Analysis of Wings By Macklemore
“Wings” By Macklemore
The song “Wings” by Macklemore is about trying to fit in with society’s definition of “cool” even though it means going against personal beliefs or personal opinions about how someone should dress or talk. Throughout the song, Macklemore talks about a pair of Nike sneakers that he bought when he was a kid. At the beginning of the song Macklemore is convinced that because he has these new shoes he will finally be considered “cool,” but by the end of the song, he realizes that they are only just a pair of shoes and society makes them out to be much more than they really are.
In the fourth stanza Macklemore talks about the struggle to fit the exclusive and expensive mold of society’s expectations. Children today compete with each other by flaunting their material possessions at one another. “So expensive, damn, I just got to flaunt it.” By using the words “expensive” and “flaunt” Macklemore shows that he is proud of his expensive shoes and he wants to show them off to the other kids, so they think he is cool. Society makes one feel the need to have the most up to date product on the market to feel “cool” so that they can fit in and feel comfortable. “Got to show 'em, so exclusive / this that new shit.” Not only do products have to be expensive, they have to be exclusive. Exclusivity implies there is a sense of irony in exclusivity trying to get what others have to feel special, when specialness implies uniqueness and individuality. “I'm an individual, yeah, but I'm part of a movement.” The obsession with social status has created a movement. The movement shows that many individuals are following this pattern of buying the most expensive things, instead of what they want. “My movement told me be a consumer and I consumed it / they told me to just do it / I listened to what that swoosh said.” Macklemore is recognizing the fact that he is an individual, but his individuality is designed and shaped by the larger group of people he identifies with.
The song “Wings” by Macklemore is about trying to fit in with society’s definition of “cool” even though it means going against personal beliefs or personal opinions about how someone should dress or talk. Throughout the song, Macklemore talks about a pair of Nike sneakers that he bought when he was a kid. At the beginning of the song Macklemore is convinced that because he has these new shoes he will finally be considered “cool,” but by the end of the song, he realizes that they are only just a pair of shoes and society makes them out to be much more than they really are.
In the fourth stanza Macklemore talks about the struggle to fit the exclusive and expensive mold of society’s expectations. Children today compete with each other by flaunting their material possessions at one another. “So expensive, damn, I just got to flaunt it.” By using the words “expensive” and “flaunt” Macklemore shows that he is proud of his expensive shoes and he wants to show them off to the other kids, so they think he is cool. Society makes one feel the need to have the most up to date product on the market to feel “cool” so that they can fit in and feel comfortable. “Got to show 'em, so exclusive / this that new shit.” Not only do products have to be expensive, they have to be exclusive. Exclusivity implies there is a sense of irony in exclusivity trying to get what others have to feel special, when specialness implies uniqueness and individuality. “I'm an individual, yeah, but I'm part of a movement.” The obsession with social status has created a movement. The movement shows that many individuals are following this pattern of buying the most expensive things, instead of what they want. “My movement told me be a consumer and I consumed it / they told me to just do it / I listened to what that swoosh said.” Macklemore is recognizing the fact that he is an individual, but his individuality is designed and shaped by the larger group of people he identifies with.