Song: “Heart to Break” Kim Petras
1)Three Repetitions:
“Even if it means that I’ll never put myself back together
Gonna give you my heart to break”
“Even if I’ll end up in shatters, baby, it doesn’t matter
Gonna give you my heart to break”
“I tried to fight, but I can’t help it
Don’t care if this is my worst mistake”
2)Three Changes I’ve noticed:
There’s a quick breakdown right before the second pre-chorus.
Towards the end of the song the artist sings their own backup layered on the track.
The song ends with with a final note then phases out as emphasis.
3)Three Phrases that strike me:
“One look at you, I’m powerless
I feel my body saying “yes””
“Where’s my self control? Ah
And when you touch me, I’m a fool”
“This game I know I’m gonna lose
Makes me want you more”
As someone who has been pretty unlucky in love so far, this song speaks to the innocence of wanting to be in love or having a love, even when you know the exchange is not synergistic. It’s unhealthy, but the feeling of being infatuated makes it seem worth while. You intentionally throw caution to the wind even with blatant warning signs. I think it’s a pretty contemporary pop love song.
Listening Log # 2: “Re- Mix”
Song: “XXXO ( Main Mix)”- M.I.A. Ft. Jay Z
1)Three Repetitions I’ve noticed:
“XXXO,XXXO
(You want me)”
“You want me be
Somebody who I’m really not”
“You want me be
You want me”
2)Three Changes I’ve noticed:
The beat and rhythm comes in before the lyrics do.
The beat changes when Jay Z’s rapping.
M.I.A. sings her own backup vocals and during Jay-Z’s rap.
3)Three Phrases that strike me:
“But I think you know
Cause you’re tweeting me like Tweety Bird on your iPhone”
“Y’all just so metrosexual
This is not my politically correct flow”
“Ya’ll coming up M.I-. M.I.- M.I.A.”
The video to this song has a retro internet aesthetic. This is before the use of gifs and that kind of imagery was popular especially with memeing culture. I thought it was interesting at the time that Jay Z came back for a verse with her after sampling MIA’s breakout track “Paper Planes” for the chorus for “Swagga like us” ft. Kanye West, showing how real the six degrees of separation is. It’s a catchy,quick, electro song that is to the point.
Listening Log #3 : “Dragonball Durag” Thundercat
Three Repetitions I’ve noticed :
“Baby girl, how do I look in my durag?”
“Would you tell me the truth?”
“Stay with me and love me through the night”
Three Changes I’ve noticed:
The beat start slightly before the lyrics.
There’s a slight change in the beat in the middle of the song.Â
The saxophone leads the outro.Â
Three Phrases that Strike me:
“I may be covered in cat hair, but I still smell good”
“You don’t have to like my video games or my comic books”
“Baby girl, I’ma smash in my durag”
This song is a super quirky mix of campy lyrics with really smooth R & B, Jazz elements. It’s pro black, male, and nerdy. The elements of camp come through the lyricism where this whole song is about feeling powerful and sexy through having a stylish durag . This is known to keep hair moisturized and styled through the night for the black community. And challenges norms being that it’s “DragonBall” patterned v.s. a typical all black one. And that he has a cat which he’s covered in the hair of. Also having to ask his girl,”if he tied it right?” versus tying your own and knowing that it’s secure, which can also be an extension of love by caring for someone else. Even though he’s nerdy he’s still trying to get a girl and feels like he has all the fashion style in the world. It’s a modern, contemporary R &B with humor in his lyricism.
Listening Log #4: “Salchichón” Azealia Banks
1)Three Repetitions:
“Todo lo que hago e’ más dinero”
(All I do is make more money)
“Nigga dame el salchichón, chón, chón, chón, chón, chón, chón”
(Nigga give me that Salchicon…)
“Para el maratón,tón, tón, tón, tón, tón, tón”
(For the marathon (all night long)…)
2)Three Changes I’ve noticed:
Azealia raps in Spanish, English, and Patois.
The beat changes slightly from reggaeton elements to dancehall elements when Azealia raps in Patois.(which shows the connection between dembow/reggaeton to reggae/dancehall; dembow and reggaeton would not exist without reggae and dancehall, thanks Shabba Ranks!)
Azealia starts rapping when the beat starts at the beginning of the song while towards the end the beat leads out with her making a statement.
3)Three Phrases that strike me:
“Chúpame la teta, como una chuleta”
(Suck on my titty, like a porkchop)
“La cabra, la cabrona”
(The G.O.A.T, the bitch)
“Call me little and me cute, I make him love me so
He never seen another like me”
Azealia always raps and sings from a place of high black femininity. In many of her rap songs she remains the focal point and her actions would be shunned because it is a black woman speaking in the same way a black male rapper does. Especially in this song where she is a drug dealer, sexy, boisterous and brazen.She titles this song salchichon which is Dominican salami, which she then refers to it being a phallus symbol in a very tongue-in-cheek way. This and it’s lyrics are absolutely a diverse Caribbean “chune” representing a whole plethora are people with her different accents. This song shows her versatility as not only a girl who sings over house/club beats and a raunchy rapper. But a real rapstress who has an immense amount of talent. And especially as a contender in the very white washed Latin trap and reggaeton scene. No one rides the beat like Azealia but unfortunately her antics, politics and how she is perceived leaves her to be type casted or unfortunately her music to not be played at all.
Listening Log #5: “Final Form” Sampa the great
1)Three Repetitions:
“Great state I’m in, in all states I’m in”
“I might final form in my melanin”
“Black power”
2)Three Changes I’ve noticed:
The music starts before the lyrics. The energy it creates makes it anticipated.
This song samples lyrics from The Sylvers “Stay away from me” in the break.
The song ends with the sample as well as with the same beat in the intro.
3)Three Phrases that strike me:
“Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh
Greatness in me, you can’t make me feel less”
“Less hold, I’m not impressed
Best mode, got my Afro like an empress”
“Third world win it, first world outdated
No mentor, all my heroes assassinated”
We again have a Black woman being unapologetically themselves and somewhat cocky. Why? Cause they can be. This song is about being the best you- you could be, “Final form” yet alludes to all forms of you being prevalent and valid regardless of status quo. This is pro black and female. It speaks on finding power within yourself regardless of circumstance, white supremacy, the patriarchy, and harmful ideologies. Instead, honoring great ancestors and letting that guide you for an extraordinary and powerful future. Realizing the potential that you already possess. She even says “Africa is the new America”, insisting that Africa is the powerhouse that it is,and it is universal. This song exudes confidence, 70’s,cool,hip hop with a somewhat of superhero theme and beat.