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now from the top, make it drop
I have very few words to say about the literal meaning of this song, however, I have tons to say about what it means in modern culture and society. Yes, I am talking about the Hoe Anthem of 2020: WAP by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.
Besides the explicit lyrics and sexual innuendos, WAP has proven to be an a internet phenomenon due the popular TikTok challenge made for song as well as the star-filled MV. Check out the MV below and a compilation of the TikTok dance challenge as well (Warning: Don’t try at home if you have back problems)
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I should probably warn you, if you haven’t seen the MV, it is pretty explicit as well. But you probably already have seen it. I have to admit, even though I live during a time where music and women are very sexualized in pop culture, I still get a little shy whenever I hear a word like “pussy” or any sexual reference as a matter of fact. Then, I realized... why is it normal for me to hear male artists rapping about sex, and then when I hear women doing the same thing.. it seems so raunchy or explicit. I thought to myself: Am I sexist?
I realized that I was experiencing a concept that was larger than myself. The idea of women speaking about sex isn’t wrong, it is just uncomfortable for some people to hear for some damn reason. Why? Historically speaking, women talking about their sexual preferences just wasn’t a thing. Actually, women talking about anything wasn’t a thing.
Whether it was through their voice, music, writing, or their vote, at every level, women were always at a disadvantage. Take the Broadway musical, Hamilton, during the song “Aaron Burr, Sir”, the character Hercules Mulligan literally talks about how “its hard to have sex over four sets of corsets” Obviously, he did not say that in reality, but the concept of having men talk about sex flowed more naturally than having their female counterparts even mention anything remotely close, especially during that time period.
It is larger problem in which women in the music industry are labelled differently depending on what they do or what they say in their music. You don’t consider Cardi B as a sentimental singer, you consider her as more of a badass or raunchy rapper. I’m not saying that she isn’t, but she is portrayed differently even when she talks about things that male singers mention millions of times in their songs. To name a few: Chris Brown, Drake, Tory Lanez, etc. When guys do it, its considered a good song, but when women do it, it’s considered too explicit or slutty. **Rolls Eyes**
What are women expected to talk about in pop music? Messy breakups, experiencing heartbreak, or falling love are all more than welcome on the Hot 100 Billboard Chart. But when WAP became as big as it did, it forced people to understand that talking about “explicit” things doesn’t encompass gender. Obviously, my parents would fail to understand this song, but they understood No Guidance by Chris Brown and Drake perfectly. Again, it shows you the issue there. That’s why the screenshot below makes me that much happier:
Needless to say many heads were turned, when this song showed up on your morning run playlist or your drive home on the radio. If its uncomfortable for you to hear it, think why? Or if it isn’t “weird” to hear it, why did you skip the song? Don’t get me wrong, there are tons of songs that talk about sex but when Cardi B talks about it, it is seen differently. Imagine if Taylor Swift sang the song (LOL). Would it still be weird. Probably. How about Lil’ Wayne or Lil’ Baby or Lil’ Anything. You probably wouldn’t be shocked.
One last thing I want to highlight is the nature of implicit references vs explicit. Obviously, if you want radio play, you better make it a friendly song, but it really didn’t anything for meaning of WAP because replacing “wet ass pussy” with “wet and gushy” doesn’t do much. It just butchers the song in my opinion.
What about the children? Well, wet and gushy isn’t really solving the problem is it? You might want to question what Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles actually means before you worry about WAP. At least WAP isn’t hiding anything. Check out the MV for Watermelon Sugar and try to guess what the song actually means and check out the full review and interview here:
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Overall, the WAP era lives on as an important one in my book. People were uncomfortable. It was a social media phenomenon. People were uncomfortable because it became a social media phenomenon. But why? Because they are talking about something so straight-forwardly and that shocks everyone or because Drake isn’t singing it. Either way, it is a social issue that is portrayed through music. The image of female singers, especially rappers, have a small range in order to be considered a “good” singer without getting shit for whatever they say or do. Fuck that. Now go listen to WAP. :)
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i would leave me if i could
I do not know what shocks me more: her bald hairstyle or her ability to create awesome music. Either way, this Grammy-nominated pop singer has been a recent obsession of mine as she shed light into my life with her God-blessed album. Ashley Frangipane, or more commonly known as Halsey has been an artists I have been looking into recently, and the more I learn, the more I expect.
Halsey is originally from Edison, New Jersey (WOOO) but she traveled a long way from her hometown in order to start her music career. Born to middle-class blue collar parents, Halsey felt stuck most of her adolescent life in an endless expectation to follow a normal route to survival like her parents. Throughout her childhood, Frangipane's family moved frequently, as her parents worked many jobs.
