Social Protest in Music

           The song, “Beautiful,” is produced by Eminem. The song is about the hardships faced by many different people from poverty to discovery of oneself. Despite some of the wording, I feel that this song helps to create a positive message to listeners. The writing of “Beautiful,” is magnetic in the way that people are drawn into the ideas expressed by the song. There is not a straightforward political message delivered, but is aimed to help encourage people to conform to the past, but to embrace being in the shoes they are in now.

“And to the rest of the world, God gave you the shoes
That fit you, so put 'em on and wear 'em
And be yourself, man, be proud of who you are
Even if it sounds corny,
Don't ever let no one tell you, you ain't beautiful.”

           The artist's story is different than mine, but I feel that the views expressed in this song itself, help express how I feel about staying true to who I am. I know that I am not perfect,nor will I never be, but if I accept who I am and who God made me it does not matter what other people think of me. The media tries to tell people that they have to be a certain way or do certain things to be accepted, but in reality people have to stay true to who they are and not conform to the standards set by others. This makes me want to help others be proud of who they are.

           I feel that the song, “Beautiful,” is protesting against the beliefs that people have due to society's definition of a 'normal' person. Society sets rules that many people follow, if they don't then they are considered weird. In the music video, people who don't have much are shown by their houses and sitting on the streets. Society has defined people who are different as people who are unworthy and not beautiful. This song is saying that the shoes you are in, the life you are living, the person you are, is all from God. The shoes you are wearing fit you, nobody else. It inspires people to be proud of who they are and where they come from no matter what they have been told otherwise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgT1AidzRWM