Breakaway from Tradition

1. Damsel in Distress~Idina Menzel
-Archetypes

I chose the song “Damsel in Distress” by Idina Menzel because it definitely addresses what we’ve talked about this year in terms of archetypes and what we've learned from Dr. Lerner. We’ve talked about damsels in distress being weak and waiting around for their savior.

"Ooh, you got big muscles rippling
Underneath your shirt
I'm so glad to meet you, baby
Tell me, what do you do for work?
Me? I'm just a housewife
So sad and all alone
Desperate for a strong man
To help me fix my home
I know I must look a sight
In this--this flimsy little dress
Won't you try your very best
To save a damsel in distress?"

These lyrics show how the housewife is a damsel in distress. She sits at home and waits around for the strong man, like the knight in shining armor, to come and save her, or in this case, to ‘fix her home.’ She complains that she is ‘so sad and alone’ but does nothing about it except lure in someone to come and save her. It cautions these ideas which are engraved in our society. We talked about girls being taught at a young age that they should be pretty and not worry about anything else through the media. This song, from Desperate Housewives shows consequences for older female generations and how waiting around makes them damsels. By understanding the archetype, we can see how easily the media depicts it, and makes people think it’s okay to be a damsel.

2. Gives You Hell~The All-American Rejects
-Epic of Gilgamesh

While reading Epic of Gilgamesh and “Descent of Ishtar,” we discussed how Ishtar lusted after Gilgamesh, and when he wouldn’t marry her, she sought out to destroy everything he had. She was vulnerable before her descent, and after her return, she used people to become powerful, and because she was rejected by Gilgamesh, she wanted to ruin him, because of her experiences. The following instances relate to Epic of Gilgamesh because of power, and “getting over it.”

"When you see my face
I hope it gives you hell, I hope it gives you hell
When you walk my way
I hope it gives you hell, I hope it gives you hell

Now where's your picket fence love
And where's that shiny car
Did it ever get you far?
You never seem so tense, love
Never seen you fall so hard
Do you know where you are?”

These lyrics show how Ishtar tries to make Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s lives hell because she tries to destroy everything they have when she makes her dad start the war to kill them. This also demonstrates Ishtar’s power to influence others, and how quickly she turned from vulnerable to powerful. The lyrics go on to ask where all the possessions are, which shows how Ishtar destroyed what they had. The line, ‘Never seen you fall so hard,’ relates to how Ishtar made Gilgamesh ‘fall’ because the Gods were trying to kill him at that point.

“Truth be told I miss you
Truth be told I'm lying."

"Now you'll never see
What you've done to me
You can take back your memories
They're no good to me
And here's all your lies
If you look me in the eyes
With the sad, sad look
That you wear so well."

I feel this shows how Ishtar was vulnerable because she thought she loved Gilgamesh, but as soon as he rejected her, she acted as if she never cared for him, and she was pretending all along. It shows how Ishtar would ‘get over it’ quickly, which makes one question whether she loved him or whether it was lust. In general, analyzing the lyrics and relating it to Epic of Gilgamesh questions relationships and the motives behind them, because of the bitterness afterwards, in Ishtar’s case, and in that of the song.

3. Show Me What I'm Looking For~Carolina Liar
-Siddhartha & Little Buddha

I picked Carolina Liar’s “Show me what I’m Looking for” because it has many of the same ideas we discussed while reading Siddhartha. The following excerpt illustrates this:

"Wait, I'm wrong
Should have done better than this
Please, I'll be strong
I'm finding it hard to resist
So show me what I'm looking for

Save me, I'm lost
Oh lord, I've been waiting for you
I'll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I'm looking for
Show me what I'm looking for…oh lord

Don't let go
I've wanted this far too long
Mistakes become regrets
I've learned to love abuse
Please show me what I'm looking for."