By the time she reached her teen years, she had enrolled in six schools. In high school, she endured bullying by other students, and at 17 she attempted suicide, which led to a 17-day hospitalization. Following this, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Before she knew it, she started using recreational drugs, moved in with her “degenerate stoner” friends on Halsey Street in New York, and began to write music. The rest was history. Just kidding.
Life was tough for Halsey as she even considered prostitution at one time when stated “I remember one time I had $9 in my bank account, and bought a four-pack of Red Bull and used it to stay up overnight over the course of two or three days, because it was less dangerous to not sleep than it was to sleep somewhere random and maybe get raped or kidnapped." She described music as a “confessional therapy” in which she used her music to get her through the difficult times during her life.
The release of her first studio album, Badlands, was a metaphor of her mental state when she was only 19 years old. Every song meant something different for her and the cultivation of that album sculpted Halsey’s image for the first time in modern media.
Halsey’s big breakthrough into mainstream pop music was definitely her collaboration with the Chainsmokers on Closer. Although I’m not the biggest fan of this song in particular, I think this song finally gave Halsey the power to do whatever hell she wanted with her music because people finally took her for what she is: brilliant. Here are 3 of my favorite highlights of her career so far:
1. Of course we can’t leave out her mega-hit, “Without Me”, which took an interesting take on some of Halsey’s more public relationships, but I honestly love her boss vibes in the song in which she candidly talks about the complexity of mixing fame, love, and power within relationships. She basically says “I’m the reason you are big now, but it’s my own fault for loving you”. Check out her MV below:
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2. Her collaborations
When released with BTS on the iconic single, Boy With Luv, which was a huge dream success for both BTS fans and Halsey fans (even better for a fan of both like me). She is well known to be an awesome friend of the band and is known to be one of the few American artists to take BTS for they are: musicians. Another personal favorite of mine is the song, Eastside ft Khalid and Halsey, produced by Benny Blanco. The song is just what Halsey fans needed when it comes to her collaborations: perfection.
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3. Manic
I’ve been waiting to rant about this album. But I’ll keep it short. This album is inspired by the struggles Halsey faced with being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She makes TONS of social commentary in her songs but my favorite has to be the stuff she says about heteronormative hostility. All 16 tracks are super different from one another but they all connect to created Halsey’s identity from the moment she realized she was different. She described herself as an “unconventional child” and I think that describes this album the best in all its parts. Unconventional. It’s unconventional for people to think that someone like Halsey struggles with the things she does.
The album explores more contemporary, and rock-ish vibes with some killer collaborations as well. Some of my personal favorites are killing boys, Graveyard, and I’m Not Mad. Pitchfork explains “For Halsey, autobiography offers opportunity; her ability to translate the arc of her life—schoolyard misfit turned aspiring bohème turned Tumblr micro-celebrity turned misunderstood pop star—is among the qualities upon which she has established her career. She does well in framing some of those personal experiences as concepts..’ Check out the full review here! Also, check my favorite live performance of Graveyard:
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Overall, Halsey holds a special place in my heart because she reminds me that things are bigger than ourselves. I see her more of an artist than a musician at times due to the amount of work she puts into crafting not only her sound, but the visual design as well. Halsey has a way of making her live performances speak more than the songs themselves at times. I think that is the beauty of her music: it has dimensions. I can only expect more from her moving forward because she keeps adding more every single time. Being bipolar, dirt poor, and alone actually fueled one the greatest female artists of my times. I’m so lucky to be alive during the era of Halsey. God bless.
***ALSO CHECK OUT HER NEW BOOK RELEASED THIS WEEK CALLED: I Would Leave Me If I Could
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i grew up with this melody
Growing up, the first exposure I had to music was through an individual who still continues to amaze me today. My paternal grandfather, Ramesh Patel, grew up as a musician for most of his life. Before I discuss everything about his music, I want to give some context about my grandfather:
He grew up in a small village in Pij, Gujarat in the 1940s. We do not know his exact birthday or location of birth because he was born during the repercussions of the Partition of 1946. If you don’t know much about the Partition, just know that a lot of families were separated as a result of the territorial battles and policy changes (Thanks Britain) As a result, my grandfather grew up with adoptive parents in Pij along with 3 other siblings. It probably goes without saying, but my grandfather grew up very poor and in extreme poverty. For most of his adolescent life, he ran a paper route and worked on a farm.
