Song Reflections

YOLO- Lonely Island

As the song's title suggests, it regards the usage of the phrase YOLO (You only live once) in popular culture, in which people often use it to justify irresponsible actions or those that overlook the future in favor of enjoying oneself in the present. Throughout the song, the band constantly interprets YOLO in the exact opposite of its common usage, using it to justify actions of paranoia and extreme safety due to the preciousness of life. The song is obviously satirical in nature and a comedic parody in response to the way people use the saying. Despite its theme of caution, the lyrics address the the questions regarding morality, in which it suggests that you should go through life with a sense of comedy as well as with another sense of lightheartedness as it stresses a mid ground between the seriousness of the song's lyrics and the stupidity of those who follow YOLO. Not only that, but it also suggests ways in which we should address popular culture, in which we should be skeptical and avoid becoming slaves to its influence as it can make you affected by the sheer idiocy of the term YOLO. In terms of the other ultimate questions and worldviews, the song does slightly give off an answer to destiny, or life after death, in which it only suggest it as negative, as the group sings entirely about an evasion of death. 

The One that Got Away- Katy Perry

As opposed to YOLO, this song has many stronger messages and worldviews. It regards a young couple living happily as the man pursues a career as an artists, but eventually the two fall apart in various fights and the man dies in a car accident shortly after separating. The song is about the woman (Katy Perry) lamenting about the man being "The one that got away", or the one she should have been with as opposed to her current wealthy husband of whom she is unhappy with. The worldviews of this song primarily tackle relationships of which this fits into the question of morality. It stresses the fact that having a perfect relationship is always more valuable than material wealth or riches as well as the idea that in a relationship, the two involved need to be loving and truthful with each other. Also, the song also addresses the question of meaning in which it implies that people are meant to live happily with their spouse and live a life of coexistence. In another perspective, the song also gives a suggestion regarding pre-marital relationships and sex, where it shows that such actions are morally acceptable as the couple in the music video are involved in a sexual relationship.