Blog 2 - Song Analysis

"Firework"

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag

Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin

Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep six feet under?

Screams but no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that there's still a chance for you

'Cause there's a spark in you?

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine

Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause, baby, you're a firework

Come on, show 'em what you're worth

Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"

As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework

Come on, let your colours burst

Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"

You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe

You don't have to feel like a wasted space

You're original, cannot be replaced

If you only knew what the future holds

After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed

So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road

Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow

And when it's time you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine

Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause, baby, you're a firework

Come on, show 'em what you're worth

Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"

As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework

Come on, let your colours burst

Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"

You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe

Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

It's always been inside of you, you, you

And now it's time to let it through-ough-ough

'Cause, baby, you're a firework

Come on, show 'em what you're worth

Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"

As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework

Come on, let your colours burst

Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"

You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe

Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

I have chosen the song “Firework” by Katy Perry, as it is such an enthusiastic and catchy song. The songs upbeat and inspirational message of individuality is an example of lyrical poetry. It tells us that you shouldn’t let anything stop you from believing yourself, but achieve anything you set your mind to. The songs bold and colorful feel is bright, as symbolized in the title itself “Firework”. It follows a rhyme scheme that is visible in the first stanza being ABCC. The song consists of eighteen stanzas that are divided into two couplets and sixteen quatrains. Rhythm is a result of the organized sound effects of repetition and syllables. The refrain in this song follows a syllable count of 11-10-8-7-6-9-7-7-6-10. Along with that Katy accents her words and syllables so that you can continuously keep the rhythm. For instance “Boom, boom, boom/ Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon” helps make the lyrics stand out by the way it sounds.

Katy being the speaker of the song wants to encourage children and teens to finding their own way in life. It is about being yourself and not letting flaws or criticisms get to you. I believe the artist overall tone is very passionate and positive. The song begins by using a simile, “Do you ever feel like a plastic bag/ Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?” She compares how each person sometimes feel as if they were a plastic bag getting thrown around the wind, not knowing where they will end up. Each time throughout the song the constant use of the metaphor “Baby, you’re a firework,” conveys the sense that the brightness and potential is locked within each of us and that everyone is capable of doing something spectacular.  In addition, the song would not have made such an impression without the use of hyperboles. Some examples, “As you shoot across the sky” and “Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow,” exaggerating that when you reach your goals in life it gives the effect of not giving up. Katy also includes numerous examples of personification such as “If you only knew what the future holds.” It is evident that she gives the future human characteristics, which helps the song evoke imagination.

Furthermore, I believe that this song could be considered of a personal spiritual growth. We should be who we are and not what others want us to be. Everyone should let there “true colors” show without being concerned of what other people may think. I believe that this song shows a good example of leadership. I personally enjoy “Firework” as it about expressing yourself and being confident. The constant repetition of “feel” emphasis the importance of feelings and emotions in a teenager’s life. Every person has the potential to let his or her light shine. A lot of people look up to Katy Perry as in inspiration in life. The song is about her telling people not to be frightened to be themselves, even if someone thinks differently. The song also tells people that they need to stop looking down on themselves because in reality, no one is perfect. Overall, I believe this song will help people gain confidence about themselves.