Flash forward to 10 years later, he was arranged married to my grandmother at the age of 26 and had 3 kids, including my dad. The End. Just Kidding.
Why I gave my grandfather’s life story? Because his experience provided the foundation for his music. From hearing his experiences, he could have became a pessimistic and bitter person, but music was his “saving grace” as he described it as the only thing that gave him peace at times. I asked him why he chose singing? His answer was very practical as he literally said “it was free, I didn’t have money to buy an instrument, I didn’t even have enough money to feed myself at times”
I did an awkward half-laugh as my heart ached at that thought, but I’m glad he had a release through singing at least. My next question was about the type of music he listened to and what he eventually began to sing and produce? He answered that he “listened to traditional hymns for most of his adolescent life. That was the only thing really available for me to hear. It was either sung live at the temple, or their was a small radio at the farm where I worked where they constantly played the Gayatri Mantra”
Even I know what the Gayatri Mantra is and it is VERY long to say the least. It’s sang on several occasions, but morning prayer routines are most common in the Gujarat culture. My grandfather recalled the time where he was chosen to sing as the lead singer/prayer at his local temple (which is renovated below today):
He continued to cite his journey as he “grew older and had more money, I bought a cassette player for the house and started singing all the time to whatever was on the tapes. I started formally singing at the temple and produced many religious songs/covers as a translator and a lyricist”
I continued to discuss religion with him because I know that religious music was his first encounter with music. He explained that “Of course religion played a big part in my life, but it was also the only thing that I was exposed to while I was a kid. When singers like Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle started getting popular, I got a lot requests from families to perform at their events.”
***Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle are both very popular playback singers in India. Check out Mangeshkar’s hits here!
Knowing my grandfather, he never really performed for our family officially. He mostly sang around the house and when the TV was on, he would sing along. So I asked him the following question: Why have you never performed for any of our family member’s occasions?
He replied:
“I’ve always believed that my music was for God to hear and judge. I didn’t want to sing officially anywhere other than the temple because that is where I felt the most comfortable singing. There isn’t any other reason really. I just wanted to sing in front of God and if people wanted to listen to me, they can come to the temple.”
Don’t get me wrong, he is quite the performer unofficially, I can recall countless times where he sang songs for me while were driving or walking. I think singing and music means something different to him in general. It reminds him of his childhood and correlates to his relationship with God. Although I can’t get him to actually perform for the sake of this post, here are some of my grandad’s top picks to sing (non-religious/more recent):
1. Bol Do Na Zara by Armaan Malik
2. Aap Ki Ankhon Me Kuch by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar
3. Tum Hi Ho by Arjit Singh
Lastly, I talked to him about what music means to him and why he continues to sing/playback sing today?
He replied:
“Brings me back to happy moments, makes me think about God, and I find peace knowing that I have my devotion to music and I can still sing whenever I feel like it”
My grandfather works at a temple in Gujarat, India where he is serves as a part-time playback singer and works with children in a choir setting. He learned to play the piano within the past 4-5 years in order to accommodate for his teaching position as well.
In my eyes, my grandfather was probably the biggest musician in my life for my early childhood. He taught me find peace during difficult times, to express more emotions even when the world is cold, and to find happiness no matter what.
Although there was no professional development involved, my grandfather showed his musical intent throughout all of my life. He never intended to be popular, but he is definitely a hot commodity at the local temples near his old town in India. I hope I can see him live one day in the temple, but until then I leave you with my grandfather’s favorite lyric these days:
“Its dark behind, but there is light ahead” - Soorma Anthem
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let me change your life
For a very long time, I did not appreciated the power of women as artists because I always thought they were overly sexualized and poorly portrayed in media. I didn’t think that they spoke candidly about their experiences and compromised their identities for what makes money. Oh how I was sadly mistaken, for I hadn’t reached my “sweet spot” in music yet. On that faithful rainy winter night, I came across a playlist on Spotify called “Women of R&B”.
The music scene that I want to highlight in this post is the women who produce some of the best R&B music in the game. I chose this particular scene because I think people (like myself in the past) really do sleep on the talent of female R&B singers. These are singers who created a name for themselves despite of all the backlash they get for being either too “explicit” or too “bland” in the eyes of general public. They tell raw and vulnerable stories that create songs of comfort for their audience, and they enforce an important social message: WOMEN CAN SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT IF MEN CAN DO THE SAME
The playlist that I linked above has been evolving for 5 years now from when I first discovered it, and the very first song that I heard was “Yet” from Kehlani’s first full album, “You Should Be Here”. I’ve been a fan ever since and here is why: She talks about her hustle from being dirt poor to becoming the phenomenon that she is now like a stereotypical guy would talk about their rise to fame. I see it as a type of social construct in which she expresses that her difficulties were as real as any other male artists out there. Period.