These lyrics show someone on a journey who is searching for something, but they don’t necessarily know quite what they are looking for. The first verse relates to Little Buddha and Siddhartha because it’s like Siddhartha leaving his home because he feels he could to better for the world. He sums up the courage and is strong enough to leave behind the wealth and future that is already there for him, and leaves the palace to find what he is looking for. We are challenged to find salvation and take action rather than let things happen to us. This is like because he’s on a journey and is trying to achieve salvation and find a purpose to life. He’s on a journey and is asking God what’s his purpose. He makes mistakes and becomes possessive and lusts women, but he follows God to reach the right path.

In addition, the vocals and chords make it seem like someone is stranded and doesn’t know what to do. They sound dependent and sound like they aren’t taking action. When the chorus comes though, they sound like they take action by going for what they are looking for. The bells come and the notes get higher, making it seem like the person has found the Lord and what they are looking for. This is like Siddhartha, because he remains a merchant and inactive, then he has a sudden realization and continues on his journey. The harmony and chords towards the end of the song also make it seem that there is fuel and hope to reach the end of one’s path.

4. This Town~O.A.R.
-Our Town

The song “This Town” relates directly to the topics we’ve discussed while reading Our Town.

"In the morning, wake me up
And tell me everything
So I can understand your world
You can understand my dream
I could be anywhere
And you could be there with me
I just wanna be a ghost
And see everything
I don't want it to be the way they want it

This town, this light, this crowd
Come on put ‘em up
Let me hear it loud
This town, this city, this crowd
Stand up on your feet
Put your worry down
Any every one of you all around
Come on y'all let's take this town.”

The first verse relates directly to the plot of Our Town because it talks about waking up and learning everything about everyone. This occurs naturally in a small town, because everyone knows each other’s business. It goes on to talk about being a ghost and seeing everything, which is similar to Emily after her death. She wants to see her loved ones, but after seeing it, she doesn’t want it to be the way it is. The chorus says, “Put your worry down,” which shows how people live in small town America, and the simplicity of their lives. Even when Emily is getting married, nothing is rushed, and it’s a very calm environment. Nobody was stressed out, and life was just very peaceful. Later in the song, they talk about leaving the town, which relates to one of the mothers wanting to go to Paris, but never getting a chance to because of her death. Both the song and book express ideas of small town America, as well as simple life and simple pleasure.

5. The Story~Brandi Carlile
-Life of Pi & Big Fish

"All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am

But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true, I was made for you

I climbed across the mountain tops
Swam all across the ocean blue
I crossed all the lines and I broke all the rules
But baby I broke them all for you."

The first verse relates to Pi because his journey strengthened his beliefs, which shapes who he is. It shows the story of where he’s been and how he finally reached Canada. The next verse relates to Pi telling the story to the Japanese, but they wouldn’t believe him, so it shows how they don’t mean anything if nobody knows about them. It also relates to Big Fish because the son wouldn’t believe Edward’s story, until the end, when he was in the hospital with his father. When Edward was dying, it strengthened their love and brought them closer together, which is like Pi and Richard Parker. The next verse relates to Pi because he broke boundaries and cared for Parker, and he was friends with a tiger, showing how he broke rules. Swimming the ocean blue is similar to their voyage across the ocean, and when they arrived on the island, and Pi continued to get food for Parker.

"No, they don't know who I really am
And they don't know what I've been through
Like you do, and I was made for you."

Finally, this verse shows the bond between Pi and Richard Parker as well as Edward and his son, because Pi learned so much about Parker and cared for him. They were on the journey together. Edward and Will, his son, bonded because in the end, it was Will who made the final story. The lyrics of this song definitely relates to Life of Pi and Big Fish because they all bring up the idea of stories, and how even if nobody believes them, there’s always someone there for you in the end, which is what will matter the most.

6. Chasing Cars~Snow Patrol
-Romeo and Juliet

"We'll do it all
Everything
On our own

We don't need
Anything
Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world?"

The first words of the song relate to Romeo and Juliet because they are two lovers with all odds against them. They are willing to give up everything they have: their status, money, and families, to run away with each other to be together and escape the hatred between their families. The chorus relates to these lovers because at night when they are together, that’s all that’s important to them, and they forget all outside stress. They forget their families hate each other; they only care that they are together at the moment. This also relates to The Notebook because in the movie, Allie’s family doesn’t want her to be with Noah, yet against all odds, in the end, she goes back to him. It reminds me of the specific scene when they lie across the road, because she trusts him and they forget everything else (until of course, a car comes).

