- Your comment:
Review the lyrics to the following songs. Decide on ONE song to focus your analysis. In approximately three well-organized paragraphs, analyze the rhetorical strategies that the artist(s) uses to convey his or her attitude toward his or her subject. Avoid merely summarizing the song lyrics; analyze the rhetorical strategies that are used to convey some sort of argument. You can think of this in two parts: 1. What is the intended effect? 2. To illustrate the artist's attitude (or tone) toward his or her subject?
Reminders:
- You need a thesis statement to guide your analysis (refer to your handouts). This should probably include the identified strategies.
- Cite the title of the song and artist within the first few sentences of your analysis.
- Incorporating direct lines (citations) from the song boosts your credibility.
- Feel free to look up accompanying videos and/or the songs being played for further assistance.
b) "Wake Up" - Coheed and Cambria
c) "The Back of Your Hand" - Dwight Yoakam
d) "Ballad of the Green Beret" - Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler and Robin Moore
e) "Last Kiss" - Pearl Jam
f) "Mama" - Boyz II Men
g) "Say it Ain't So" - Weezer
h) "Heartless" - Kanye West
Deadline: Monday, November 15th at midnight
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- Commenting on others':
Deadline: Friday, November 19th at midnight
Ballad of the Green Beret:
ReplyDeleteStaff Sergeant Barry Sadler and Robin Moore created a song with a myriad of meaning. In Ballad of the Green Beret, these two men chose a powerful diction choice to write a song based upon the men who fight until the end, for what they believe in: this wonderful country we all call home. The reader of this song can infer that the author is most likely the parent of a soldier in the U.S. Army.
They are describing the day-to-day life of a Green Beret, which is an informal word meaning someone in the U.S. Army Special Forces. In the second- to-last stanza, it tells the story of a wife at home in the States, who waits for her husband to come back home safely. It then goes on to say that he died while fighting a hero’s war, and how he died for those who were less better off than himself.
The main intended effect of this song is the parent of the soldier uses logos to appeal to the reader/listener, by saying how their son deserves to be awarded with a green beret. The artist’s attitude conveyed here is appealing, as they attempt to persuade the listener to “put silver wings” on their son’s chest. If silver wings are added to his being, it will supposedly “make him one of America’s best”.
"Last Kiss" by Pearl Jam
ReplyDeleteThe song "Last Kiss" by Pearl Jam has a countless amount of rhetorical strategies. Some of which are rhyme sequence, rhetorical question, and persona. The use of these three rhetorical devices and many more help enhance the meaning of the song.
Every verse of the song contains a rhyme sequence. The rhyme sequence is AABB. For example, "..car...far..ahead...dead.." The first two words have the same rhyme and therefore are given the letter A. The same concept applies to the last two words as well. Many songs have a rhyme sequence which aids to the rhythm of the melody.
Another literary term used is rhetorical question. The singer repeatedly asks ," oh where, oh where can my baby be?" This is considered to be a rhetorical question since it is not a question that an answer can be found to. His baby has died and he does not know where she is to be found. This same line can also be used to express the literary term apostrophe. He is asking this particular question to someone that is not physically there. Which is exactly what apostrophe is.
A rhetorical term that is always used in a song, including this one, is persona. Persona is the character taken by a person. For example, in this song the singer takes on the character or persona of a man that has lost someone very important in his life. This song may or may not be true but the singer takes on this role.
“Replay” by Iyaz
ReplyDeleteOne of Iyaz’s famous, worldwide songs is “Replay.” With it’s catchy chorus and upbeat sound, listeners almost miss the vast usage of rhetorical devices displayed in the song. “Shawty’s like a melody” uses assonance, using the same “e” sound at the end of “shawty” and “melody” and giving it a rhyming effect. Onomatopoeia is also used (Na na na na) to form a picture of someone singing along to a song being played on replay. Iyaz’s unique dialect gives the song a certain type of diction. “Closer” sounds like “clos-ah” and “you” sounds like “yah,” making the two words rhyme that would otherwise not (“I was scared to approach ya but then you came closah”). The song also uses lots of smiles and metaphors, such as “Shawty’s like a melody in my head that I can’t keep out” (simile); “That girl like somethin’ off a poster” (simile); “That girl is a dime they say” (metaphor); and “That girl is a gun to my holster” (metaphor). These examples of rhetorical devices help to express how playful and flirtacious the artist is.
The intended effect of this song is to make it “replay” in your iPod. The catchy rhymes about a special someone being stuck in your head will definitely make this song attach to your brain. It mostly appeals to Pathos, because the singer expresses his love for this girl, saying she’s made an impact on his life (“Girl you really change my life”) and that he wants to marry her (“Someday I wanna make you my wife”).
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ReplyDeleteThe song Ballad of the Green Beret has a significant meaning behind it. The author of this song is most likely a soldier of the U.S. Army. He uses an intense diction choice to create a song describing men fighting for what they believe in and love, our country. A Green Beret is typically someone who fights in the U.S. Army Special Forces and this song desecribes their life.
ReplyDeleteThis song tells the story of a young woman waiting for her husband to come home. When she found out that he has died she's extremely sad and had an enormous feeling of lonesomeness. The intended effect of the song is to state the reasons why this person should have "silver wings."
The tone that the writer uses is solemn, but is full of meaning. Although the words at first don't seem to make sense, if you read carefully it has a story behind it. If "silver wings" are added, he will become one of Americas cherished.
"Heartless", by Kanye West has many different types of rhetorical strategies. The ones that i found are Oxymoron, Apostrophe, and especially Antistrohpe. There are others but these are the most common.
ReplyDelete"How could you be so cold as the winter wind when it breeze yo
Just remember that you talking to me yo
You need to watch the way you talking to me yo," this a use of Antistrophe and their are other lines that contain the use of Antistrophe. It creates a use of repetition that gives u a main clue of what the artist(s), in this case Kanye, is trying to telling the subject.