As I delved into this particular niche of music, I came across legends like Jhene Aiko, Tinashe, Mahalia, Summer Walker, Queen Naija, and so many more. These people have taken over my playlists and have nudged themselves into realtime charts over the years as well. As much as they are raw and vulnerable, they can also be extreme sex icons that have led me to develop several girl crushes.
Another song that highlighted the music scene very well in more recent years is the song, Slide, by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, H.E.R. You probably won’t believe but H.E.R. was first known to be Disney’s “Next Big Thing” at the mere age of 12. She grew to be a R&B sensation for her major breakout hit such as “The Hard Place”. I think she really captures the essence of R&B music today. Check out her performance at the 2019 BET Awards:
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I think there definitely a generational division within the music scene, especially in R&B. However, I don’t think that necessarily means that the music is drastically different, rather it creates a new trend that leads to the evolution of the scene altogether. Starting early (for me at least lol), we have historical figures like Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross whose music stood for several accounts of social issues that plagued society in the 60s and 70s (*cough civil rights). Check out the classics: Diana! and The Essential Aretha Franklin
As we enter the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, we obviously have pop icons like Beyonce, Destiny’s Child, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston that really put women in R&B in a whole other league. They were regarded as true artists in the pop scene while incorporating elements of R&B. Some the highlights for me were Destiny’s Child’s second album,” The Writing’s On The Wall” and Mariah Carey’s album, “Daydream”.
The more recent years of R&B include the music that I listen to most often, but I think all the female artists prior played an important role in cultivating how R&B was portrayed as a genre and how women have that special “something” that makes the music scene that much more enticing.
An artist that I definitely want to highlight is Jhene Aiko (probably the millionth time I have mentioned her). I regard as a pioneer for modern R&B because she effortlessly sets the scene for popular R&B music today. Her most recent album, “Chilombo”, is an album dedicated to herself, both past and present. R&B female artists definitely have a sense of self which something that I admire about the scene because it gives it a structure and an identity. It is hard to describe but I can visualize each artist’s colors and aesthetic which adds to the depth of the music as well. Its also interesting to see when these artists collaborate to create a new type of music and color. Check out my favorites:
1. Change Your Life by Kehlani ft Jhene Aiko
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2. B.S by Jhene Aiko ft H.E.R
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Overall, I think that the music scene of women in R&B is special but its very permeable in the sense that new artists have chances to release music and get attention because of the genre’s trend. I also think the scene was built on true stories and the identities of women who looked for a safe haven in music. I think fans will understand when I say that it’s a movement in itself to be a women in the R&B genre. :)
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i wonder
I’ve said it once, and I‘ll say it again.. I love Shawn Mendes. The End.
Shawn Mendes’s most recent release is something that I’ve been waiting for a long time from him. Musically speaking, I can finally see his maturity as an artist as he cultivated this masterpiece known as “Wonder”. The song, “Wonder” has been described as a power ballad that lyrically explores different scenarios that Mendes imagines as shows his raw state of contemplation throughout the song.
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When I first heard this song, I was reluctant to believe that it was a Shawn Mendes track. It was so different from his past music that I had to do a double -take in order to make sure I was actually listening to him. The song has an “ethereal” vibe with classic elements of a ballad. Unlike his other lead singles like “There’s Nothin Holding Me Back” or “Stitches”, there wasn’t an acoustic guitar in the track itself which I felt was refreshing for a change. I really saw Mendes’s evolution as a singer through this song as he revealed a more of a raw and vulnerable type of music that just seemed so natural to him.
The main point of this song that I personally want to highlight is the connection between his contemplative lyrics and the track itself. In his interview with Radio.com, he explains that his new music is a manifestation of his evolution as a person. He further explains that this is the first time that he has been this reflective and self-aware in his life and that it naturally was incorporated into his music. Check out the full interview/article here!
Mendes’s new take on self-reflection is important to note in terms of this song. Besides the obvious concept of “I wonder”, he asks himself very difficult questions about deep concepts like transparency, being “fake”, and toxic masculinity. One line that I think stuck out to everyone was: “I wonder when I cry into my hands, why I’m conditioned to think it makes me less of a man..” It was sung during a time where the music had a tense atmosphere to it that amplifies the weight of the line. Then, immediately it is followed by a more fluid harmony as he sings lines relating to love which shows both his dark and light sides throughout the track.
