I'm Clifford Stumme, and I use literary analysis and research to explain the deeper meanings of pop songs. Feel free to leave a comment or to email me at clifford@popsongprofessor.com with questions or ideas!
I'm going to give you a peek behind the curtain. This may be the only song explanation you've ever read or ever will read by me, but I want to take a moment to be transparent. I'm sitting on my couch in my living room at 1 in the morning furiously typing out this song meaning explanation. It's two cold in here, and I'm exhausted.
I've been waiting for The Weeknd to release new singles from his upcoming Starboy album! He's an excellent musician, and I think when I first started explaining songs, he impressed me because he was proof that a pop artist could write about deeper things while still being incredibly "poppy." The Weeknd proves it in songs like "Can't Feel My Face," "The Hills," and "Starboy."
Pop Song Professor Clifford Stumme and his wife April (with the help of Samantha via email!) explain the last song in their series on Twenty One Pilots's Vessel album.
My first introduction to The xx came years ago before I cared so much about the meanings behind song lyrics, back when I was still exploring what kinds of music were out there. I fellow who was a few years ahead of me educationally and certainly more well-listened gave me an eclectic playlist of indie bands like Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weeknd to listen to on GrooveShark (RIP).
What does the song "Me and Your Momma" mean to me? I think the song is smooth and slick and powerful. Childish Gambino is the stage name for Donald Glover, one of my favorite actors on Community--an amazingly hilarious show you NEED to check out but may only be able to find on Netflix if you're from Canada.
Charlie Puth just released his music video for "Dangerously," and it's going crazy very quickly. I've been a fan of Charlie Puth ever since I heard that the industry chose him to sing in "See You Again" because he'd experienced a similar tragedy to the one the song is about. I felt bad for him and thought it sounded kind of like they were using his pain to make money, but it really was a beautiful song, and he was okay with it, so I figured it was probably fine. That being said, Charlie Puth's voice is amazing and no less amazing in "Dangerously."
So, I hadn't known Drake released music earlier this week, but he did release two songs--"Fake Love" and "Sneakin'." Drake can sometimes be a fairly thoughtful artists, and "Fake Love" does provide us with an interesting story and situation to think about. The song is low key rap and somewhat R&B hip-hop that recalls his style in songs like "One Dance" or "Hotline Bling." "Fake Love" is about people pretending to be his friend because they want to use him and to be better than him, and there's a lot that goes into making that meaning happen.
Pop Song Professor Clifford Stumme takes a serious look at the meaning behind "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. The band is a legend, and this song is no less a legend than any other. Let's dig deep into what this song means!
The Weeknd released a music video for "Starboy" on September 28th, and it's had everyone confused. The loudest theorists claim it's proof that Abel Tesafaye has achieved the rank of "starboy" in the Illuminati or some satanist cult, but the actual meaning of the video's a little easier to grasp and prove.
First off, if this isn't jungle-beat EDM, I don't know what it is. I certainly don't want to point fingers, but Maroon 5 is drinking the kool-aid at some level or another, right down to the funny, scrunchy voice modulation in the first few seconds. I know that sounds critical, but it's a good sound, and they do it well, so I like the music. But what of the lyrics? Let's take a closer look...
In this episode of the Pop Song Professor podcast, Clifford Stumme explains what's going on with Twenty One Pilots' song "Run and Go" and how it connects closely to the story behind "Bohemian Rhapsody."
In a video on Rolling Stone's website about her upcoming album Joanne, Lady Gaga explained that her album is about growing personal connections with fans: "I wanted to write songs that would speak to a woman or a man who thought that they could never connect with me." To that end, "Million Reasons" is a strong success. While the lyrics don't seem deep at first, I think the topic they're about is deep, and I think the simplicity of the song allows the depth of that topic and feeling to speak for itself in a deep way.
You may be wondering if there's a deeper meaning to this song, and I hate to disappoint you by telling you that there really isn't. It's a fun song, and Bruno Mars is everything you love about him in this song, and one of those things is a good time. Unfortunately for those who like more "meat" to their lyrics, "good times" don't usually mean "good lines" as far as depth goes.
Hey everyone! I'm looking at the biggest recent pop hit in this podcast. "Closer" is a fantastic song--great for dancing and for listening--and it's got some interesting stuff going on behind the scenes. Enjoy this explanation!
In the first verse, Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) sings about who he is and how he's changed since his last album came out. He sings, "I'm try'n'a put you in the worst mood," to explain what he's about to do. Since he's going to sing about his own personal success, which is considerable, he's saying that when he's done, we'll be unhappy with our lives.
In the first verse, Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd's real name), sings about a mysterious and enigmatic woman: "Bathroom stalls for the powder nose / High heel shoes with the open toes." Those first two lines aren't super unique, but they begin to paint for us a picture of a high class, sophisticated, and fashionable woman.
Pop Song Professor Clifford Stumme does a thorough explanation of "Guns for Hands" by Twenty One Pilots, and he does it with your help! About a month ago, he put out a call for help in explaining this amazing song, and you responded! Thanks for your help!
Pop Song Professor Clifford Stumme explains "Screen" by Twenty One Pilots! It's a short episode, but it's packed full of helpful insight and analysis of this amazing song!
You wanted deeper meanings in your pop music? Well, you've got it. Also, why haven't you been listening to Sia (and Kendrick Lamar for that matter) before this? Both of these artists are warriors of thought and influence. Neither are as popular in the mainstream as A-level pop divas like Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber, but what they lack in popular appeal you forget when you dive deeper into what they have to say beneath the bars, rhymes, and synthy dance beats.
Lady Gaga released "Perfect Illusion" on September 8th. The song features a backdrop of grungy electric guitar and pop angst, but all soon recedes to leave nothing but a strong emphasis on Lady Gaga's own voice and simple backup vocals for parts of the song as she tries hard to tell us something. In "Perfect Illusion" Lady Gaga is trying to put a strong emphasis on the important of the lyrics. In fact, according to a BBC interview, Lady Gaga's voice isn't auto-tuned to further emphasize her (and the other writers') attempts at sincerity. The song feels like a throwback to the 90's but the words, according to an interview we'll get into soon, are relevant to 2016.