"she's hot and cold," is a use of Oxymoron. To complete opposites and it creates a feeling that Kanye is using to show how "she" can just be so"Heartless", no feelings, and/or cruel. This can be a mood that makes you wonder, how can someone can be like that, and he explains that in the song.
"Why though she be so mad at me for?
Homie I don't know she's hot and cold," this makes him sound like as if he is talking to someone that is not their and that is a use of Apostophe. He questions her and then questions himself about the relationship that is going on between them.
The intended effect of the song is make others realize that their are others out there that do not care about feelings and about relationships. Also, how he says,"In the night, I hear them talk the coldest story ever told
Somewhere far along this road, he lost his soul
To a woman so heartless," this line explains a story about someone that heard a story of a man who's emotions/soul was taking by a woman that was heartless and that is from the point of the song takes place because the song repeats to this chorus part.
"Heartless" by Kanye West
ReplyDeleteWest's song "Heartless" talks about the bitter ending of a relationship; it's about a girl that can't let go of the mistakes the guy made, even though she made her own. He expresses his emotions by using rhetorical devices, some of them are: simile, apostrophe, and oxymoron.
A simile is almost always used in a song. The singer asks "how could be so cold as the winter wind when it breeze?" He is emphathizing how mean she is to him by comparing her to a winter wind. It is referring to the fact that she acts like she doens't know him or remember that they had something special. She wants to hold on to the bitter memories and hold it against him.
An apostrophe is used in the first chorus of the song. He ends off the last three lines using the word "heartless." By repeating that word it shows us that is the main problem with them from becoming friends is that she's mean to him . He wants to end their relationship on a good note but she doens't want to forgive him. She criticizes him and now her friends don't even like him anymore.
Another term that he uses is an oxymoron. An example is in verse two when he is saying " Homie I don't know she is hot and cold." This line tells the evidence that the girl West is referring to always changes her mind. She tolerates him at one minute and the next minute she can't stand him. It seems like she doesn't want to accept that part of the reason their relationship ended is her fault too, in an attempt to making herself feel better she blames the guy.
Altough many people do not like Kamye West due to his off stage antics, he proves time and time again why he is one of the best in the business. He does this through his llyrics that actually have deep meaning. In the song "Heartless" Kanye uses many rhetorical devices. Metaphors, Pathos, Antistrophe, Rhetorical Questions are all used to get his desired mesage across.
ReplyDelete"To a women so heartless. How could you be so heartless. Oh, how could you be so heartless?" is said at the end of the Acapella. This is an example of an antistrophe, because he repeats heartless three times. He does this to make the listener believe the girl he is talking about is heartless.
Kanye also uses a metaphor in the 1st verse when he says,"How could you be so cold as the winter wind when it breeze yo". He does this because cold is associated with something heartless. Think of it in a literal sense when you are cold, you try and warm yourself up by getting your blood flowing, but something heartless would not be able to do that.
In the second verse Kanye says,"How could you be so Dr. Evil?". This is an example of a rhetorical question, because only something heartless can be Dr. Evil. Kanyes intended affect throughout the song was just to show how heartless the girl was. It was pretty convincing, trust me I should know.
Last Kiss by Pearl Jam
ReplyDeleteIn this song Last Kiss, the rhetorical strategies that was use were imagery and it was written in first person. These rhetorical strategies just not make their lyrics sound pretty cool but it did help the reader/audiences understand what they are talking or writing about.
The imagery that was use in this song shows seeing, hearing, and touching. These three things were really useful for example in Last Kiss, when he hears a “painful scream” and when he holds his baby. It give the reader or audience a picture that we all can see in our minds on what he heard, saw and felt.
Last Kiss was written in first person. In first person usually gives us more information about the character, like his thoughts and gives us good description on what he hears, see, and feels. The song did have all those things, for example, “screamin’ tires, the bustin‘ glass.” it gives us more than what’s going on and what he is going through.
"Heartless"-Kayne West
ReplyDeleteKanye West use rhetorical strategies to put out his emotion out to the listener. For example he use oxymoron, antistrophe and rhetorical questions. This are some of the rhetorical strategies Kayne West uses to show his tone in the song.
First of all, he uses oxymorns in his song. Like in one of his line he says "Homie I don't know she's hot and cold". The word hot and cold are total opposites to one another, but he use them to protray an image in listener mind on how cruel "she" can be. Also that she has such a cold heart that why se is so heartless.
Second of all he use antistrophe in his song. One way that it show he use antistrophe is by repeating phrase like "To a woman so heartless" three time. This is trying to send a message to that person on that she really hurt him. In addition he also repeats "How could you be so heartless" three times. It is showing how he is reallly hurt with what the woman did to him.
Finally, he uses rhetorical question in the whole song. "Why we up 3 A.M. on the phone?" this is show a question he is asking himself a qwuesdtion that one can really anwser. Well this is showing he really confused on the situation about the woman that really hurt him. Throughout the song he is asking himself this questions.
"REPLAY"
ReplyDelete"Shawty's like a melody", which to many may seem like a piece of lyric like any other, nut if analyzed well you can really see its purpose. Throughout his lyrics of "Replay" Iyaz uses many Rhetorical strategies. Some of these strategies include Anaphora which repeat in his chorus. In the song we can also see Pathos, especially when he says I'm in the kitchen' cookin' things she likes", which may appeal to an audience who is in love. This is sort of a big hook on the audience.
Iyaz's use of Anphora can be seen in his chorus. This use of Anaphora is what an audience remembers a song by. Since in his chorus it repeats many words like "Replay" the audience becomes very exposed to that word thus making them remember it more.
Another use of Rethorical terms that we can well see is Pathos. Pathos which appeals to emotion can be seen in his lyrics with phrases like "I wanna make her my wife". This relates to an audience that is in love and knows how it feels like to be in love so much that you want to marry that person. pathos can be seen a lot in the lyrics and its use is important because it gives the song its theme.
With the use of these strategies we can see that the singer is really trying to connect with a caring and loving audience. He is also trying to leave them with something to refer to with the repeating of some words in his chorus.
