Posts Tagged ‘masterpieces of western music charts’
Masterpieces of Western Music: ‘We Are Young’
Every Monday, we analyze the number one Billboard song for its deeper meaning and what it says about the human condition.
This week’s number one Billboard song is Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).” Since we already analyzed that, we usually defer to the runner-up for the week, which is Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain”—we’ve also analyzed that. So today, we analyze the bronze medalist of the Billboard chart: “We Are Young” by Fun. featuring Janelle Monae.
Luckily for everyone who reads this regularly, I can’t find any text that is embodied by this song. It’s also not the most lyrically compelling song I’ve ever heard. However, as a song about being youthful and living life, it largely accomplishes that with the chorus. More »
Katy Perry, child-killing sorceress?
Every Monday, we analyze the number one Billboard song for its deeper meaning and what it says about the human condition.
Looking at the latest Katy Perry song as a scholar of the core (read: second semester freshman), I think I’m totally qualified to say that “Part of Me,” which debuted at Number One on Billboard’s Top 100 list this week, is an artistic response to Euripides’ Medea.
For those of you looking for a refresher, Medea is a barbarian who kind of married Jason (from the Argonauts). When Jason decided that he wanted a new wife (likely a fleece-digger—get it? His fleece made of gold), Medea gets mad and kills the kids, then poisons Jason’s new lady friend. Then she flies off on a dragon. (See what you’re missing out on, SEAS kids?)
More »