Slow Motion by Third Eye Blind Discussion.
Slow Motion was written as a parody to the Gangster Rap genre. The song is the definition of irony. The title of a work is usually the best place to look for meaning. If one were to slow down and really examine the lyrics to the catchy beats of Gangster Rap he might not find the meaning behind most of the songs very enticing. The score’s tempo is a largo ballad because it is alluring. The music draws you in so the lyrics have time to personify into images. Contrastly, Rap music is quick and catchy; the lyrics sometimes are lost in the beat.
The line “ what a beautiful thing” follows many of the grotesque scenes described in the song. This line is ironic because bleeding noses, exploding flesh, and a man beating his wife are not beautiful things. They are the ugliest parts of society that are glorified in the Gangster Rap genre. The nonchalant mention of killing his English Teacher’s son “because he owed me money” is a good example of how passively most Americans listen to music. The four scenes depicted in the song are generally what is embodied in a Rap Song. Drugs, money, murder, family issues, meaningless intercourse, and domestic violence are all problems in society that are glorified rather than shunned.
The last stanza solidifys the irony with:
“ Hollywood glamourized my wrath
Im the young urban psyco path
I encite murder for your entertainment
Cause I needed the money
Whats your excuse?
The jokes on you
The joke is on us because we listen to the “music.” This argument can be paired with the growing discust for the Brittany Spears and Paris Hilton movement. They are only in the news because America desided that the social injustices that surround their lives are entertaining. The question posed in this musical masterpeice is: Why? Why is it entertaining? I can’t answer this question for you, however, I will pose my own answer. When I go to a movie and no one dies, I am upset. I guess the joke will remain on me.
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Joke is on Me?
Posted by Heather at 5:42 PM
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2 Comments:
Interesting post Heather. I agree that sometimes the lyrics get lost in the beat. Is that something the artists desires or is that more the fault of the listener not wanting to hear about the societal issues inserted within the songs.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned what rap music is all about, however I'd disagree that all rap music is like that. Rappers do glorify problems in society that shouldn't be glorified, but they do so to boast about what they have that others don't. Society thrives on this only because they know no different. Most of these rappers you hear on the radio, but if you steer away from the radio and check out less popular artists I think you'd be surprised. If you check out some artists like Common, Nas, and Twalib Kwali you'd be surprised to hear that they are totally different – and that a lot of people don't know them because society demands their “gangster rap” over someones life struggles and such. Then again, the joke could be on me because I listen to the music and I enjoy it without guilt.
I'd also like to add that I like the way your page looks now. The music player is pretty rad, I'm glad you figured it out.
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