The song "Replay" by Iyaz talks about a girl he likes that he can not get out of his mind like a song. He uses a lot of rhetorical strategies like onomatopoeia, similes, and metaphors. The onomatopoeia part is the na na na... He used a lot similes and metaphors. He uses similes like "that girl like somethin' off a poster" He uses metaphors like "that girl is a dime they say." He uses these strategies to show how much this girl gets to him and how he really likes her.
ReplyDeleteThe intended effect is to help the people listening to the song get a picture of how much he really likes this girl. Also so that when they listen to the song they can think of the girl they like.
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ReplyDeleteThe song of choice for me is the one and only song "Heartless",by Kanye West.The song is of a couple and is being sung from the perspective of the man.
ReplyDelete"Heatless" describes the status of a couple.The relationship between the two is a struggling one,the moment where they are questioning themselves and why they are together.The reason that the status of the status gives the impression that it is fading is in the part of the song where the artist Kanye West sings,"I mean after all the things that we been through,
I mean after all the things we got into".If the couple was doing well then the song would have excluded the second part from the second "I" until "into" which makes it sound as if it was a hassle to be in a relationship with the girl.
Kanye makes himself sound like the victim of the relationship throughout the song with his girlfriend being the one to have caused the relationship to be at fault.In the beginning Kanye says,"he lost his soul to a woman so heartless" with his girlfriend being the woman who is heartless and himself being the "he".Another example that gives evidence that the artist is making the girl sound like the one to blame is also near the beginning when he says,"So you walk around like you don't know me".This line makes the girl sound mean and immature for not talking to him after they had a relationship with eachother.
"Last Kiss" by Pearl Jam
ReplyDelete"Last Kiss" is a short story in its own song. It uses rhetorical question, rhyme, and personification. These strategies help bring out imagery and the artist's message.
The song begins with the line, "Oh where, oh where, can my baby be?" This is a rhetorical question. It shows that he cares about his girlfriend's whereabouts and he is thinking about her.
In the song, every other two songs had the use of rhyme. It made the song catchy but it wasn't over-used and it was used in the right context. The rhyming words were not random words put together. ("we were out on a date in my daddy's car/ We hadn't driven it far").
The song also contains the use of personification. ("The screamin' tires...") This gives the listener a picture of the accident and the sound of the car screeching. The intended effect of the artist was to persuade the listener to feel sadness and sympathy because he's lost someone that loves dearly.
In the song Last Kiss by Pearl Jams we can see the many rhetorical devices used. Some of this rhetorical devices are clear to understand while, other you must put some on thought into them. Some which include imagery, rhetorical question, and pathos.All of this rhetorical devices help us understand the message the singer is trying to sing about.
ReplyDeleteThe first rhetorical device we come across is the rhectorical question. The singer of Perl Jams often sings the question, "Oh where oh where can my baby be?" The singer asks a question that shouldnt be answered by the audience because he already knows the answer,he knows that his baby is dead. Also when the audience hears the question they wonder but the singer is talking about.Making them want to listen to the whole song to know where his baby is.
The singer uses a lot of imagery throughout his song. He first explains how he got the car. He tells us that he got his car from his daddy. Then he soon explains that he was taking someone on a date. The singer explains how the tires screeched while he tried to avoid that car on the street. Another imagery used was when he said,"When i woke up, the rain was pourin down. There were people standing all around...but somehow I found my baby" this gives us a clear image of how he was feeling and what he was thinking at that time.
The band Pearl Jams attracts his aduience by using pathos. He makes us pitty and give him sympathy. This is because he lost the love of his life. He tells us," She's gone to heaven, so I've to be good, so I can see my baby when i leave this world." This makes me think that even though she is not alive he will still try his hardest to go to heaven and be with her. Another sad emotion he gives us is when he says," I held her close, I kissed our last kiss. I'd found the love that I knew I have missed. Well now she's gone...I hold her tight. I lost my love, my life that night. He gives he love a their last kiss and he explains that without her he lost everything being his love(girl) and his life.
A very touching son dedicated to mothers all around but sung as if it is meant for only one special mother. R&B group Boyz II Men sing this beautifully written and produced song called “Mama”. This song uses two obvious rhetorical strategies: similes and antistrophe. These two are incorporated into the song for the purpose that mothers are the greatest women in the world.
ReplyDeleteIn the song “Mama” by Boyz II Men, they use similes in the chorus. Similes use “like” or “as” to compare two unlike things. For example in the chorus they sing, “Your love is like Tears from the stars Mama,” here they are comparing the tears to the stars. By using this they meant to say that their mothers tears are something celestial and that displays their high images on their mothers. Stars are considered something similar like celestial beings; high, mighty, powerful and pure beings, just like mama. That was the intended effect when using that simile, for the listener to appreciate how great mothers are.
Boyz II Men also use antistrophe when they sing, “Mama, mama you know I love you Oh you know I love you.” Antistrophe is when the writer doubles back or repeats a phrase. So in the chorus they use antistrophe to make sure that the listener is understanding the depth of how grateful they are towards their mother. By repeating the last phrase, they are trying to get a message through. A message that says they really truly do love their mama and do appreciate everything their mamas have done for them.
With these strategies Boyz II Men sing their hearts out and get others to appreciate their moms. That was the intended effect of this whole song, for others to comprehend how great their mothers are and to love them unconditionally. Mothers are pure, powerful and great, they deserve to be appreciated. That is the intent Boyz II Men had when they wrote the song, “Mama”.
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ReplyDelete"Wake Up" Coheed and Cambria
ReplyDeleteThe song "Wake Up" by Coheed and Cambria may be any other song for someone but for others its very heart touching. Throughout the lyrics the song writer uses many rhetorical devices. For example like sarcasm, pathos, anaphora.
An example of sarcasm in the "Wake Up" lyrics is when he says, "Kill anyone for you". I don't believe he would kill anyone but he wouldn't let no one get between them. It seems that he really wants to be with her. He would do anything for her no matter what it is.
