Jahtiek Moore
Dr. C. Jason Smith
Eng 102
12-3-2013
Bobby Ray Simmons (B.o.B) is a North American recording
artist, song writer, producer and musician. He was born on November 15, 1988 in
Atlanta Georgia. Simmons has bet nominated multiple times for the BET Hip-Hop
Awards, People Choice Awards and MTV's Video Music Award. At present he has
only won the Teen Choice Awards for his song "Airplanes", featuring
Hayley Williams of Paramore, and the Soul Train Music Award for his collaboration
of the hit single "Nonthin” on You" featuring Bruno Mars. I choose
write about B.o.B. because I feel his earlier work had a sound and energy that
engaged his listeners and pulled them into his music. He told stories and
intertwined is path to success into the fabric of his rhymes.
In B.o.B.'s song "Magic"
featuring Rivers Cuomo, there are several symbols in the supernatural arena.
The first major symbol appears in lines 13-14 when Simmons dictates
"That the tricks that I'll attempt will blow your mind". The next
prominent symbol makes its appearance in line 32 when he states that there are
no "Ghost or Poltergeist". The last major symbol comes in at the end
of the song in line when Simmons invites his listener to "Take a journey
into my mind". The last symbol is the chorus to the song, where he
constantly states that he has the magic in himself.
The meaning of the first symbol
could be interpreted in many different ways. In correction, the entire first
verse is a symbol. First, one could assume his is a magician, and a good one at
that by the emphasis he puts on the skill in which he performs. He states that
his oratory skills will hypnotize those who hear the true meaning in his song
in every line that he writes with no exception. He even extends a point to those
who don’t fully understand him, that his rhymes will at least take them back to
a time where songs were judged by the depth of their lyrical meaning; “I’ll
have you time traveling, Have your mind babbling.”
With the second
symbol, Simmons insinuates that he is the real deal. "No ghost or
poltergeist" could stand in for his meaning that he has nothing to hide
from his audience and what you see is actually what it is. He has no gimmicks
like his peers and his honesty in his music is unrivaled. For the third symbol when he invites his
audience into his mind, it shows his willingness to let others see his
thoughts. B.o.B. feels that transparency with his audience is paramount . He is
open and he feels he has nothing to hide once more.The last symbol is the
chorus. Simmons refers to himself in essence as magic. This may stem from his
disbelief in any talent in the music industry. This would of course be saying
that so much of the talent isn’t talent that anything good, such as himself,
must be magical or supernatural in nature.
I believe that B.o.B is using this song as a way to let his
listeners know that he doesn't deceive or use fraud. He invites us to see what
fuels his creative processes, and in turn like those in a magic show, he
showcases his skills and makes us believe what he is saying without tricking
us. I believe this the main reason why he calls this song "Magic" as
opposed to Hocus Pocus or the Great Alakazam. To that effect, people are more
willing to lisren to a song called Magic.
References
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