In addition to the lyrics, the opening music is a few repeating notes without other instruments, showing that they are alone, and they are making a decision to be together. Once it gets to the chorus, there are multiple instruments that sound inviting, which is saying, will you come with me, or, “Would you lie with me and just forget the world?”

"I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own."

"Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden
That's bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes
They're all I can see."

The lyrics here relate to Romeo because it’s Juliet’s grace and beauty that keep him in line. It’s her grace that kept him from initially fighting Tybalt. She made him mature, which shows her maturity helped him find his. The next verse shows they are forgetting what their families told them: that they are enemies. The final verse shows once again that Juliet perfects Romeo, and that he only became who he truly is once he met her. I also shows the initial attraction he had to her upon seeing her. Both the song and book share the common theme of an escape to revive and allow their love to live on.

7. Popular~Wicked
-Socialization of Girls

The bouncy and upbeat music along with Kristin Chenoweth’s bubbly and high voice makes it sound more girly and perky, which goes along with the socialization of girls. In addition, if you see the video or musical, you can see how Elphaba is green and wearing what Galinda calls ‘dreary’ compared to Galinda’s gorgeous sparkly dress, you can see how they expect one to dress and look like.

"Popular!
You're gonna be popular!
I'll teach you the proper ploys
When you talk to boys
Little ways to flirt and flounce
I'll show you what shoes to wear
How to fix your hair
Everything that really counts.”

The verse above tells exactly how girls are expected to act and wear. They have to have this femininity and flirt and talk to boys in a certain way. They have to use their looks to get what they want, which is similar to what Dr. Lerner was getting at and the Disney movies too. Also, they are saying it’s the shoes and hair that really counts, which shows how girls are brought up in society. Earlier this year, we discussed the consequences of these ideas because of gender inequality rooted through them.

"When I see depressing creatures
With unprepossessing features
I remind them on their own behalf
To think of
Celebrated heads of state or
Specially great communicators
Did they have brains or knowledge?
Don't make me laugh!

They were popular! Please -
It's all about popular!
It's not about aptitude
It's the way you're viewed
So it's very shrewd to be
Very very popular
Like me!"

The lyrics above show how girls have to be pretty and look ‘normal.’ They can’t be what they are, but have to look like the norm, like a mold. They can’t be what they were born as. Elphaba was born as a green creature and Galinda tells her she looks wrong. Then they go onto women who have power getting there not because of their intellect, but because of their looks and popularity. This relates to our discussion about the socialization of girls because we talked about these ideas and the consequences that develop from them. It makes girls think they don’t have to be smart to get what they want, but they have to look pretty and ‘right’ to get what they want and their goals.

8. Breakaway~Kelly Clarkson
**My Reflection**

"Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray

Trying hard to reach out
But when I'd try to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me

Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I pray
I could breakaway

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway

Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I loved
I'll take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway.”

I feel Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway” describes my change throughout the year perfectly. I used to always just wonder what would happen and whether I would be happy, or if I even was happy. I used to be serious and not as loud, I guess you could say. And then, I realized what mattered to me was that I should be happy. I should be proud of what I do and who I am. I don’t have to be who someone else wants me to be. I just need to be who I want to be and be happy with that. I used to try to fit in with everyone and be who they wanted me to be, but that wasn’t right for me, so I broke away from that. I’m still finding out who I am, and I’m getting better at it as time goes on. I’m not saying I’m going to forget who I was or who my friends were; they were just another part of me, a different part. I’m just onto a better place for myself and I want to live and appreciate the moments I have. If there’s one thing I’ve learned this year and if that’s brought me anywhere, I know that what’s important is to be happy and that’s what’ll bring take me to a better place, and what’ll make me stand out of the crowd. I’m not in my perfect place yet, but I know over time, as I continue to realize what’s important, I’ll get there. I don’t want to have to question everything that I do. I just

“Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean

Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jet plane, far away
And breakaway."