The writer also uses pathos in the first four lines of the lyrics. The audience are mostly people that have to go away, far from their love ones. For example the song writer is describing how he wishes he could stay but then she argues with him. At the same time he wishes she would have saw him leaving so she would know the feeling of being away from the one you love.
The lyrics also contain anaphora which is repetition of a word. The lyrics say ,"I'll do anything for you, This story is for you, I'll do anything for you, Kill anyone for you". It's repeating the word "you" in every line.
The intended effect is to help people who feel alone while there far from their love ones, that their not the only ones, even musicians go through that. The song writer's tone is depressing and sad that he has to leave her.
“Heartless”
ReplyDelete“Heartless” by Kanye West talk about how it feels to be in a break up. In this case, it’s from the point of view of the man. West’s song incorporates a lot of emotion such as bathos, and pathos. A couple of other literary devices are used such as oxymoron, antistrophe, and rhetorical questions. The use of these literary terms enhances the message the author is trying to convey. Overall, the song sounds better with them, rather than without them.
This whole song is loaded with bathos. “Somewhere far along this road, he lost his soul,” is a great example of bathos. West over exaggerates by saying he lost his soul. That cannot really happen. Pathos is used a lot as well. “So you walk around like you don't know me,” West wants you to pity him because he feels like she goes around acting like she does not know him. “…she's hot and cold,” is an example from the song of oxymoron by placing two opposites next to each other. West uses antistrophe a couple times throughout the song to prove his point: the woman being so heartless. “How could you be so heartless?” is meant to act as a rhetorical question. He pushes this question in the chorus, so it’s obviously very important and is not meant to be answered. There are more examples found in the song, you just have to dig deep and find them.
Kanye West used many more literary terms than this, but this is just a couple of the myriad that you can find. These devices help enhance the emotion that you would feel, just as he felt it. It puts you in the position he was in. The emotion is felt through the use of each of these devices. This is a really good song and all the devices used work with this song.
In the song " say it ain't so " by weezer compares love and the many delammas in it. The lyrics" say it ain't so you love is a heart breaker " shows the emotion of how the person may feel in their relationship. The song also may refer to past experiences if tragic which could relate to love , "This bottle of Stevens awkens ancient feelings like father step father... "this also explains maybe some past experiences. The song also uses figurative language comparing unlike things to real experiences.
ReplyDeleteIf you really think about it the song has many different annotations
" this wave is a water slide away from me... " can be use as a grip of reality and self destruction of how love can eerelllel
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ReplyDeleteThe music video of “Replay” by Iyaz is one of the most watched videos on Youtube with nearly 45 million views! Many people says that he just keeps repeating himself over and over, however this is all part of his rhetorical strategy. The writers of this song like Jason Derulo carefully thought of what to write so it could be catchy as it is. Some of these rhetorical devices were using simile, metaphor, personification, Epizeuxis, and Onomatopoeia.
ReplyDeleteA simile is used in the very first line “ Shawty’s like a melody in my head” and then again in “It’s like my iPod’s stuck on replay, replay”. Metaphor is also used along with these similes which includes “That girl is a dime they say” and “That girl is a gun to my hoster”. Personification is used to describe the iPod being “stuck” an iPod can not be stuck, a human can. Onomatopoeia is also used for example when Iyaz does “Replay ay ay ay ay ay” to make it sound like his Ipod keeps repeating. One of the other rhetorical devices used is epizeuxis. Epizeuxis is used for “replay” to put emphasis on his iPod replaying.
"Say it Ain't So"-By WEEZER
ReplyDeleteThe song, “Say it Ain So”, I believe to be a heartbreak song and also a song that talks about his alcoholic problems. When he says, “Your love is a heartbreaker… my love is a life taker”, Proves that he was in a relationship, but then it got broken off; he is then sad about it and his heart is broken. His love of alcohol, is what maybe caused this relationship to break up, and now that he is not with her, this is what is killing him. When he starts singing about writing to his dad, and I believe also his step dad, to asks for help, because he finally realizes that he is starting to have a problem. Also, he needs comfort, since his dad and step father have been though the same, proved when he says, “Like father, the step father. The son is drowning in the flood”. His father found Jesus, and that may be why he trust him by telling him his problems.
The intended effect is to make the audience think about what he is trying to say. He does not use regular wording, and makes the person listening more attracted to the song. He is trying to reach out to people who have alcoholic problems, specially when it is dealing with heartbreak. What he is trying to say is that if you are being heartbroken, basically in any way, alcohol is not the way to go. He feels like the bottle to him, comes behind him, and is ready to blow. Even when he tries to get away from it, it still comes up no matter how much he tries to avoid it. It is maybe what caused all the problems in his life. He wants to do something about, but he needs the help of his father or stepfather.
The attitude towards the subject at first seems to be calm, he doesn’t hesitate his words. He in a way throughout the song sounds like he had already been drinking, and that’s why it feels “so good inside”. But then comes when he says, “Say it Ain’t so, Your drug is a heartbreaker, Say it Ain’t so, Your love is a life taker.” He says it with more passion, with more sadness in the singing, makes his words longer, and sounds like he is crying in a flowing way. When I hear this song, I get the image in my head, that he is out at a party, waiting for the booze to be taken out, so he can get rid of the heartbreak he feels, but then starts to talk to himself, and when he talks about the heartbreak he sounds like his about to break down, and in the verge of crying.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x10tbb_weezer-say-it-aint-so_music
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1439
http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/5250/
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ReplyDeleteHEARTLESS BY KANYE WEST
ReplyDeleteWhen listening to a song, usually people listen to it because of the beat or lyrics. But, have you ever wondered what specifically catches the attention of the listeners? Literary devices, such as: rhetorical questions,pathos, and repetition, are those little things in the song that make people want to listen to it.
In Kanye West's well known song, Heartless, he repeatedly uses rhetorical questions. He uses these to give us an idea of who he is talking to, and why. For example, "How could you be so Dr. Evil?", when can conclude that person who he was talking to could have been mean, or malicious. Throughout the song, he sings about a heartbreak of a guy. This appeals to 'Pathos', because this song can emotionally relate to someone who has had a heartbreak, or has broken someones heart. So someone in any of those two categorizes is most likely to hear this song, than someone who has never experienced it.
