Blog 5 - Initial Ideas

Lucid Dreams - Juice WRLD

Initially released: on SoundCloud on June 15, 2017

Released: May 4, 2018

Genre: R&B/Hip-Hop

In 'Lucid Dreams,” Juice WRLD explores the mental anguish he feels after experiencing a break-up. Juice WRLD expresses how he can't escape thoughts of his ex-partner. In his "lucid dreams," he is fully conscious of his suffering, unable to rid himself of the memories and emotions tied to the relationship. He conveys that his love for this person was deep, but they betrayed him, leaving him with a profound sense of loss.

Possible representations

Gender and Masculinity: Juice WRLD represents a more vulnerable, emotionally open form of masculinity. Unlike traditional representations of men in media who may avoid showing weakness, he openly expresses sadness, betrayal, and regret, challenging typical masculine stereotypes.

Music video

Symbolic Music Video: The video uses a lot of symbolic imagery. There are visual elements like distorted spaces, fragmented objects, and surreal imagery that symbolize confusion, emotional entrapment, and mental anguish. The dreamlike visuals align with the concept of lucid dreaming, making it a symbolic interpretation of the song's meaning.

bad guy - Billie Eilish

Released: March 29, 2018

Genre: electropop

The basic message of Billie Eilish’s "bad guy" is a playful yet subversive critique of power, identity, and societal expectations, particularly around gender and rebellion

“The whole song is talking to someone that thinks they’re this big tough guy,” she describes. The concept for the song was developed by the singer from a previous song she started writing that centered around the topic of her being “the bad guy.” - Billie Eilish

Possible representations

Subverting Feminine Stereotypes: Instead of portraying herself as passive or innocent as a traditional representation for female roles, Billie Eilish portrays herself as the “bad guy” and destruct traditional male dominance in music and relationships.

Final decision

At last, I decided to chose bad guy as my song choice for my music video because I think that "bad guy" is not only a song, but also a cultural phenomenon that directly challenges stereotypes of gender and power. It has become a discussion on young adults' identity through the rebellious lyrics and visual aesthetics, such as violent metaphors and performances in music videos.

On the other hand, "Lucid Dreams" leans more towards personal emotional expression (heartbreak, drug dependence), although it is authentic, but it lacks critical thinking into the society.

The "bad" in bad guy is performative, revealing how society disciplines individuals through labels ("bad girl" and "tough guy"), and Billie exposes its absurdity by exaggerating these labels.