Top Song Defense Peer Feedback

Connor Rouillard

11/20/12

POS

Song comparison

            The two songs “Need” and “Don’t Need” are complete opposites but have similar themes, but almost opposite language usage, and point of view. Even though the songs do not sound remotely similar, they both deal with how society views and judges everyone. “Need” is much angrier and panicked, talking about terrorist and the failing economy. On the other hand “Don’t Need” is all about escaping from the harsh views of society and doing what you want to do and not letting other people control you.

            In the songs, they both have similar themes of fitting the norm of society; one is panicky, trying to be the best person possible, while the other is accepting the fact that no one can be perfect. In “Need” he takes the roll of the average hypochondriac, trying to find symptoms that he might happen to have. In “Don’t Need” he talks about swinging on a playground swing and how all the people walking by stare at him and judge him, but he doesn’t care he “is comfortably numb.” Both of these scenes are what real life is like for some people, either constantly worrying about what people think, but everyone should live like the speaker in “Don’t Need” because he  “just (does his) thing.”

            In both of the songs his language uses have similarities and differences even though they convey different messages. In the different songs he assumes the rolls of two completely different people, and just goes through what their life might be like. In “Don’t Need” he alludes to both Superman and DreamWorks Studios. These allusions are very fitting because Superman is nearly indestructible, much like the speaker’s attitude. His reference to DreamWorks is also an important part of the song because they make children’s movies and things always workout for the characters, in comparison to real life where that rarely happens.

            In both “Need” and “Don’t Need” the point of views are very dissimilar, they both deal with shared topics but in different ways. Both of the songs deal with necessity of material things, in “Need” at one point he says “Aw… I need all this… too!” after seeing a late night infomercial on his television. In contrast in “Don’t Need” he says “I don’t need no palace paved with gold. Don’t need more cash than banks can hold.” They both deal with how people judge you on a day-to-day basis. In “Need” he is a hypochondriac, probably from being judged, and he tries to get more medication so try and be more perfect than he can be. While in “Don’t Need” people “often color (him) dumb, but I don’t care man I’m comfortably numb.” Which shows he was probably just as worried before but came to the realization that he couldn’t change how people thought of him because he is what he is.

            Even though the songs are very different they deal with a lot of the same stuff, but from very different people. And as one breaks down and panics, the other speaker just sits back and lets people go and drone on about their made up problems. As the speaker in “Need” gets more and more worried the speaker in “Don’t Need” stays as mellow as he was at the start.

Tone in Song analysis

In the song “It Was a Very Good Year” by Frank Sinatra, he uses a shift in tone, chronological characterization, and reminiscent imagery, to show how even though he is older now he still has a good time “It was a mess of good years.”
Throughout the song he uses imagery to show how the people he interacted with and the scenery changed through different times in his life. He starts the song by mentioning how he and the “small town girls” would mess around on the village green during the night. He says this with a very fond tone in his voice as if he wishes he could go back and do it again. In the next stanza he talks about the “city girls with all that perfumed hair“ Which sound like he is thinking back and realizing how funny they actually look by today’s standards. In the third stanza he talks about “blue-blooded girls” this portion of the song has an over more mature feel to it the previous two stanzas. He talks about limousines, chauffeurs, and how independent they were, which gives me a classy, high-roller, feel.
In the song there is also a strong use of chronological characterization, that progresses with the song.Throughout the song he categorizes different girls and they stand for different periods of his life. In the first stanza he says he is seventeen and in a small town, which is probably the one he grew up in and he just hasn’t left home yet. In the second stanza he talks about city girls, he is young and probably just moved and this is his first time really away from home. In the third stanza he talks about “blue-blooded girls” this is after he moved out of the city and he some life experience, and realized what kind of girls he is after.
The most prominent language usage in the song is a change in tone. During the intermissions between the stanzas the music changes and there is a different prominent instrument during the vocal of the song. This gives you a different feeling for each part, much like the narrator had while experiencing them. In between the third and final stanza the music changes removing the ominous tone from the song. In the last part he is talking about he has lived a long time and had a lot of fun throughout his life and is now ready for it to end.
Frank Sinatra, or whomever wrote the song, uses different forms of language to evoke emotion in the listener. The whole song has a gloomy tone until the end, where it changes to a more sanguineous tone a he plans the final years of his life. Even though most people fear death he know he has had a good life and will openly embrace it when it come for him.

