JUDAS: VIDEO MEANING
The theme of the video is a portrayal of modern-day Jerusalem. Lady Gaga plays Mary Magdalene, leading into the town where Jesus is. Beginning with the motorcycle scene, she is happy riding with the Jesus- the man with the crucifix crown (representing good/heaven.)Then Judas( the man with black sunglasses) comes along and seduces her into the dark/satanic side.
As the dancing scene begins, she at first pushes Judas down but he keeps coming towards her. Jesus saves her (the crowd scene) and she follows him. Though from here, she tries to fight temptation and begins sinning by falling for Judas. As she points the lipstick gun towards him ( the irony being that guns are usually dangerous weapons & meant to destroy, but instead only portudes an harmless lipstick), she cannot bring herself to harm him/destroy her love for Judas. As a result, she sinks down in agony from distraught after smearing lipstick on his face.
The scenes then switch between her standing by the ocean waves & sitting in the tub middle of Jesus [good] & Judas[evil]. She is choosing which side she will serve. Her decision is made as she choose to cling to the leg of Jesus later on-Jesus is my virtue, but Judas is the demon I cling to. She gives herself to the good, and Jesus forgives her. But because she had sinned by giving in to Judas earlier on, she is punished as she stands in her white dress and falls to the ground being stoned to death. This suggests that just because one shows repent or remorse, doesn't mean their wrong actions won't result in consequences.
This video incorporates parallels between biblical figures and the question of faith.
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JUDAS: SONG MEANING
As usual, Lady Gaga has succeeded into making a catchy styled pop tune. But, behind the song beats hold a much deeper meaning. There are many opinions that this song represents her contradiction against Christianity. Looking at the song as a whole, it seems to center around the theme of love and forgiveness.
The story of Judas comes from the bible—him being the apostle that betrayed Jesus and handed him over to the Jewish authorities, causing Christ's death. This song seems to represent a metaphor with the man she loves being a Judas-like type of of character (maybe someone who betrayed her or an ex lover.) . I'm just a holy fool/ Oh baby, he's so cruel, but I'm still in love with Judas, baby." She is in love with someone, though he treats her badly, being sinful and full of imperfection.
" In the most Biblical sense,
I am beyond repentance
Fame hooker, prostitute wench, vomits her mind
But in the cultural sense
I just speak in future tense
Judas kiss me if offenced,
Or wear an ear condom next time"
Here, Gaga is speaking as if she is Mary Magdalene . In the new testament, Jesus had cleansed her of the 7 demons- and she was the first to see Jesus after his resurrection as well as being saved by Jesus as a former prostitute. Because Mary knew from experience that forgiveness was there for everybody, Gaga speaks as if she is Mary. She'd treat the person she loves (in this case alluding to Judas) without discrimination, whether he repented for his sins for not. She cannot judge him (Mary sinned as being former prostitute herself, so she has no right to judge others who've sinned.)
CONCLUSION:
What Judas did was a horrid act. But, the bible says to love thy neighbor, therefore none of us are in a position to judge others for who they are - no matter a different race, religion, or sexual orientation.
I'm starting to get more and more into chinese music. It is definitely very unique, as well as the most beautiful lyrics! After watching this guy's cover of JJ Lin's -She Says, I couldn't stop listening to it so I decided to play it out by ear today.
Here's the amazing cover, done by BEC Bunz. This guy is seriously talented.
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My Piano Cover
"Unfold me, I am small...breathe me"
"I told the world, one day I would pay it back.
Say it on tape and lay it, record it, so that one day I could play it back."
Eminem's music and lyrics combine together to represent a piece of his history and life. Being a fan of his for 5 years, I'm clearly aware of how much obstacles he had to overcome to reach the fame he has today. The biggest mentor and "savior" that made his dreams possible was Dr. Dre, whom believed in his talent and looked past stereotypes that automatically labelled Eminem as a unworthy white rapper. The debt and respect he owns to Dr.Dre is obviously unmeasurable-"But I can never repay you, what you did for me is way more."
This song is a very emotional one talking about their mutual trust and friendship to each other, assisting one another through troubled times. "All I know is you came to me when I was at my lowest. You picked me up, breathed new life in me. I owe my life to you." This is obviously expressing Eminem's gratitude, that he came for him at a time of hitting rock bottom. He was "saved" by Dre, who saw his potential and believed in him when no one else did. 'Cause no one sees my vision....doubt startin' to creep in, everyday it's just so grey and black"-he was looking for a breakthrough, searching for someone to grant his dream of being a rapper. The second chorus is about the rough time Dr. Dre's going through, as his son died from overdose not long ago. Dre "needs a doctor" to help him stay back on track again. "It hurts when I see you struggle"- he's not himself and Eminem wants to remind him that he was "supposed to be a mentor." Mentors don't weakly second guess themselves; they're born a leader. Dre needs to trust himself, get over his obstacles, and come back with more vengeance than ever despite his personal struggles.
