Airplanes - B.o.B. feat. Hayley Williams
This will be my first song that I'll be doing. Yay! :) Before I get to the actual analysis, I have some questions that I asked myself before getting deep into the song. This is answered with my knowledge of the song form just looking at it.
WHY THIS SONG?
This song is really popular in America right now. I like this song, and I wanted to know what the music was actually saying. Also, last night I saw an airplane, and thought it was a shooting star until my friend corrected me. So, I think that was an omen that I should do this song.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE CORE MEANING OF THIS SONG NOW?
I think it's a sort of escapist view of the world. When things go wrong, you start wishing instead of actually dealing with the problem.
Lyrics | Bob lyrics - Airplanes lyrics
CHORUS:
The chorus gives off an attitude of escapism and desperation. 'Life is hard, and I need a miracle to get out of this.' The songwriter is out of logical options, so all they feel they have left to do is make wishes on airplanes because they can't wait for the rare occurrence of a falling star.
FIRST VERSE:
The first verse changes the tone/mood of the song to nostalgia for life pre-stardom and a little regret of becoming famous. The "perks" of being famous get listed, but the list ends with the fickleness of Hollywood. The famous/important numbers in his cell phone won't return his calls. The roller coaster of fame goes like this. One day you're at the top and everyone knows you and wants a piece of you, but then, in what feels like no time at all, everyone forgets you even existed. "Another hand soon after you fold" is an allusion to poker. The songwriter uses this as a metaphor for life. If you get a bad hand in poker you fold, and then get new hand and start all over. In life, when something horrible happens, you must get back up and start building yourself back up. "And when your plans unravel in the sand, what would you wish for if you had one chance?" Now, the wishing is an evaluation of character. The songwriters ask, when your world is falling apart what would you wish for? Money, love, a second chance, success? What do you think would make all your problems disappear?
SECOND VERSE:
The nostalgia comes back. The songwriters are longing for when songwriting/music/rapping was just their passion, back when they weren't so superficial ("before it ever mattered what was in my bank"). Now, (B.o.B. is the main songwriter for this part) rapping, his passion, has become a chore. He has to rap on demand to stay successful, whether he feels like it or not. He wants to go back to his old life, living in Decatur, Illinois (but this is for Decatur, what's up Bobby Ray?). Also, he misses the time when rapping wasn't so controlled or poisoned by egos, contracts and 'who's the top dog' attitudes.
WRAP UP:
This song has a lot more meaning than I initially thought. It's a warning about fame, and how it can swallow you whole. Also, it's a reminder that we should value what we have, before we lose it.
WHY THIS SONG?
This song is really popular in America right now. I like this song, and I wanted to know what the music was actually saying. Also, last night I saw an airplane, and thought it was a shooting star until my friend corrected me. So, I think that was an omen that I should do this song.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE CORE MEANING OF THIS SONG NOW?
I think it's a sort of escapist view of the world. When things go wrong, you start wishing instead of actually dealing with the problem.
Lyrics | Bob lyrics - Airplanes lyrics
CHORUS:
The chorus gives off an attitude of escapism and desperation. 'Life is hard, and I need a miracle to get out of this.' The songwriter is out of logical options, so all they feel they have left to do is make wishes on airplanes because they can't wait for the rare occurrence of a falling star.
FIRST VERSE:
The first verse changes the tone/mood of the song to nostalgia for life pre-stardom and a little regret of becoming famous. The "perks" of being famous get listed, but the list ends with the fickleness of Hollywood. The famous/important numbers in his cell phone won't return his calls. The roller coaster of fame goes like this. One day you're at the top and everyone knows you and wants a piece of you, but then, in what feels like no time at all, everyone forgets you even existed. "Another hand soon after you fold" is an allusion to poker. The songwriter uses this as a metaphor for life. If you get a bad hand in poker you fold, and then get new hand and start all over. In life, when something horrible happens, you must get back up and start building yourself back up. "And when your plans unravel in the sand, what would you wish for if you had one chance?" Now, the wishing is an evaluation of character. The songwriters ask, when your world is falling apart what would you wish for? Money, love, a second chance, success? What do you think would make all your problems disappear?
SECOND VERSE:
The nostalgia comes back. The songwriters are longing for when songwriting/music/rapping was just their passion, back when they weren't so superficial ("before it ever mattered what was in my bank"). Now, (B.o.B. is the main songwriter for this part) rapping, his passion, has become a chore. He has to rap on demand to stay successful, whether he feels like it or not. He wants to go back to his old life, living in Decatur, Illinois (but this is for Decatur, what's up Bobby Ray?). Also, he misses the time when rapping wasn't so controlled or poisoned by egos, contracts and 'who's the top dog' attitudes.
WRAP UP:
This song has a lot more meaning than I initially thought. It's a warning about fame, and how it can swallow you whole. Also, it's a reminder that we should value what we have, before we lose it.