And so, with that thought, I've taken three of the most compounded current hits and produced Pop Music Sparknotes. I hope they bring you into a deeper understanding of the touching songs they truly are.
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General Overview Notes:
“Time of Our Lives” is unique in the Pitbull canon, because
unlike many of his classic hits, this tune features themes of over-the-top
partying, objectifying the female sex, and drinking excessive amounts of
alcohol.
Generally speaking, the song dives deep into financial
themes that are likely understandable for the average listener. Ne-yo, artistic collaborator and clear
tragic-hero of the single, woefully explains that while he “works his ass off”,
he has no money for rent.
Thankfully, however, he still has enough to buy several rounds of
shots.
Speaking into the value system of your typical millennial,
Pit and Ne-yo encourage fans to “forget your bills”, because even if get
evicted from your house and lose your job and succeed in destroying all your
healthy relationships, you still get to party tonight.
Important Quotations Explained:
“But everyday above
ground is a great day, remember that”
Pitbull, as he is oft prone to do, spins a beautiful line at
the close of the pop hit. He
leaves the listener to ponder the optimistic sentiment that there is always a
silver lining to every day, minute, or Miami nightclub rager. And thank
goodness for that.
General Overview Notes:
In a song that clearly panders to the hearts of independent
feminists disgusted by the thought of male ownership in a romantic
relationship, “Jealous” can be summed up most accurately as an elaborate public
declaration of all of Nick Jonas’ insecurities.
Knowing that all women love a man who poses practically
naked for a magazine and then gets angry when you have two-minute conversation
with a member of the opposite sex, Jonas creates an artistic expression that
has won over the hearts of his female admirers. The singer candidly admits that he is “possessive”,
“hellish”, “passive” AND “aggressive”, knowing that these are four traits most
desirable in modern courtship.
Taking the song as a whole, the listener can note a general
sense of chivalry in Jonas’ words – he “means no disrespect”, but he still
wants to own you.
Important Quotations Explained:
“I turn my chin music
up
And I’m puffing my chest
I’m getting red in the face”
And I’m puffing my chest
I’m getting red in the face”
Proving that he is not only a gentleman, but also a poet
with the perplexing phrase “chin music”, which one can only analyze after a
deep dive into Urban Dictionary, Jonas paints vivid imagery for his
audience. Evoking an animalistic spirit,
Jonas hits directly on what is attractive for his female fans: a man who looks
just like an ape.
Further Analysis:
if you’d like to uncover the more spiritual undertones of this song, be sure to
listen to the gospel-choir version of “Jealous”, which will surely unveil the
marked notes of allegory that Jonas so delicately expresses.
General Overview Notes:
A casual listener may believe that this song is overtly
sexual. However, a granular
approach to Grande’s latest hit makes clear that there is so much more going
on.
Yes, if one is simply to listen
to the song, it may be all sex.
But the key to understanding this ballad is to watch the music
video. Then, one discovers that
this hit is also about Ariana solo-grinding in an abandoned house wearing cat
ears. Complexities abound.
There is also a shot of raindrops falling in reverse.
Important Quotations Explained:
“Love me, love me,
love me
Harder, harder, harder”
Harder, harder, harder”
Exploiting the literary technique of the Rule of Threes,
Grande proves that there is nothing sexier than pleading for someone’s affections. Over and over and over again.
