T.I. feat John Legend- Slideshow

"Slide Show"(feat. John Legend)

[Verse One: T.I.]
When I think about all my time and all my struggle
Through all my grinding and all my troubles
Man I came up from nothing, all I had was a hustle
with a blindfold trying to find pieces to the puzzle no muzzle
I tell it like it is, that's that
Right or wrong I'ma call it like I see it don't forget
That impossible is nothing your environments irrelavant
just don't let your emotions overpower your intelligence
Refuse to give up, your mistakes don't define you
they don't dictate where your headed they remind you
The Time keep ticking let your mind keep clicking
Never stop thinking be aware of your positions
Be aware of the collisions and the potholes sitting
on the road that you travel on your life long mission
just listen every day is like a snapshot taken
if you live you can learn to be patient

[Hook: John Legend]
Cuz life is like a slideshow
all the places that I go
and I the things that I know
through all the highs and low
Cuz life is like a slideshow
All things that I've seen
and all the things that I've dreamed
you can't take away from me
cuz life is like a slideshow

[Verse Two: T.I.]
As I look back at a fly young cat
who could rap with a dream look where I took that
Beginning on Bankhead then it spread out
vision in my head all I had to was get it out
when I walked out of my house and looked at my street
All I seen was opportunity that led me to truency
I ain't really have a role model to infleunce me
Uncle Quinn in prison they say next it's going be you in it
As I juvenile caught cases so fluently
Look at my life and learn from it don't do it
if I only knew back then what I know now
how much better life would of been if I'da slowed down
Maybe I'da been Kanye instead of seeing Gunplay
But God got a plan, I'll understand one day
But one day of life, like a snapshot taken
Just believe you can make it have faith be patient

[Hook]

[Legend singing]
Ohhhh, ohhh, ohhhhhh~!
Looking back on my lifetime
see the slides go by, sometimes I wonder why
looking back on where I've been
I remember when
do you remember then

The genre of this song is Hip Hop music. However, this song in particular differs from Hip Hops' usual features of hardcore lyrics, rythmic beats and great hooks. This song has a message. Not saying that other music in Hip Hop doesn't, but it's clear that Hip Hop portrays alot of negative things and not many positive things. This genre exists in urban African American homes. This music touches families from "ghetto" to "ghetto" all over America. This is our escape, when you have nothing else. Music like this in particular inspires the African American community to rise up and change, to think first before making stupid decisions. It is a song of that is full of HOPE and positivity. It shows T.I.'s growth as not only an artist, but as a real person. This song shows society's values, and then it also show's T.I.'s. It tells the story of his mistakes, and how he learned from them. It gives wise advice to young adults, the target audience for this song clearly. He is basically telling the youth and young adults that life's opprotunities are endless. It shows that no matter where you come from you can be successful and truly embrace all the great things that life and this world have to offer. For some little black boy or black girl who has the world telling them "they can't", this song says "you can" and to never let anyone overpower your intelligence. It tells you to never let your past define you. Anything is possible. This is one of the most inspirational Hip Hop songs I have ever heard. This song actually relates to another genre, inspirational music. No, it's not quite gospel, but for someone who doesn't believe in GOD or themselves, this song could be the influencing factor they need. T.I. geniously conveyed his message, he intelligently phrased inspirational lyrics that lift you off the ground literally. T.I. makes an emotional connection to the song because he is basically recalling his life through this song. He opens himself up to his fans, and tells them about his mistakes, but also inspires them with his growth. He is a leading example that your environment doesn't constrain you. He is living proof that everyone from undeveloped neighborhoods are not as "stupid" as they have been conveyed to the world ;) This song is a powerhouse around the concept of trust. It basically says if you trust in yourself, and stay true to YOU and on the right track, ANYTHING is possible and NOTHING can stop you. He looks back and recollects on life lessons and truly inspired me with this song.

Owl City- Firleflies

You would not believe your eyes
If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep

'Cause they'd fill the open air
And leave teardrops everywhere
You'd think me rude
But I would just stand and stare

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems

'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightning bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance

A foxtrot above my head
A sock hop beneath my bed
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
When I fall asleep

Leave my door open just a crack
(Please take me away from here)
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
(Please take me away from here)
{ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/o/owl-city-lyrics/fireflies-lyrics.html }
Why do I tire of counting sheep
(Please take me away from here)
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep

To ten million fireflies
I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said farewell

But I'll know where several are
If my dreams get real bizarre
'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
When I fall asleep

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
When I fall asleep

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
Because my dreams are bursting at the seams