His vocals mostly flow with the music throughout the verses and then mainly stand out during the chorus where he BELTS his lyrics behind a powerful beat behind it. I also want to mention that the the first thing you hear when the song first starts is Mendes’s layered voice that almost resembles “beautiful sirens”, I don’t mean the police sirens but the voices of the mythical sirens that live underwater. I don’t have much of an explanation as to why it sounds like sirens other than the whole nature concept that was exemplified throughout the music video. Also, the sirens could be a depiction of Mendes’s “voice” that is present in his head when he is a self-aware state as well.
I think Rolling Stone says it perfectly: ““Wonder” is a big, beating-heart anthem that starts with a soft pulse and builds to several cathartic peaks, packed with sky-high synths and pounding drums. Mendes’ lyrics are contemplative, kind, and a bit existential, repeatedly striving toward the chorus, “Right before I close my eyes/The only thing that’s on my mind/Been dreaming that you feel it, too/I wonder what it’s like to be loved by you.” Check out the full review here!
As a long-time fan, I think this song sounded very different from anything I’ve heard from him before, both lyrically and musically. He expresses something more deep than teenager love and I really appreciate the new challenge he is taking in terms of his music. In a world where love songs top charts, I think Mendes made something clear: Not everything is black and white and clear cut. Even the track shows that concept as the overlap of tense buildup and soft beats creates a plethora of gray area that Mendes interprets as a state of contemplation and wonder. One last thing, @ShawnMendes keep rocking those white tanks :)
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my feels: deluxe edition
In reality, I am not very particular or organized when it comes to maintaining a playlist. Rather, I have a HUGE playlist with pretty much every song I ever listened to. The five songs in this post reflect “my feels” for this year in particular. Ever since the pandemic hit, there has been a TON of good music that was released by my favorite artists. When I listened to these 5 songs again, I realized that they are all about love, whether it was casual, passionate, or toxic. Honestly, I didn’t pick these songs based on my personal experience but some of my favorite songs just happen to be about love, specifically toxic love.
1. “Can I” - Kehlani (ft. Tory Lanez)
This song has been on replay for me since it came out. I have always been a fan of Kehlani since her SweetSexySavage era, however, this song along with her new album, “It Was Good Until It Wasn’t” is a masterpiece. This song has a promiscuous and light beat but still has R&B elements which makes so addictive. Tory Lanez’s part also adds to the overall “chill” vibe of the song and I think this collaboration was definitely one of my favorite ones this year.
When I listen to this song, I feel the tone behind her provocative lyrics as the is very explicit to say the least. However, the song is really playful in a flirty way because it talks about how bipolar emotions that come with being in any type of relationship. Pitchfork’s review on this album describes its theme as immersion which I totally agree with. I think the way this album, as you can see with this song, talks about the emotional and physical tension in love add to the theme of immersion.
2. Diamonds - Sam Smith
This song is Sam Smith’s newly released single that I completely fell in love with over the past couple weeks. The song talks about the concept of material love that comes with certain toxic relationships, and Smith elegantly uses the phrase “My diamonds leave with you” to describe the hardships behind this type of love. The song is a classic pop song but it is different from what Smith usually does when making break-up songs. I would say it is a very literary take to the idea of a gold digger rather than more of a confrontational approach.
I love how he uses the concepts of diamonds to illustrate his feelings in the relationship. His diamonds are precious and trusted his lover with them, but he ended up taking them and abusing them. The connection between his feelings and the concept of diamonds takes a more tangible approach when talking about materialistic love. Check out the MV below:
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3. The Weekend - SZA
When I first listened to this song, I was attracted to the retro-upbeat vibe but I when I finally interpreted the song’s lyrics... I was like oh? The song talks very candidly about a girl who is sharing her lover with another woman, and how she is urging to send him back JUST for the weekend only. I was not expecting such a chill song to have a lyrical story like that but I guess it shows another dimension that exists in the complex idea of love.
This song was my first real encounter with SZA and realm of R&B artists, especially the women in the field. I fell in love with the casual vibe paired with more complex lyrics and stories behind the music. I think that paradox is really attractive when it comes to music, and no one does it better than the women.
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4. Graveyard - Halsey
This song is a classic Halsey song in my opinion, not R&B, but I love the concept of obsession and embracing the bad parts in love especially. When taking a larger look at love, some parts are really toxic if you think about it. I think Halsey does a really good job at exploring that concept and expresses her ideas really well in her live performances as well.
