Rhetorical Analysis Of A Song

Making connections and listening to others can help alleviate one’s suffering. In Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin, two brothers are trapped in the poverty and racism of Harlem. The Narrator can no longer deny the suffering he has become customary to in Harlem after the metaphoric and literal death of his daughter, Grace, and it is not until he listen’s to Sonny’s music that he can finally redeem himself. On the way back from the prison, the Narrator begins to question his idea that he has escaped the suffering of Harlem. The death of Grace makes the Narrator’s own suffering apparent, and opens the idea of listening to the Narrator. When at the Narrator’s apartment, Sonny and the Narrator discuss

Many great writers have a way of connecting to their audience and influence the way we analyze their writing strategies. Cheryl Strayed created a biography, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, about her life changing experience that allows us the opportunity to apply aspects of a rhetorical analysis to her writing. Cheryl’s memory of her journey along the Pacific Crest Trail, that extends over 1,000 miles from Mexico to Canada, provides us with explicit details and evidence that tie into her motives and conditions for writing and her intended audience. Cheryl also makes appeals to her knowledge, trustworthiness, and emotions that help us illustrate her insights as she traveled along the trail.

Throughout African American history, especially during slavery music has been used as a coping mechanism to assist one with enduring hardship and opposition. Music specifically jazz and the blues can have many boundless effects on one’s life. In this case, in Sonny’s life, music was his only source of hope and strength to redemption.

U2 have always produced rhetorically powerful songs. From the spiritually driven "I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For" to the blatantly sexual "If You Wear That Velvet Dress," audiences have been persuaded to examine their religious doubts as well as to give in to their emotions. Never a band content in sticking to one style, their music has evolved and taken many forms. Their more recent songs show a level of complexity so far unsurpassed in music, drawing heavily on the ambiguity of paradox in songs like "So Cruel" while evoking sensory overload with the aid of the list structure in "Numb." But one of the most powerful songs dates back to their early years, when their style was Senecan-like, seemingly simpler and more direct. "Sunday

Lorde’s thesis was that you are supposed to stop being a child once you graduate from eighth grade. The whole essay was how her parents tried to hide the fact that black people didn’t have the same rights as white individuals. Her mother never tells her that Black people weren’t allowed in the dining cars. The fact that Phyllis was told in private that she couldn’t go on the class trip, because blacks weren’t allowed to rent rooms in the hotel. Her parents felt that racism was to be dealt with in private. It was difficult for a mixed race couple to explain racism to their children. Even when they were asked to leave the ice cream shop, her parents wouldn’t speak about the discrimination. It was if they should have known better and avoided

In Chance the Rapper’s song, Same Drugs, he reminisces about one of his past relationships that sadly has come to an end due to them growing apart and no longer sharing the same interests. Chance’s purpose was to express that he was heartbroken by this breakup and wishes that they hadn’t grown apart. He employs a sentimental tone in order to convey to his audience that he truly misses their relationship. Chance the Rapper achieves this sentimental tone through the use of repetition, allusions, and symbolism.

The lyrics include several multiple rhetorical questions to apply effect or place emphasis on being a monster. Though the speaker does not expect an answer, he asks these questions to create a warning or sense that he inhabits a different life, and that he does not live by society usual standards. For example, he asks the questions, “If I told you what I was / Would you turn your back on me?” and “Would you be scared?” He wonders that if society or the audience, discovers the real him or sees his flaws, would they turn against him, fear him, or shun him away. Though he already knows his answer, this makes the audience realizes the pain and unnecessary consequences that he has to face. Next, the narrator follows this question with

“'You can't fu*king kick me out of your life like that. I'm your son. Look what you've done to me! Look at me!' I scream. “I've got nowhere to sleep, nothing to eat. I got nearly beaten to death...” p.244/245

The music at 1:06 is matching the natural rhythms of the moving objects on the screen, even though they are only pictures the set of the pictures goes with the music. For example the music starts of slow, and they show a picture of a train, it shows or represents the feelings of the characters of the long ride they are taking to their new home. After that the music starts getting fast, better beat, better vibe, that’s when they show the big crowds at the train stations. Also they have pictures of them drink at parties having fun like they have no worries. On the other hand the music at 26:56 is to give the audience a certain mood. The song that was put in that scene is a happy but goofy relaxed song, the movie was being sarcastic because they

I chose this song because it shows a person who is battling with depression. They try to take cough syrup as a remedy, but each spoonful is just putting the problems off for a short period of time. He is trying to make his life better for himself, but it is a constant battle to find happiness.This song shows the thoughts a suicidal person has before committing suicide, they tried to find a

What makes a great song? Is it the words or the verses? Is it how every line is beautifully rhymed? Is it how a song is wonderfully metaphorical? Is it the singer itself? It could be all that was mentioned, honestly. But not all songs have words and verses. Think about the classical songs we have - Bach, Mozart, Beethoven; not a single word can be heard from their composition but they're great. Think about the songs that are not rhymed at each line or not rhymed at all; but each word is perfectly laid in breathtaking musical pieces - and they're great. Not all songs are metaphorical. Some lyricists prefer being literal than figurative - which results to a song easier to comprehend for those who aren't familiar with deeper meanings behind

It was especially popular during the Civil Rights Movement in the 50’s and 60s. This song conveyed determination and not being deterred among other feelings. This was a means of communication among participants in the movement when words were not enough. The song communicated the desire for radical change across the nation. The message was direct and repetitive, while the melody was simple with repeating choruses. The choir appeared to have a connection with one another through the lyrics. As I was listening, I began thinking about how divided this country has become and the need to be reminded of this kind of song to bring us together for a common cause. This song was important in the past and is probably more relevant

I like this song because it doesn’t use vague lyrics or symbolic language. It gets to the point and easily shows why the speaker is

After analysis, the song selection of the sheep and the truck are actually connected. The song “Somebody to love” is about finding something to love which in this case would be the new truck. The timing of the premier of the commercial comes into play here as well with it debuting during the super bowl which takes place in February the same month as the “holiday of love”, Valentine’s day. The commercial is mean to persuade you to love the truck and in turn buy it. The odd thing is that the commercial didn’t really show much info really only using two rhetorical strategies which where pathos and ethos; though the third one, logos, was also used in a sparing manner. The commercial, like I said before, was meant to make the consumer fall in love

One major reason why I think this is because (I’m about to go full musical geek here) the song is in a major key, and the chord progressions in it, in the chorus specifically, make you feel like a gigantic weight has been lifted off of your shoulders. Another reason why I think this is an encouraging and uplifting song is because of the lyrics. They were so beautifully and thoughtfully written that you can’t help but feel happy while listening to this song! I also believe this is an encouraging song is because, personally, after listening to it, I feel like I could do anything that I wanted. I feel tremendously motivated to keep on