This song is something more of a dream than anything but the genre is a pop song. Pop usually consists of enhanced, catchy beats, and innocent lyrics. It is "feel-good" music and this genre exists internationally. This music reaches out everywhere, in fact the I don't think the group that sings this song is American. The song is just amazing and has a serious message, so America appreciated it. It is influential because the song points out a fact that can't be ignored, "the world spins so fast", in our fantasies, the world moves slow. The singer simply expresses his make believe notion the the world moves slowly. Time is scary, and facing the fact that it doesn't stop for anyone is not as easy as it seems. This represents society as a whole. We all have fears, the singer's fear just seems to be trapped in his childhood. The video to the song correlates even more. Its' setting is a childlike room filled with old-school toys (toys that were once his I assume), he points out that he would rather sleep than be awake so that he can live in his fantasy. The correlation with the fireflies, just points out a childlike passion. The beginning lyrics talk about if 10 million fireflies lit up the world, the singer's dream. He says he would just "stand and stare", this is a human value- would you catch them? Or be amazed by their beauty? The target audience in my opinion is young adults, or people who are old enough to face the reality of life, and are too young to not be afraid of it (I.E- ME). The information is conveyed through swift lyrics, that have ALOT of meaning behind them. The tempo of the song is catchy and the lyrics aren't extremely hard to learn either so this song is EASY to love in my opinion. This genre, well song is particular relates CLOSELY to another genre- dreams. The singer reveals his childhood fear that he still holds onto. The song is basically a dream that the singer is having. The song makes an extreme emotional connection because he is revealing a fear of his. Anytime you are telling the world your fears, it is emotional and scary. But he shares a fear that many people do everywhere including myself. The writer is not a fan of trust based on the song in my opinion. One of my favorite lines of the song is "cause everything is never as it seems", the writer does not have strong trust for the real world. He feels like the world moves too fast, and the only way to truly slow it down is in a make-believe world in his dreams. The fireflies just represent his inner-child in my opinion. I love this song. Everything about it. I could listen to it all day.

Strength, Courage and Wisdom- India Arie

Inside my head there lives a dream that I want to see in the sun
Behind my eyes there lives a me that I've been hiding for much too long
'Cause I've been, too afraid to let it show
'Cause I'm scared of the judgment that may follow
Always putting off my living for tomorrow
It's time to step out on faith, I've gotta show my faith
It's been illusive for so long, but freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith, It's time to show my faith
Procrastination had me down but look what I have found, I found

[Chorus]
Strength, courage, and wisdom
And it's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me

Behind my pride there lives a me, that knows humility
Inside my voice there is a soul, and in my soul there is a voice
But I've been, too afraid to make a choice
'Cause I'm scared of the things that I might be missing
Running too fast to stop and listen

It's time to step out on faith, I've gotta show my faith
It's been illusive for so long but freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith it's time to show my faith
Procrastination had me down but look what I have found, I found

[Chorus]
Strength, courage, and wisdom
And it's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me

[Bridge]
I close my eyes and I think of all the things that I want to see
'Cause I know, now that I've opened up my heart I know that
Anything I want can be, so let it be, so let it be:.

[Chorus]
Strength, courage, and wisdom
It's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, wisdom
It's been inside of me all along, everyday I'm praying for:

[Chorus]
Strength, courage, and wisdom
To find me, yeah,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me

Vamp
I found it in me, I found it finally
I'm sure to keep it' cause I like it, I say thank you

The genre of this song is neo-soul R&B music. Its features include melodic beats, harmonious verses, lyrics with meaning, and some sort of band-type of music (drums, piano, etc). This genre exists predominantly in African American homes all over America, but the genre touches other races also. This society represents the African American soul, throughout history, African Americans express themselves musically. This genre just allows music to take on a poetic feel. It is creativity at its finest. This genre, well specifically this song conveys the message, "Strength, Courage and Wisdom" - the title of the song. In this song, India Arie, the composer simply goes through her journey towards finding herself. She held herself back for years, and this song is simply about self empowerment :) The target audience in my opinion is anyone who has a dream, or has ever had a dream. The song is just a reminder that sometimes we are our biggest critics, and fear of the unknown and judgement can sometimes hold us back from our true potential. I feel like people who are empathetic to this can appreciate this song more, so their needs are served more-so than those who never were held back. The information is conveyed through poetic lyrics, and masterly performed by India in my opinion. This song is perfect for her voice, and it really makes the song so much more inspiring. This genre does depend on another genre however, poetry. This song sounds like it started out as a narrative poem and turned into a melodious tune. It always falls in the R&B category of music of course, because she's singing. India completely makes a connection with this song because she is telling a story about herself. She is singing her story to the world, unashamed of her past and proud of who she had become. This song is completely about self trust, and how imperative it is. It is effective, this song has inspired me to be better for years. It is a song that I turn to when I need that extra push. This genre is a particular favorite of mines. Singing has always and will always be a passion of mines. Music is amazing and completely inspirational, this piece shows that. This is R&B at its' finest...