Billboard Top 100: Short Essay

All around the world music is shaping different cultures. Whether it is from rock to reggae each genre has a specific sound and meaning that appeals to individuals in different ways. In America, pop and rap seem to appeal to the majority of people compared to other genres. Rap, pop, and sometimes country appear on the top Billboard hits all the time. Since rap is usually obscene and pop is typically upbeat music this makes people want to dance and party. Sometimes these songs influence young people to make bad choices or live under the influence. Our generation seems to be addicted to the rebellious phase during their teenage years. But there are popular songs that do make American culture look respectable. The top billboard songs that I choose to evaluate were California Girls by Katy Perry, Billionaire by Travie McCoy, and Bottoms Up by Trey Songz.

California Girls, by Katy Perry, is a song about the state of California. Katy describes the good life by the ocean. Although she probably didn’t write this song, she sings about young adult girls wearing short shorts and tiny bikinis. This shows that American culture has gotten more and more indecent over the years. “Once you party with us, you'll be falling in love” American culture is obsessive with partying and just having a good time. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but maybe instead of partying we could put more time and effort into something more important.

Everyone wants to be a billionaire, especially Travie McCoy. That’s why he wrote the song Billionaire. This song is basically describing everything Travie wants to do when he becomes a billionaire. One of the lines is “I’d probably visit where Katrina hit and damn sure do a lot more than FEMA did”. So instead of just singing about all the stuff he wants to buy for himself he also includes people who don’t have a lot or lost their belongings in a hurricane. This is unselfish of the songwriter and I believe that this makes American culture look good.

Bottoms Up by Trey Songz is a typical club song. It has a smooth beat and the rap is fast paced. In the line, “Bottoms up, bottoms up, throw ya hands up”, it is showing how Americans love to party and have a good time. This song is very popular because not only does it have fast paced rap but it also has Nicki Minaj featured in it and she gives an electronic voice to the song. Our culture is obviously based around “throwing our hands up” and dancing all our problems away.

Many people in America listen to the Billboard top 100 song list. The songs that are featured on this list are either obnoxious and loud (California Girls), upbeat and redundant (Bottoms Up), or smooth and have a deeper meaning (Billionaire). These songs represent our generation and personally I think in a bad way. I feel like these songs are teaching teenagers and young adults that being under the influence is cool, but it is not. A lot of these singers are very wealthy and there is a variety of gender who sing these songs. But there are some songs that inspire people to be good. All in all, the culture in America is based on the music that influence young people.

Song Analysis #1: Who's To Say by: Vanessa Carlton

Stand up straight
Do your trick
Turn on the stars
Jupiter shines so bright
When you're around they tell us slow down,
We're too young you need to grow
The speed's the key
And they don't know who we are

And who's to say that we're not good enough?
And who's to say that this is not our love?

Mother don't tell me friends are the ones that I lose
'Cause they'd bleed before you
And sometimes family are the ones you'd choose
It's too late now
I hold on to this life I found

And who's to say we won't burn it out?
And who's to say we won't sink in doubt?
Who's to say that we won't fade to gray?
Who are they anyway? Anyway they don't know

And you say we're too young, but maybe you're too old to remember
And I try to pretend but I just feel it when we're together
And if you don't believe me, you never really knew us
You never really knew

You and I, packin' up my room, we feel alright
But we're not welcome, soon
We'll be drivin', 'cause they don't know who we are
Who's to say we won't stay together?
Who's to say we aren't getting stronger?
Who's to say I can't live without you?
Who are they anyway? Anyway they don't know

And you say we're too young, but maybe you're too old to remember
And I try to pretend, but I just feel it when we're together
Who is to say?
And who is to say?
And who are they anyway?

Stand up boy, I shine so bright when you're around

Analysis:
The graceful piano playing of Vanessa Carlton has charmed her audience and many others. Not only does she play piano but she also sings and writes her own songs. Their filled with deep lyrics that almost any young adult can relate too. Most people categorize Carlton in “classical- pop” or “light rock”. I categorize her in a genre of her own just because her music is so unique. Vanessa Carlton’s song “Who’s To Say” speaks to me and many others because of the poetic lyrics and realistic themes.

“Who’s To Say” uses personification, imagery, and hyperbole to broaden our visual and mental understanding of the song. In the line “Turn on the stars” Carlton is using personification, you can’t really turn on the stars like you would for a light bulb. Another line of personification is “ The speed’s the key”. Speed cannot be a key to, let’s say, opening a door. This whole song is imagery but there is one line that really makes you visualize it, “Jupiter shines so bright”. It’s very easy to picture Jupiter shining bright in the sky at nighttime. Hyperbole exists among this line, “Who’s to say we won’t fade to gray”. Fading to gray is an exaggeration because unless your incredibly sick than you can’t physically fade to gray. The use of poetic terms is ever-present in the song “Who’s To Say.”

The themes in “Who’s to Say” by Vanessa Carlton are rather obvious. One theme is “love” and this protrudes throughout the song especially at the end. This line describes it perfectly, “And I try to pretend, but I just feel it when we're together”. Whenever she and her lover are together they can’t help but love each other even if they try to pretend they don’t. Another theme in this song is “independence”. The narrator in this song is becoming more independent throughout the song, especially from her mother. In this line, “We’ll be drivin’, cause they don’t know who we are.” Vanessa is finally breaking free from her mother’s grip on her life and beginning to make her own decisions. The themes, independence and love show during the course of this song.

So many people who are avid Vanessa Carton fans know this song and can probably relate to it the most. Many of us have broken free of our parents (or at least tried), particularly in our rebellious teenage years. “Who’s To Say” has inspired me and I’m sure it has inspired numerous others. I think Vanessa also sounds like Sheila Nicholls and Michelle Branch. Her high-pitched voice is melancholy and easy to listen too. It also blends well with the piano, offering best of both worlds. Followers of Vanessa appreciate this song just as much as I do. The themes, poetic devices, and relations to other people explain why this song is a masterpiece. The personification and imagery help point out the specific points of interest in this song.

The themes relate to many people and the people are grateful of that. Vanessa Carlton speaks to people and I think this is why she is a semi-popular artist. Although everyone interprets this song differently we all can understand what it truly means. I believe it means that independence can be a good thing and love takes you on adventures that shape your view of life. As you can see, Vanessa Carlton and her song, “Who’s to Say” is a work of art and should be put into its own genre.