During most of the course of this song, he uses a lot of repetition. For example, he repeats 'heartless' many times in the song. This may cause the little tone or word to get stuck in your head, and the sooner you know it you will know his song without even realizing it. So if you ever feel like you can not become a song writer because you are not a very good rhymer, well think again. Rhetorical devices, are some cheat codes you can use, instead of rhyming. There are several to chose from, and can catch a listeners attention in no time.
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ReplyDelete“Say It Ain’t So” - Weezer
ReplyDeleteAlthough it seems like songs do not have much thought and meaning to them, in fact, an artist looks for infinite ways to make their song(s) liked by the audience. For example, in the song “Say It Ain’t So”, Weezer uses a variety of rhetorical strategies to convey their thoughts and emotions. The best examples of rhetorical strategies used in “Say It Ain’t So” are metaphor, anaphora, and apostrophe.
One of the most used rhetorical strategies used in songs is metaphor. Metaphors let the author compare things in their songs with things that may not seem to have a direct relationship. This is to let the audience compare the song to situations of their own to understand what the author means. For example, in “Say It Aint’s So” Weezer says, “Your drug is a heart-breaker” and “My love is a life-taker.” Using metaphors, helps put an emphasis in “heart-breaker” and “life-taker.” It makes the audience have a better image of what is happening in the song, thus the listener knows what the author is trying to portray.
Another common rhetorical strategy used in song lyrics is anaphora. When a line is being a repeated, it creates a better flowing song and it leaves the song in the listeners head. If the song does not flow, then the listener will not want to listen to it, and the author’s point would go unnoticed. In “Say It Ain’t So,” the line “Say it ain’t so” is repeated throughout the song. This is to put a greater importance on the author’s denial of what is happening. It helps the listener understand what the author is going through in an emotional level. This makes it more relatable because we all go through denial at one point or another in our lives.
Furthermore, another strategy used is apostrophe. It is used when the author says, “I can’t confront you, I never could do.” In this line, Weezer is talking to an absent person. The band Weezer is talking to a person who is not present when they are saying this line. Even though the person is not present, they explain their thoughts and emotions as if he or she were there.
"Replay" Iyaz
ReplyDeleteReplay, is a song that conveys emotional feelings for a young woman. As the song develops we can analyze numerous rhetorical strategies, which intervene with each other. Empathizes is demonstrated when, “Shawty like a melody stuck in my head” is repeated variously; within this same a simile is also being used. Furthermore if we acknowledge into further detail we can see that, “She like a song played again and again” and, “It's like my iPod's stuck on replay, replay” is an example of Tautology because the same phrase is being repeated just in different words.
In addition, “That girl like somethin' off a poster, that girl is a dime they say, That girl is a gun to my holster” demonstrates the rhetorical device of Assonance. A distinctive detail about the singer is that he uses repetition to make sure it grasps the attention of the public. When trying to convey the public, it is important the singer manages to catch attention of many therefore its when all these devices come into place.
Lastly, the songwriter intended message is to portray the feelings of a young man towards a young lady. The words are clean, and don’t use profanity. Another important aspect is this songwriter demonstrates the attitude with emphasis trying to make it clear and understandable.
“Heartless” by Kanye West
ReplyDeleteThe intended effect of West’s song was to portray and show his inner thoughts and feelings. In my opinion, West uses rhetorical strategies very well in this song. His attitude toward his subject can be perceived as resentful due to some affairs he has experienced. I believe his tone portrays the same as well, but it also seems to give off an “I don’t care” attitude.
The rhetorical devices that appealed most to me were logos, ethos, and pathos. West states that he lost his soul to a woman so heartless. Here, we can assume that he was cheated on. This itself created an argument. Is this woman well in fact, “heartless?” Throughout the song, West describes these woman’s actions, which affect the way we view her; negatively.
In this song, Kanye West presents himself as helpless in a way. He does this by stating that he has homies, but in the end, it’s still so lonely. This shows that no matter how many friends he has, loneliness still follows him ever since he lost his soul to her.
This song is strongest in pathos because it taps into the reader’s emotions very well. West builds pathos by providing the audience with a situation that many can relate to. The audience are usually overpowered with emotion of empathy because they feel for Kanye West in this situation. This helps him because the audience may be pulled towards his side helping the way they view his ethics.
Additional rhetorical strategies he uses are used in devices. For example, the simile, “How could you be so cold as the winter wind when it breeze yo.” In this statement, he is comparing her to winter winds which is implying that she is a cold hearted woman. Another example would be alliteration, “Just remember that you talking to me though.
You know need to watch the way you talking to me yo.” He wants her to understand that he is somebody and he needs the respect. Also in this verse here, “You run and tell your friends that you leaving me, they say that they don’t see what you see in me. You wait a couple of months then you gon’ see. You’ll never find nobody better that me.” West really puts an emphasis on “me” trying to make himself as memorable as possible.
“Replay” by Iyaz
ReplyDeleteThe entire song is about a girl that he has been thinking about and cant get out of his mind like a catchy song. A lot of retorical strategies are used in the song as well as similes and metaphors.The chorus like many songs is alot of anaphora which makes it very catchy.
Izay uses pathos very well in his lyrics which appeals to the emotions of the people that listen. A good example that I can use from Iyaz lyrics is "I wanna make her my wife" which most likley appeals to an audience that is thinking about marriage. Another example is when he says "Im in the kitchen cooking things she likes" which makes people think about what someone would do for another person that they love or care about.
By the use of the pathos in Iyaz song ou can see that his attended audience are the people that are in love or in a relationship.I would say that he did a good job at trying to get is audience by using smart pathos.
Apparently not a lot of people are doing the song,"Say It Ain't So" By Weezer, so I will take on the Challenge.
