the father should have been told what had happened. It can be seen that he works hard for his family, and it’s disrespectful that neither Kyle or his mom is telling the truth. During the dinner table scene, it seems as if the father does know that the mother is cheating on him and that he knows that Kyle knows as well.