Friday, May 4, 2012
American Struggles Growing Up
"Welcome to My Life" is the title of a song recorded by rock group Simple Plan. This song deals with especially teenage angst and how life can get so bad yet no one can seem to understand you. It most certainly can relate to American teenagers growing up and the video is showing clips of the kids in the car with his parents ignoring them.
What exactly is the artist trying to say? And what are some interesting points in this music video? To what kind of audience is the artist trying to appeal? Based on the video, what struggles is the artist trying to convey? What do you think about the reference in the video when the singer asks "are you stuck inside a world you hate?" while showing the clip of the man in the business suit? Does this deal with particular American stereotypes?
[Composed by Blog Group 2]
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I think that the message of the song is that each person at some point feels very isolated, depressed, and fed up with life though these feelings seem incomprehendable to other people and uncomparable to the struggles of others even though everyone feels this way eventually. This song can be directed towards all ages. It can be directed towards adults as they usually seem fustrated in terms of their career and financial situations. These restaints on life make it hard, as the song says, "to find something more before your life is over," as someone may want to do something different or more fulfilling with their life but not have the money or education to make the switch. The song can easily be directed toward youth and teenagers as they can seem stuck in life because they cannot choose their families and their parents may have more control over their lives than they do and they may feel "pushed around." Youth can also feel as the song states "out of place" in a society run by adults who usually pay little to no attention to the input of youth. These feelings can be further magnified by feeling lost due to a stage of life where youth are not aware of their place or role in society.
ReplyDeleteI think that the message behind the song is people feel like no one else understands or shares the same daily struggles and feelings when in reality "welcome to my life" the song could mean that they have the same daily struggles and feelings. I think that the artist is targeting anyone who shares the same feelings as expressed in the song "are you stuck inside a world that you hate?". I think many times in life people feel like they're left alone and no one knows what they are going through or how they feel when there are more people then they knew that were on the same page.
ReplyDeleteIn the video, the cars can be symbolic of the so-called "world you hate." Within the video, you see many people in their cars, pissed off because they are stuck inside and not moving anywhere due to the traffic jam. The people in the cars are either in there alone, or arguing with the other people they share the car with. when the car people start realizing that there are other people in the same situations as them, they start to leave their troubles behind and move forward. I believe this is a strong message within the song, that ties in strongly with the lyrics.
ReplyDeleteI think that the artist is saying that everyone at some point feels as though they are in a world which they cannot function. He also puts the message across that these people feel as though they are the only ones who are experiencing it, but throughout the video it is apparent that they are trying to say that everyone experiences this. I think it is attempting to appeal to teenage kids and people in their early twentys perhaps. I think the man in the business suit could be alluding to the fact that everything that people strive for is a lot of times nothing new it's all the same, and the artist may even be saying that the world they are in is too boring.
ReplyDeleteWow! This video really touched me. In a way I felt like the artist was reaching out to me when I was in the early stages of high school. But really, the video is trying to appeal to the attention of all of the teenagers who feel left out in the world and seems to have a nihilist perspective on life. These teenagers struggle everyday with maybe self-confidence issues, bullying, peer-pressure, finding themselves, and other teenage issues. The song and the video were both coordinated and were not oppositional in the picture that they were trying to set. The message was very clear which made it easy to understand and to possibly relate. Truth be told, alot of teenagers are faced with these kinds of struggles, and I am glad to see a group come out with a song to help these kids understand that it will get better.
ReplyDeleteThis video seems to suggest that the struggles people have with feelings of isolation and helplessness are a very normal part of life. The targeted audience is teenagers and young adults because when the camera shows two people fighting, the view is from the back seat, giving you the idea that this is a teenager's perspective. The traffic on the freeway is an example of how people would like to break free from whatever is tying them down, job, work, family, school, responsibilities, for example. When the people start getting out it is like they are acting out against the feelings of being trapped in norms set by our culture and breaking free of the things that are tying them down. When they ask, "are you stuck inside the world you hate?" this parallels the metaphor of the traffic scene. I think the artists go to great lengths to show that even though you might not think that other people are going through similar troubles, that these feelings are not unique no matter what situation we might find ourselves.