I also want to mention her hit single, “Without You” , as a supplementary song because both of these songs explore important themes behind love in a very classic pop music way. Although a lot of people may not like pop music, Halsey was revolutionary through her songs like “Without You” and “Nightmare” not because of the ideas, but because of the way she expresses those ideas through her lyrics and performances. Check out my favorite live performances of her below:
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5. Gangsta - Kehlani
This song was the first official song I heard from Kehlani and I discovered it through the musical soundtrack for the move, Suicide Squad. Although the movie was eh, the whole album was pretty good.. check it out here. This specific song has an evil or cynical vibe to it that is supposed to be a representation of Harley Quinn and Joker’s relationship. Sticking to the theme of toxic love, I think this song definitely shows more of a psychotic version to what humans would regard as toxic. Its partially due to the movie connection but the song itself is very unique in terms composition. Not many songs have the ability to express the acceptance of toxic love as a normal thing. You can leave it to Kehlani to say it perfectly
If I had to make an album, I definitely include these types of songs in it. The idea of love is very popular in songs for a reason. There is so many ways it can be interpreted. I always say that music belongs to the listener because a song can mean something different to everyone. Overall, this playlist shows some of my best moments in discovering music throughout the years. I think my playlist will probably evolve as I get older, but these songs are a start! :)
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without live music..I’ll be needing stitches
I have to say, the one thing that I REALLY took for granted before the pandemic was the ability to experience live music, whether it was through a livestream on my phone, a full concert, or festival. The opportunity to experience my favorite artist in a different light was something that I always pushed off. The artist’s live music that I’m going review today is one that I regret the most not being able to see in person. I vividly remember hesitating to purchase tickets with the mentality of “I’ll see him next year”... the biggest “L“I took :( However, you can take my word for it.. I WILL SEE HIM LIVE ONE DAY!
Releasing his second studio album titled, SHAWN MENDES, he embarked on his world tour in March 2019 with 105 shows attracting THOUSANDS of devoted fans from all around the world. The set list comprised of 20 songs that were mainly from his most recent album, however, he did add in the classics such as “Stitches”, “Life of the Party”, and “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back.”
*****The specific set list I’m going to review correlates with the show in Antwerp, Belgium on March 10, 2019. See the full concert video here:
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The show opens up with a dreamy VCR sequence that I think set the tone for his first song, “Lost in Japan”. The song talks about a guy’s infatuation with a girl and how he wants to simply get “lost” with her. Compared to the original track, I think the live version adds more levels of synthetic sounds which you can audibly hear when he is singing.
I honestly do not know how I feel about it because it was fairly new for Shawn to have more of an automated tone to his music. However, his killer ad-libs and flirty facial expressions make up for it (this isn’t going to be the last time I mention this lol) I think I prefer his classic sound a bit more because it fits his style as this “acoustic dreamy guy” Check out his performance at the 2018 Victoria Secret Fashion Show to see what I mean:
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Nonetheless, he shows his natural sound PLENTY in this show as he progresses to his faster paced songs. The song that stuck out to me during this point was definitely “Mutual”. He busts out his guitar and sings his heart out during this song. CLASSIC SHAWN. He engages A LOT with his fans during this song by letting them sing in his place which is classic Shawn as well. It was during this song where I realized that Shawn really loves his guitar. No I mean it. The guy was really immersed into his strings and was just vibing with his live band for a good minute I would say.
The next highlight for me was when he went to the center stage and started playing the piano. He sang “Life of the Party” and “A Little Too Much” which are both slower paced. He really connected with the audience during this part because everyone was singing and making eye contact throughout this whole medley of songs. It felt a little more intimate than the previous highlight because it felt like it was just him and his fans.
Progressing to the last section of his show, I think the last three songs had the most impact throughout the whole set. I think the songs were just so personal that the lyrics themselves convey a lot, but when you had the live band, it sounds even more powerful because the strings and drums add to the story of the song. “Mercy” and “Fix You” (Coldplay cover) both have that similar sad love song vibes but “In My Blood” was the last song and it talked candidly about Mendes’s experience with depression and anxiety. Even when singing about something so personal, you can see that EVERYONE there were having a good time. I think that encompasses what a good show is.. being able to feel, watch, and sing along with your favorite artist and fellow fans.
Overall, I think this live show sums up Mendes’s persona nicely. It was flirty, intimate, personal, and very acoustic as well. I think every Shawn Mendes fan knows that his songs are the epitome of confessional ballads and big romantic gestures. I will always appreciate his ability to say all the right things in song form.
