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Childish Gambino - This is America
- Thread starter Deleted member 1444
- Start date
It seems to be criticizing a lot of things, one of which is vapid, repetitive art that focuses on materialism. But in the process of satirizing that, it feels repetitive too.
I'm not talking about its critique of America's fucked up attitude towards gun violence. Those parts are the most powerful, but it's also the video that makes that connection more than the actual song.
It's a good thing that the first time I heard this song: it was accompanied by the video. Had I heard the song on SNL, for example, I'd have dismissed it outright and probably never paid the video any mind unless it generates an incredible amount of noise.
Sorry to say, without the context of the video or potentially the album, the song itself is kinda middling.
when the eyes peel up and he looks at you like a madman that's when you know shit is real
I feel like insisting that the features on this song were brought on because they'd be too stupid to realize it was insulting them is ridiculously snobby at best and downright racist at worst.
I think King Tubby is saying that he thinks the song is a direct critique to popular trap music (I don't agree with this), and he thinks the song suffers because it does sound too pop-trappy
To be clear, that is absolutely not the only thing being critiqued, but I can't help feeling this sense of frustration from Gambino. Maybe that's my projection.
It's also dumb to bring up the church choir being gunned down when discussing the song when...that isn't mentioned or alluded to in the lyrics of the song at all.
sorry, i was being generous. if it's not visual, then what exactly is "too close to what it's criticizing?" the track is pretty straightforward.
I just want to take the opportunity to say that if you're not watching Atlanta, then you should. It's a brilliant show and it's easily Donald Glover's best TV work.
Seriously, if you loved this music video (directed by Hiro Murai, who's shot several of Glover's music videos and most of Atlanta) and you're not watching it, then you really need to got on it.
Seriously, if you loved this music video (directed by Hiro Murai, who's shot several of Glover's music videos and most of Atlanta) and you're not watching it, then you really need to got on it.
I've watched/listened to this a ridiculous amount of times since it released last night. I hope his new album is as amazing as "Awaken, My Love!"
I think the song is in part a criticism of repetitive/dull art that idolizes status symbols, sex, and material wealth. In satirizing that, it itself is repetitive (although it tackles those subjects with a dark/ironic sensibility). I took the message to be that This is America - none of those things will save you, none of those things are an escape from the struggle of being black.
And of course I'm not talking about the visual. That's why I said I like the video, but not so much the song.
Okay, then I'm simply saying that the song doesn't work quite as well without the video.
3 Stacks Verse:
Your White Tee well to me Looks Like A Nightgown
Make you Mama Proud Take That Thing 2 Sizes Down
Then You Look Like The Man That You Are Or What You Could Be
2006 Hip Hop Fashion:
^^I see it says 2008 but you get it.
YES THIS WAS 2006. FEEEEEEL OLLLLLDDDDDDDDDDDD
At first listen, I wasn't feeling it too much but that video is fucking awesome. After a couple of listens the song has really grown on me too. Really digging it. Song is much more effective mixed with the video though.
Likely in the next couple months. His new tour is coming up, and I'm sure that's gonna feature most of his new material.
3 Stacks Verse:
Your White Tee well to me Looks Like A Nightgown
Make you Mama Proud Take That Thing 2 Sizes Down
Then You Look Like The Man That You Are Or What You Could Be
2006 Hip Hop Fashion:
^^I see it says 2008 but you get it.
YES THIS WAS 2006. FEEEEEEL OLLLLLDDDDDDDDDDDD
Tall tees was mostly a Southern thing from what I can remember. They also held on to sagging pants a lot longer than other areas. Even when Wayne went with tight clothing from being influenced by skateboarding he would sag the hell out of his pants.
Incredible. The whole time I was watching I kept saying, "This has gotta be Hiro Murai." His direction is impeccable and distinct and when he and Donald Glover work together: Magic.
Glover has already proved himself a creative genius, but I think one day Murai's gonna be huge too. He's known to a small degree now (and hugely respected), but it's only a matter of time until he gets a high budget feature that puts him on everybody's lips.
It might be a passion project, like another major collaboration with Glover, but I also wouldn't be surprised to see him at least offered one of Disney's million franchise blockbusters in need of an original and distinctive voice.
Glover has already proved himself a creative genius, but I think one day Murai's gonna be huge too. He's known to a small degree now (and hugely respected), but it's only a matter of time until he gets a high budget feature that puts him on everybody's lips.
It might be a passion project, like another major collaboration with Glover, but I also wouldn't be surprised to see him at least offered one of Disney's million franchise blockbusters in need of an original and distinctive voice.
Here's RapGenius breaking down references for y'all
https://genius.com/Childish-gambino-this-is-america-lyrics
https://genius.com/Childish-gambino-this-is-america-lyrics
I still don't understand. He's not talking about Andre 3000 and none of those rappers are on the track, so I don't understand how the two situations are analogous.
Andre 3K was on a single with the pop rappers of his time and basically made fun of them on the track. Some think Glover is doing the same thing on this song .
3 Stacks Verse:
Your White Tee well to me Looks Like A Nightgown
Make you Mama Proud Take That Thing 2 Sizes Down
Then You Look Like The Man That You Are Or What You Could Be
2006 Hip Hop Fashion:
^^I see it says 2008 but you get it.
YES THIS WAS 2006. FEEEEEEL OLLLLLDDDDDDDDDDDD
Man, 2000s streetwear was so trash lol
He said he was done with hip hop and then there's this, versus the track he played live the other night was back to R&B and funk. So yeah, this might just be a single one off "statement".
There's so much crazy attention to detail in this video. (the jim crow bit, not the person being misidentified as Trayvon Martin's father)
Yeah, do people think the mumble vs old school thing really mean shit outside of petty fandom squabbling? That anyone thinks that a bunch of fucking established entertainers got suckered into performing a track is...yeah.
Also, on another watch, the choir getting shot and Glover's lead up to it as a metaphor for how easy it is for the self-proclaimed religious to abandon their principles kinda shone through. Love it all.
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There's a lot to say. It's not one specific thing.