"You risked your career for me, I know it as well as you....Nobody wanted to f-ck with the white boy..." He reminds Dr.Dre that he's a rap legend, who has accomplished and helped others so much. He needs to gather himself together, be back to how he was- "but I ain't giving up faith, and you ain't giving up on me." Eminem expresses he'll always be there, until the last moment. "All I see is Slim ...f-ck all you fairweather friends" This is about the fake friends he had, and his frustrations with the music industry; that had at one point betrayed him-"backwards producers, I'm back bastards.... packing up my bags and as I leave, I'm guranteed they'll scream" Dre's expressing that Eminem is the only loyal artist he signed on the label, who didn't betray or leave when he needed help. They can always depend on each other. This song is about the gratitude Eminem feels toward the man that started his career, without him he would be nothing "it was you who believed in me, let's tell the truth." In turn, his belief in Dre will never falter no matter what he's going through.
[Eminem]
I told the world, one day I would pay it back.
Say it on tape and lay it, record it, so that one day I could play it back.
But I don't even know if I believe it when I'm saying that.
Doubt startin' to creep in, everyday it's just so grey and black.
Hope, I just need a ray of that
'Cause no one sees my vision
When I play it for 'em, they just say it's wack.
But they don't know what dope is.
And I don't know if I was awake or asleep when I wrote this.
All I know is you came to me when I was at my lowest.
You picked me up, breathed new life in me. I owe my life to you.
Before the life of me, I don't see why you don't see like I do.
But it just dawned on me; you lost a son. See this light in you? It's dark.
Let me turn on the lights and brighten me and enlighten you.
I don't think you realize what you mean to me, not the slightest clue.
'Cause me and you, we're like a crew. I was like your sidekick.
You gon' either wanna fight when I get off this f-cking mic,
Or you gon' hug me. But I'm out of options, there's nothing else I can do cause...
[Eminem]
It hurts when I see you struggle
You come to me with ideas.
You say that these are pieces, so I'm puzzled.
'Cause the sh-t I hear is crazy,
But you're either getting lazy, or you don't believe in you no more.
Seems like your own opinions, not one you can form.
Can't make a decision, you keep questioning yourself,
Second guessing, and it's almost like your begging for my help.
Like, I'm YOUR leader.
You're supposed to f-cking be MY mentor.
I can endure no more!
I demand you remember who you are!
It was YOU, who believed in me,
When everyone was telling you, don't sign me.
Everyone at the f-cking label, lets tell the truth.
You risked your career for me, I know it as well as you.
Nobody wanted to f-ck with the white boy...
Dre, I'm crying in this booth.
You saved my life, now maybe it's my time to save yours.
But I can never repay you, what you did for me is way more.
But I ain't giving up faith, and you ain't giving up on me.
Get up Dre! I'm dying, I need you, come back for f-ck's sake
[Dr Dre]
It literally feels like a lifetime ago
But I still remember the sh-t like it was just yesterday though
You walked in, yellow jump suit
Whole room, cracked jokes
Once you got inside the booth, told you, like smoke
Went through friends, some of them I put on
But they just left, they said was riding to the death
But where the f-ck are they now
Now that I need them, I don't see none of them
All I see is Slim
F-ck all you fairweather friends
All I need is him
F-cking backstabbers
When the chips were down, you just laughed at us
Now you bout to feel the f-cking wrath of aftermath, faggots
You gon' see us in our lab jackets and ask where the f-ck we been?
You can kiss my indecisive ass crack maggots and the crackers ass
Little cracker jack beat making wack math,
Backwards producers, I'm back bastards
One more CD and then I'm packing up my bags and as I leave
And I guarantee they'll scream, Dre don't leave us like that man cause...
[Chorus]
Im about to lose my mind
You've been gone for so long
I'm running out of time
I need a doctor
Call me a doctor
I need a doctor, doctor
To bring me back to life
Bring me back to life
Bring me back to life
I've been a huge fan of Britney since childhood, all her songs bring back the most wonderful memories. I just can't get enough! With the new premiere of her most recent song "Hold it Against Me" yesterday, the video which came along with it was quite controversial. I didn't expect this at all- I imagined a light dance scenes with her flirting with some guy. So, after thinking alot about what this video means, here's my interpretation:
Start of career- represented by the meteor that hits earth. This is like her arrival to the music industry.
Celebrity status- as she's putting on perfume and getting makeup applied, this glam image portrays her fame.
Popularity- As she's floating up in her long white dress, surrounded by walls of her old music videos- this is the "process" or "history" of all the work she's accomplished so far, gaining the immense success she has.
Love Relationships- As she's looking at the "Plenty of Fish" site on the touchscreen TV-with a variety of guy's profiles, she's chosen one to fall in love with.
Breakdown- we all know that period when she had lots of personal issues and internal struggles, with her shaving her head and going through custodies with her ex husband. The paint splattered everywhere & her descending shows her fall in reputation as she's ridiculed by press and the public during this time. Her meltdown is shown as she fights with herself, collapses with her dress ruined as well as the past videos in the screens.
Comeback- She slowly rises from the floor and goes back to her glam image, with her dancing that represents the pop princess she's always been known as! She's back harder and stronger. ;-)
There ya'll have it! I love both the song and video, & I hope people who don't understand what this video means now does.