ReplyDeleteThis song references the fact that at soem point in every person's life they felt like an outcast or left out. this song seems really appropriate for today even though it was written a couple of years ago because of the publicity that bullying is getting and how people are really trying to raise awareness about it. since this song seems to target people of all ages not just kids. this is evidence from the man in the suit. i think it shows that no matter how old you are, there is always going to be a time in your life where you dont feel welcome. the main point however, is that you aren't alone, it happens to everyone.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the artist is trying to say that everyone has their own problems in life and especially teenagers because they are young and they don't have so much experience for life. They can easily get confused about life and nobody would solve these problems for them. Furthermore, the artist is trying to let his voice heard by yielding aloud. It seems that he is not heard by others and he struggles with some generation problems that adults couldn't understand. I think the singer is trying to appeal the audiences such as teenagers and the people who is suffering in life. When the singer asks "are you stuck inside a world you hate?" He seems to answer yes to this question. And he seems to tell you that it's normal because everyone is struggling about their fate. Also, you're welcomed to look into the artist' life and you will find that his life is also filled with problems. In addition, if you are not understood then you should not be upset too much because the whole generation has the same problem.
ReplyDeleteI think the artist is trying to say that its difficult to stay locked up (the car) and be controlled. He is saying that teens are misunderstood, they rebel because they don't think anyone understands their frustration and they pain. I think its interesting that the artist didn't end it with a "you will make it through" cliche. The song is about being misunderstood and being hurt and out of place but they don't ever say its going to get better. I think its clever that they used the cars as a 'jail' and when the kids got out and walked away together they found comfort and got peace. The audience is definitely directed towards teens. I think the man in the suit was a portrayal of someone that never got out of the car, he was always stuck he never initiated change or rebelled so he was always controlled and still is. To teens i think this does show american stereotypes. American teens often feel like they are always right and others simply just don't understand them most do rebel and act out.
ReplyDeleteFirst off I have to say that I like the beat of this song. I found many interesting points in this video such as the cars that symbolize the world people hate, the trafic jam and so on.Here people stuck in the car and get pissed off resprent the feeling of restriction and out of place. At about 2:30-minute mark, everyone stops waiting and doing nothing but instead gets out of their car, which encourages people who are lonely and feel out of place to stand out and get rid of restrictions.
ReplyDeleteI think that as musicians and artists, even famous ones, they feel a lot of scrutiny for not pursuing more professional dreams. I think that references to the man in the business suit. They chose a unique and risky path and although they are now successful, it was a tough road for them. They are also trying to relate to their younger audience who are mainly teenagers. That is a difficult time where many kids feel out of place and isolated and they are telling them that it is okay and everyone has been there.
ReplyDeleteThis music video shows very impressive scenes in many parts.Through those scenes, the artist tries to say we need to care teenagers with love and respect. The most interesting point in this music video is the scene that the musician sit on the huge tank. He looks really small and it looks scary. I think the musician want to convey the feeling of adolescence through this scene.To teens, the artist may appeal very efficiently and to parents, it will be a good opportunity to think again about their puberties.
ReplyDeleteThe video sets it background on a bridge where people are stuck in their cars due to the traffic jam. At the end of the video, people, mostly young people, came out of their cars, conveying a message that teenagers should embrace the outside world and open their own world to others. Details such as people smiling at each other illustrate the benefit of an outgoing life. The artist's singing "Welcome to my world" emphasizes this idea.
ReplyDeleteGenerally speaking this is not a bad one for me. It begins withb the bus traffic in a big city that everyone are stop on their way and they can do nothing but to wait. This is really good topic and i like the singer's voice and the music. But in this vedio, i just feel that there is a group of teenager who has too much energy and do not know where to ues them
ReplyDeleteThis song accurately portrays how a lot of people feel when they are younger. At that time in their life, there is a lot going on, but it seems like no one is there to help them. They are all off on their own problems and have no time for yours. This is shown in the video when the family in the car is arguing and the teenager just has an annoyed angry face. Often people need other people to help them as the human race is a social race, but sometimes it is hard to find someone that can actually help and care.
ReplyDelete