10/19 Freewrite about Intertextuality

     

    There's many times where you'll hear something and you have to do a double take or go back and listen again just to be sure that you heard right.  Recently, I saw a video compilation of artists that have referenced Selena Gomez in their music.  Some examples included, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, and Charlie Puth.  Often times, we forget that celebrities have lives outside of their Hollywood world and they experience relationships and friendships the same way we do.  Some of the lyrics are so well hidden in the song and they blend in with the chorus that at first listen, you may not even catch it.  None of the lyrics in any of the songs were degrading her in any way but rather alluding to her or a situation she has experienced.  Many of these artists even admit in an interview that a specific moment in their song was about Selena, but others only refer to certain situations with a person without stating her name.  Even though they don't explicitly state it was Selena, it was quite clear who they were referencing. Sometimes it's funny when you think about how musicians can actually make more money just by singing about a person involved in their everyday life.  

    The main takeaway from this is that we experience these references all around us without even being aware of it.  In every movie, song, or TV show there always is a hidden message.  These intertextuality moments are very important to our understanding of the world and how we can relate to given situations.