ReplyDeleteThe song talks about different parts of a man's life. The first verse talks about hanging out with friends.The phrase "Somebody's Heine' is crowdin' my icebox" symbolizes that one of his friends or several of his friends are with him and they are sitting on the ice box which is used for drinks.
Repetition is used during the Chorus. The chorus talks about the man's love life. How he got his heart broken, but at the same time how he is a heart breaker himself.
The second verse talks about what the man does by himself. He watches television and wrestles with Jimmy. Which in my opinion, means that he does what some guys do when they are lonely, if you catch my drift. Finally he talks about how he is a drinker,"Something is bubbling
Behind my back, The bottle is ready to blow"
The third verse talks about his love life again. He probably can't confront the girl he is talking about since he broke her heart. The Author uses personification, "This way is a waterslide away from me that takes you further every day." Usually waterslides don't take anyone anywhere, but by using this rhetorical device he makes it so.
The final verse is talking about the death of his loved ones. His father is used as symbolism for all the people that have died that and he cared about.
The tone in which the singer actually sings the song makes the tune more catchy. Also the facial expressions that he uses during the song give adds more feeling to the song.
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ReplyDelete“Replay” by Iyaz
ReplyDeleteIyaz used many rhetorical strategies in his song to enhance the overall effect. Not many care to analyze the rhetorical strategies, but listen to it merely for its catchy lyrics and beats. The audience tends to miss the rhetorical strategies used in this song.
Pathos can be recognized in the song because Iyaz proposes a situation in which many people of his audience can relate to from experience. Feeling and understanding one’s situation can evoke emotion of empathy to the singer as well as the audience. Many can agree that there is one person that is constantly in our heads. This shows that Iyaz doesn't sing just from his personal experience, but knows that people share this similarity and sing for them as well.
Iyaz also uses specific types of rhetorical strategies. For example, Iyaz’s first line of the song states, “Shawty's like a melody in my head...” The use of this simile compares this “shawty” to a song that seems to replay in his head. We can assume that he means he cannot stop thinking about this person. Another rhetorical device he alliterates the word “replay” quite often. This creates the effect of making a memorable phrase. Also, he replays the word “replay” to provide emphasis on making the phrase much more memorable. Alliteration is also used in, “That girl, like something off a poster. That girl, is a dime they say. That girl, is a gun to my holster.” Iyaz accentuates “that girl” by repeating it multiple of times to show how important this is to the song.
"Say It Ain't So" by Weezer
ReplyDeleteMusic fans will bob their heads to just about anything. We don't even have to understand the message portrayed, as long as it sounds good, we are satisfied. "Say It Ain't So" by Weezer is a great example of lyrics with a purpose. The writer, Rivers Cuomo, expresses a sense of clemency through many rhetorical strategies.
Most apparent is the author's use of allusions. "Somebody's Heiney" and "Bottle of Stevens" may seem completely out of the ordinary to most readers; however, we, as readers, are expected to know of their alcoholic reference to understand its full context. The audience would not get the same emotion if reading 'a bottle of liquor' in the lyrics.
When closely analyzing the lyrics, a small focus point comes into play. "Somethin' is bubbling behind my back" is a perfect example of an alliteration. Immediately my attention focuses on the line, bringing much notice to its tricky wording. The phrase is continued with "The bottle is ready to blow." Five repetitions of the letter B certainly brings interest to the verse.
The chorus in "Say It Ain't So" is perhaps the most intensified moment. The author applies personifications with "Your drug is a heart-breaker" and "My love is a life-taker". Obviously, drug and love does not have human characteristics, so the author uses the rhetorical device to help readers understand his point of view, how he relates to the situation.
Not often can a listener actual comprehend an intended message through song lyrics; yet, the opportunity is always present.
"Heartless by Kanye West"
ReplyDeleteIn the song "heartless" by Kanye West there are many examples of rhetorical devices. One of the main rhetorical devices that stands out the most to me is Pathos. I say this song involves pathos because he is showing how he feels after going threw a break up . Although pathos really stands out in this song there are many other rhetorical devices threw out this song.
Kanye West is saying how he feels after this event that has happened. Anoher example of an rhetoric device is Oxymoron. There is an Oxymoron when Kanye says "Homie i don't know she's hot and cold". This is an oxymoron because how is someone going to be hot and cold. That was another example of a rhetoric device that i found in this song.
The final rhetorical device that i found was simile. There is a simile when Kanye says "How could you be so cold as the winter wind when it breeze yo". Kanye West in comparing someone's actions to a weather condition thats why it is an example of an simile. That is the final example of a rhetorical devices that i found in the song "Heartless" by Kanye West.
"Replay"- Iyaz
ReplyDeletePretty much every song in the whole world contains at least one rhetorical device, whether the artist realizes it or not. This song by Iyaz has a nice beat that you can dance to and catchy lyrics, lyrics that with an untrained ear you wouldn't notice the many rhetorical devices he has in the song.
The beat in a song is one of the most common uses of catching listeners attention. For most songs, without the beat, the song would not be a hit for the "younger" audience. If your able to listen past the beat and just listen to the words, it is easier to recognize the similes, such as "Shawtys like a melody...", the metaphors, for example, "She's the gun to my holster", and even onomatopoeia like "Na na na na...". All of these are used in the song to make it better and to get the listener to sing along.
Musician/artists main purpose for their lyrics is to get them stuck in the listeners head. This specific song has a great way of achieving that purpose. The words in the song "it's like my iPods stuck on replay, replay", is trying to persuade the listener to put the song in replay to listen to the song again. Most would not notice that because it is kind of hidden behind the rest of the words in the song.
"Heartless" by Kanye West uses diffrent types of rhetorical strategies. Some of the strategies that Kanye West uses are imagery, flashback, and heyperbole to get his message across.
ReplyDelete"In the night, I hear them talk the coldest story ever told", this is an example of imagery. This calss out some of our senses like hearing and touch. There are other lines that uses imagery as well.
One of the flash back that Kanye West uses is "On a saturday we werent gon speak so why we up 3A.M on the phone?". This event happens in an earlier time than when he started the song. An hyperbole that Kanye West uses is "How could you be so cold as the winter wind when it breeze yo", this shows the exaggeration on how he felt that the girl has treated him.