***Also I want to note that this guy has switched SO many times between his acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, and possibly more but I’m not sure at this point. I think it is safe to say that Shawn is versatile when it comes to playing instruments and especially during his tour, it was his trademark.
Over time, he released more relevant songs to himself like “Youth” or “In My Blood” which talk about more substantial social issues among the young generation. I think I would like to see him take on more songs like that in the future because the live version would be tear-jerking in my opinion. He has the ability to move people and I think discussing topics like mental health and violence through his songs honestly feels more raw and impactful than any school assembly I’ve been to. (Take note school administrators!) Check out the Youth lyric Video below:
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Anyways, on an ending note, this live show feels like you fell in love, broke up and put back the pieces only to break again, and you learn some important life lessons... and only then do you realize it has only been 90 minutes since you started feeling this way. You can thank Shawn Mendes for that. God bless :)
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(PERSONA): who the hell am I?
I could explain to you who BTS is, but you probably already have heard of them because they show up literally everywhere. They are a 7 member Korean boyband who have proven time and time again that they are a force to be reckoned with. I have to admit, I am not an avid K-pop listener but I am a HUGE fan of BTS’s music and artistic style. They offer so much versatility as group which you can see in their most recent full-length album, “Map of the Soul: 7″
This album comprises of the second and last installment of the Map of the Soul series from BTS. The title of the album, “Map of the Soul: 7″ showcases the the number seven as their are 7 members in which they have entered their seventh year of being BTS. In their interview with Variety, they talk about the essence of the album and how came to be.
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Their previous EP, Map of the Soul: Persona, primarily served as a teaser to the complete studio album and explored the central theme of their identity both as a band and individually. There are a total of 20 tracks that consists of a mixture of solo, units, and group songs that explore several different elements of music. From old school hip-hop to marching band/drum line inspired music, BTS showcases a plethora of styles in order to tell their stories as authentically as possible. The stories behind the lyrics left me speechless and the complementary music videos tell a tale of their own. I want to highlight a couple of songs that left an impression on me when I was analyzing the lyrics and the song itself. Check out the lyrical translation of the whole album here!
***I also want to add that visual interpretation through MVs is a BIG part of BTS’s message so be sure to check out the ones I linked below!
What is interesting about BTS’s albums is that they always have an Intro song, an Interlude song, and an Outro song that serve as different moments in each individual’s personal story. This album featured aspects of human psychology such as persona, shadow, and ego that delve into the mindsets of each individual member, in this case, the rappers of the group.
This album’s Intro song, Intro: Persona, was a rap song performed by one member, RM, in which he describes the “persona” he lives with as he became a part of the biggest boy band in the world. This song is backed by a powerful guitar chord along with elements of trap and hip-hop to give the song its edgy sound. He raps about how society’s attention towards him led him to create a “mask” that serves as his identity, but he still doesn’t really know who he is and continues to search for his soul.
I think many young people can relate to this, I know I can, even as I write this post I can tell people will have some type of judgement towards my music taste, my appearance, the way I walk, etc. so I hide it.. I hide behind something that I created because judgement is scary while your still forming yourself. Before you know it, you become something that you aren’t and search for that sense of identity.
Check out the visual MV below:
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The next song I want to highlight is called, “Interlude: Shadow”, by member and producer, SUGA. This song is PACKED with meaning from the beat changes to the lyrics themselves. The song mainly talks about the pressure, anxiety, and excitement that comes with being a global star such as BTS. The song’s main line “Please don’t let me shine, don’t let me down” exemplifies the double-edged sword that comes with the job of being at the top as a head minority figure in pop culture.
I think this song is his “hot-take” on his own career and feelings which feels very natural but also surprising because I never thought that stardom could make you feel different types of emotions. I could feel the weight in his lyrics and tone because it sounded like he was begging out of desperation when he sings the chorus. The song has a darker vibe to it when the beat changes in the latter half the song that is supposed to show the sides of SUGA as well as his alter ego, AGUST D (Cue music: “I’m slim shady the real slim shady”). You can check out his mixtape here!
Also, check out the amazing MV for Interlude: Shadow as it depicts amazing visuals behind his story:
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Lastly, I want to highlight my favorite group song called “Black Swan” that is performed by all of the members and explains the “two lives” of artists in which they die their “first death” when they lose their passion in their craft. They confess about their ultimate fear of losing passion of writing and performing music as artists and the pain that comes with letting it go. I really feel this song’s story on a personal level because I think fans also fear the same thing when letting go of their favorite artists. Music is such a large part of my life and identity that it is hard to think about it leaving in a sense.