Big Daddy Kane- Smooth Operator
Well excuse me, take a few minutes, to mellow outBig Daddy Kane is on the mic and I'ma tell aboutA minimum length, of rhymes of strengthAnd power, so listen to the man of the hour
Flow and go to a slow tempo and you knowSing hoe, swing low, then yo the showWill go on, as I performTransformin' on stage like a Decepticon
But I'm not animated like a cartoonI'm for real, shootin' lyrics like a harpoonAcross the crowd, the listeners, the spectatorsSo let's groove with the smooth operator
'Cause, I'm so smooth'Cause, I'm so smooth
The B I G, D A double D Y K A N EI'm good and plenty, servin' many and anyCompetition, wishin' for an expeditionI'm straight up dissin' and dismissin', listenRappers act so wild, and love to profile
Frontin' hard but ain't got no styleI give nightmares to those who competeFreddy Kreuger, walkin' on Kane StreetConfuse and lose abuse and bruise the crews
Who choose to use my name wrong, they pay duesDestruction from the exterminatorBut in a calm manner, 'cause I'm a smooth operator
'Cause, I'm so smooth'Cause, I'm so smooth
Now girls step up to thisOne simple kiss, and it's over MissSold to nice dreamers, high as the price seemGirlfriend, you been scooped like ice cream
So just swing or fling a gathering try to cling'Cause It's a Big Daddy ThingAnd I'm lovin' 'em right word is bondSo just play Marvin Gaye and let's get it on
I make it real good like Dr. FeelgoodTo make sure that my point is understoodThat when it comes to this there's none greaterSincerely yours, the smooth operator
'Cause, I'm so smooth'Cause, I'm so smooth
Now ain't that the pot callin' the kettle blackSayin', I'm a new jack, you need to be smackedThe smooth way I say 'em and the way I display 'emTo make them sound different in a way that's gifted
And hey, I'm, makin' sure every lyric is done fineAnd I make one line, bright as the sunshineAttack you like Robatussin' on a coughIf you know like I know, step offCompetition, I'ma get rid of
You can't get a bit of, so just considerA break or rest vacation hibernationAnd make way for my smooth operationI'm a smooth operator
'Cause, I'm so smooth'Cause, I'm so smooth
Ah, yeah, and you don't stopGenuine for eighty-nineAnd I still ain't half steppin', peace

In the song "Smooth Operator" Big Daddy Kane uses allusion, simile, and imagery to express how he feel about some of the different girls he has dated in the past "Make it feel real good like Dr. Feelgood."

Throughout the song Big Daddy Kane refers to various pop-culture symbols such as transformers, Freddie Kruger, and Robitussin (that one not so much.) Most of the things he talks about were popular in the late 80's and early 90's, such as Dr. Feelgood which is an English pub band that was formed in the early 70's which is still around with all new members. He also refers to Freddie Kruger, which was a character created in 1984 for Nightmare on Elm Street.

He uses simile at different points throughout the song to not only show a point to enforce that point.  “as I perform Transformin' on stage like a Decepticon” which is basically him saying he has many talents the can be expressed different ways. “Attack you like Robatussin' on a cough” As I’m sure you know Robitussin is a rather old cough medicine that was referred to quite frequently in song, but spelled wrong to avoid a copyright lawsuit. But it is a good simile because Robitussin is a rather effective medicine that dominates colds, so Kane is saying he is going to dominate his opponent.

Another form of figurative language Kane uses is imagery. His imagery is very quick; it’s just small things you think of for a second then he moves to the next in no real order.  Again in the line “as I perform Transformin' on stage like a Decepticon” but right after that he moves directly to shooting a harpoon through the audience, which is a bit grim but you get the point. Through the whole song the images he portrays are pretty goofy but make a lot of sense where they are.

During the song “Smooth operator” Kane uses different types of figurative language to show how he feels about the various girls he meets and meats (if you catch my drift.) This song is very light-hearted but after analysis parts of the song are serious; regardless of that fact he still keep the mood of the song up beat.

I chose this theme/genre combo because they're a ton a rap/hip hop song about love, and most of them are pretty good. I don't consider most of the things that come out considered rap today to count. I think underground songs are far better because they actually have to try so they can get signed. All the underground guys are young and in bad relationships so there are a boat load of songs about it.