To Janna, Let me start off by saying you did a very good job I analyzing this song. All the rhetorical devices were properly used in your analysis. This song does have a lot of simile and metaphors that I never really noticed. One little advice I to tell you is, to keep all topics in one paragraph. You first talk about how Iyaz uses a lot of rhyme such as shawty and melody. Then you went on about Onomatopoeia and after that you started to talk about the way Iyaz prounces words. Such as how he say, "you" and "closer". I belive the rhyming words and the way he prounouces words should have been kept together. Other than that you did a good job.
ReplyDeleteTo Alonzo Gomez, The rhetorical devices you used were used properly. You didnt give much of an example for any of them. your paragraphs didn't really seem like paragraphs. Also your transitions from paragragh to paragragh were very fast.Try explaining the rhetorical devices more and use more examples.
In "Wake up" by Coheed and Cambria there was some rhetoric devices use, but I am going to write only three. They will be anaphora,imagery, and invective.
ReplyDeleteFirst anaphora is being use a lot from the start of the song to the end. For example,"I will do anything for" and "The morning will come".
Imagery is talked when he says your "head upon my chest". In telling the girl what it will be like in the future.
When he use the line "Kill anyone for you" it seems like a invective. He is try to show in what he able to do no matter what.
Say it Ain't so by WEEZER!
ReplyDelete(I posted it on Monday? I don't know why i cant find it, but just in case, I'm re-posting it)
A The song, “Say it Ain't So”, I believe to be a heartbreak song and also a song that talks about his alcoholic problems. When he says, “Your love is a heart breaker… my love is a life taker”, Proves that he was in a relationship, but then it got broken off; he is then sad about it and his heart is broken. His love of alcohol, is what maybe caused this relationship to break up, and now that he is not with her, this is what is killing him. When he starts singing about writing to his dad, and I believe also his step dad, to asks for help, because he finally realizes that he is starting to have a problem. Also, he needs comfort, since his dad and step father have been though the same, proved when he says, “Like father, the step father. The son is drowning in the flood”. His father found Jesus, and that may be why he trust him by telling him his problems.
The intended effect is to make the audience think about what he is trying to say. He does not use regular wording, and makes the person listening more attracted to the song. He is trying to reach out to people who have alcoholic problems, specially when it is dealing with heartbreak. What he is trying to say is that if you are being heartbroken, basically in any way, alcohol is not the way to go. He feels like the bottle to him, comes behind him, and is ready to blow. Even when he tries to get away from it, it still comes up no matter how much he tries to avoid it. It is maybe what caused all the problems in his life. He wants to do something about, but he needs the help of his father or stepfather.
The attitude towards the subject at first seems to be calm, he doesn’t hesitate his words. He in a way throughout the song sounds like he had already been drinking, and that’s why it feels “so good inside”. But then comes when he says, “Say it Ain’t so, Your drug is a heart breaker, Say it Ain’t so, Your love is a life taker.” He says it with more passion, with more sadness in the singing, makes his words longer, and sounds like he is crying in a flowing way. When I hear this song, I get the image in my head, that he is out at a party, waiting for the booze to be taken out, so he can get rid of the heartbreak he feels, but then starts to talk to himself, and when he talks about the heartbreak he sounds like his about to break down, and in the verge of crying.
To Maria B: Your analysis was interesting to read. The way your explained your song, with rhetorical analysis was clever to use. Using examples, such as the AABB, makes sense. It helps explain the song, and where your trying to get across. You address the prompt correctly.
ReplyDeleteAlonzo: You keep in a way repeating the same over in the same paragraph. But i did understood, how you logos, oxymoron, and simile, was used throughout the whole song. Your prompt was okay. I think you could of explained it better.
Amy: Your analysis was interesting, yet to the point. You covered rhetorical strategies used and meaning of the song. You also mention the attitude of the writer. By addressing those I feel as if you got your point across and addressed the prompt correctly.
ReplyDeleteJanelle: Your analysis caught my eye because you put time and effort into it. I liked how well you were able to address the prompt by mentioning rhetorical strategies and the intended effect. One thing you thing you mentioned that was interesting was the wording used.
To Lisette: I really thought how it was intresting the devices that you choose for your analyzes. THe oxymoron is pretty common and easy to pick out, also so is antistrophe because that is part of the chorus. Lastly, you ended your blog with a well choosen rhetorical device, over all well done.
ReplyDeleteTO Jazzmin: Your analyzsis was simple but got straight to the point. You seem to have an understanding of your terms and i dentify them correctly with the story. Maybe next time a little more detail, and try to elaborate a littl more. Lastly, I think you choose the right terms that go with the song.
@Bhavian: Including statistical facts like the amount of views on Youtube is genius, it does give insight to the widestream popularity of the song. The rhetorical devices you detected were fully developed. Your simile and personification examples can speak for themselves, but I would have been completely oblivious to the use of Onomatopoeia if you had not pointed it out, very analytical thinking.
ReplyDelete@Sandra: Your selected rhetorical devices helped identify the emotional significance in "Heartless". Upon reading your examples, I was in doubt of a few, but your rationale supporting your selection clearly explains their intended use and effect. A general understanding of the terms are certainly grasped by your reign.
to Maria B: I liked how you explained everything and was able to give examples of each rhetorical device used. I understood the devices even though I didn't know the dictionary definition of each. You made it easy to read and easy to comprehend.
ReplyDeleteto Alex Gonzalez: Your article was interesting because you chose a song that not many chose. That was a brave choice. I liked that you broke down the meaning of the song so that a normal person can understand. However, you should refrain from starting your paragraphs saying "in such-and-such verse..." You should incorporate your ideas in a more flowy language.
“Mama”- Boyz II Men
ReplyDeleteAlthough the song, “Mama” by Boyz II Men does not refer to “mama” as dead or absent, the song holds the rhetorical terms: allusion and simile. The allusion is “Mama” as the one dead or absent. The simile in the poem is “loving you is like food to my soul.”