What is special about this song is that it featured a pre-release Art film that shows a modern style interpretive dance with an orchestral version of the song that adds to the overall meaning of the track visually. Check it out to see how you interpret it!
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Although I loved the entire album’s concept, the one song that surprisingly put me off was the title track, “ON”. When I first heard it I had to kind of decipher what kind of sound they were going for because it did not seem like THE title track for BTS. Usually, the title track is representative of the whole album but this song has something about it that doesn’t click for me. I think it is overdone, whether through the music video, marketing, or the song itself.
It could have been a lot better if they purely focused on the sound production instead of the visuals because the song has so much potential but it feels like they incorporated dance music for the sake of performance. I’m not too sure where this song was going but the music video looked straight out of Noah’s Arc so I’m guessing a mix of biblical and marching band-ish vibes but again, it was confusing. I only listened to this song in the beginning and it really lowered my expectations for the whole album, but thankfully the album didn’t disappoint! Although the song is eh, the MV is fire:
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Although I only featured four songs from the whole album, each song has a story to tell so I would give them all a listen. Personally, this album helped me get to know each of the member’s story, sound, and lyrical style in a deeper way than ever before.
With such a diverse album, it really is difficult to pinpoint BTS’s official sound because it honestly doesn’t seem like they have one! I think this can be a great thing because they can continue to develop their music in multiple directions. However, it surprises me that they keep evolving because the concept of BTS is such a highly regarded entity that it can put pressure on making a certain type of sound that does well, otherwise known in K-pop as “idol music” or pop music in general terms.
I think this album does its job in asking the questions: “Who am I?” and “What is my story?” BTS looked to tell their personal stories and hoped that their fans would be able to relate on some level. Targeted towards the younger generation, these songs make listeners go through tons of emotions which honestly depicts the ups and downs of life. Even though its a lot, I love it. It made me feel like I wasn’t alone when I asked that one question to myself: Who the hell am I? So thanks BTS, for making an album that makes me question my existence...in a good way. :)
#bts#jhope#suga#rm#jungkook#jimin#v#jin#map of the soul 7#persona#identity#love yourself#bts army#who am i
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do all the good girls go to hell?
Who do you call a 5-time Grammy award winning artist who is barely an adult? The answer is none other than Billie Eilish. She is an 18 year old singer-songwriter who has produced, in my opinion, some of the most influential music pieces in pop music today. I find Eilish’s music style very different from other things I hear in mainstream music and radio stations today. I found myself actually feeling scared when listening to her music because the combination of eerie melodies and hardcore beats often catches me by surprise and I have never experienced that before. For example, take her song “You Should See Me In a Crown” where the opening consists of a sound of a blade scraping or running against something. I got goosebumps when I first heard it because it is so unique to anything I had heard on Spotify’s “Today’s Top Hits”.
She is not afraid to try unconventional things in the field of pop music in order to get her point across. Also, what is even more shocking is that she is only 18 years old! I think the “brand” of music that she is creating is revolutionary for young people, but I have doubts on how long its effect is going to last. We all know that Billie is very different from other young women in the industry. She wears baggy clothes quoting from her famous Calvin Klein ad that “Nobody can have an opinion because they haven't seen what’s underneath.
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We can all agree that Billie Eiillsh is very young and accomplished. However, seeing that type of huge success at such a young age can change you over time along with your goals and direction as a musician. We’ve seen it plenty of times in mainstream media where celebrities delve into other areas in the industry after they saw initial success. In the Billie’s case, I think she knows her music style very well and has continued to change her sound gradually over time. Starting with her Soundcloud hit, “Ocean Eyes”, to her most recent song release, “my future”, you can audibly hear the difference in her sound whether it be her lyrics or the overall tone of the sound. While “Ocean Eyes” can be described as lighthearted, Billie’s most recent album, “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO!!!” explores much more darker sounds that fit pop music standards.
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It happens eventually to all artists who see mainstream success, but sometimes it isn’t just maturity that plays a role in the change. It can often be the burden that comes with being a top star which is important to musicians such as Billie when they are crafting their sound. In her annual Vanity Fair interview, you can see Billie’s demeanor and lifestyle changing and I think that it is important to see that because it can reflect in her music as well.
Billie’s break into mainstream music is significant because it changed what pop music generally consists of before. Not many alternative, rock, or indie artists that were as young as Billie ever broke into charts the way she did. Her music has already changed to include elements of classic pop music that we know, but she still is different enough that doesn’t make her entirely a pop singer. I expect Billie’s sound to change over time, but I hope she retains her signature sound that called for her success today.
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