The attitude towards the subject is loving, compassionate, and honorable. The loving attitude is “you will always be the girl in my life;” it is significant because “girl” is referring to “Mama.” However, when one says, “you are the girl in my life,” society usually assumes the connection to be in a relationship, such as a boyfriend telling this to his girlfriend.
The compassionate attitude can be read in the lines, “Never gonna go a day with you/ Fills me up just thinking about you.” This line is significant because it describes how the speaker needs this important person in their life. This song becomes some-what intimate in that the speaker points out a lot of important parts of their life that included this “Mama.”
The honorable attitude can be read in the lines, “No one else can do/ What you have done for me.” This is significant because there is usually an honorable mention when it comes to someone who has passed away. If “Mama” has really passed away, the allusion in the song is appropriately supported with this honorable mention.
@Alejandra A.: I really enjoyed listening to your analysis. I felt like you were right on with topics and main ideas. I found it really interesting how you made it very short and simple, so that it can be easy to read and understand at the same time.
ReplyDelete@Alex Gonzalez: I found it to be very interesting that you took on a challenge of doing that song. I really like how you went step by step of the verses on the song and explained the most important literary term you found there.
To Janna:
ReplyDeleteYour analysis gave me a better understanding of the song's meaning. When you hear the song its cathchy tone distracts me from finding its true meaning. It's true the song does make you want to replay it. Great job Janna your analyzation gave me a better understanding of the Iyaz's song "Replay."
To Lena:
Great job your analyzation made me see the imagery in the song. Your analysis was efective and adressed the prompt to the point.
@ Janna: I loved the way you described Replay. It is one of my favorite songs, but I chose to do mine on something different: one that would not be a common pick. But anyways; back to you. The way you described the assonance usage in this song helped me better understand the meaning behind the song. At first, I thought it was just a love song about this guy and girl who meet in the mall, but you made me realize it was so much more than that. The beat/ music of the song distracts the listener from its true meaning. Good job!:]
ReplyDelete@ Eric Becerra: I really liked the way you broke down the song into its true meaning. Of course, that’s what we were supposed to do, but anyways. . . .:]
I liked how you said, “He [Kanye] made it sound as if he was the victim and the girlfriend was the one who started the whole issue.” It made me think more on that point. I haven’t heard that song in a while but when I read your commentary, I listened to it again, and was stunned at how much meaning it actually does have behind it, that I have never picked up! Good job on the analysis! :]
Jazzmin Villasano: Your "paragraphs" aren't even paragraphs, they are more like sentences. The rhetorical devices used need to have more example and explanations. I don't understand how "head upon my chest" is imagery. The way you used invective was good. It would have been better if you put more examples then just that one. Another thing you should try doing before posting any blogs is to reread them. Your last sentence doesnt really make sense that's why I say this.
ReplyDeleteQuadree Singer: You did a very good job identifiying the rhetorical devices used in the song. One thing I think you should work on is explaing why using smilies, metaphors, and onomatopeia help the a song become a hit. You should also try explaing each rhetorical seperatley, then just doing it by one sentence each. Overall, you did a very good job.
Lena: You analysis was quite effective, but it lacked detail and reasoning. Your descriptions of the rhetorical strategies were vague. Also, you did not much concrete examples from the song. However, I liked the last example you used of personification, “the screamin’ tires...” is a great example because it does provide the listener with a mental imagery of the accident.
ReplyDeleteBhavin: You seemed to strive away from the topic a bit. You listed many of the rhetorical strategies used in the song and you provided examples with lines from the song, which made you analysis effective. However, you didn’t provide us with how these rhetorical strategies would effect the audience and why they were used.
@ Lena
ReplyDeleteI like the way you described the song and addressed the prompt. It is a story inside the song. I think that you are right about how they are not just “random words put together”. Songs take time, imagination, and rhetoric to do. It is not a random group of rhyming and repeating lines, but a real story.
@Amy: I think you did a good job of summarizing the song. It laid out the main points and I think that it was great how you mentioned what the green beret stood for. Overall, I think your analysis was effective and you addressed the prompt well; it stayed on topic. Good job!
ReplyDelete@Janna: I think you analyzed the song very well. It was really effective. It really showed your understanding of the song. I liked how you pulled out a lot of lines from the song to support your claims. One small thing, when you mention the "Na, na, na, na," it does give you a mental picture of a person singing along; however, that would not be an example of onomatopoeia. Good job by the way!
@Julie:
ReplyDeleteI liked the language you used in order to get your point across. I understood EVERYTHING you meant, which is a plus.
@Jasmin Villasano: You found several devices, which is good. The only thing that you need to improve on is expanding your ideas a little more.
@ Alejandra
ReplyDeleteI think that you had an effective intro paragraph. It gives detail about what you will talk about in your essay, but does not begin to give details. You used three types of rhetorical devices and used details to explain them. I liked how you tied in more than one rhetorical device with each other and used the example to explain something else in the song.
To Janelle: I think you did very on your analysis of the song, "Say it Ain't so" by Weezer. What i thought that you did well was go into detail when you were describing the song. Another thing that you did well was give the intended effect and attitude. I now understand the song better.
ReplyDeleteTo Jeremiah: You did very well on talking about the different rhetorical devices used threw out that song. Another thing that you did well was give good details about the writers intended audience and interesting things.
TO Eric
ReplyDeleteYou explained the song very well. The paragraph you used is well written. The rhetorical devices you identify, was explained extremely well. I also liked how you broke down the significance of the song.
The song "Replay" by Iyaz is like a simile because it uses the word like in comparing "shawty" which is a girl with a "melody" which is a song.The intended effect of the song is to show the audience that he can not get the girl of his mind "she is like a song played again and again".some of the retorical strategies used in the lyrics are hyperbole because he compares a girl with a ipod and its knida humorous.another one is onomatopoeia because he use "Na Na Na NA everyday"to show that that is the song his head that reminds him of the girl.
ReplyDelete