Book Thoughts: (Song Edition) Dear Slim by Tom MacDonald

All right everyone, we are going to be doing something a little bit different today.  I want to start reviewing songs from some of my favorite musical artists, new and old.  It will be a bit like my book reviews however since songs are shorter we will be looking at the lyrics as a whole.  One of my more recent favorite artists, Tom MacDonald, has just dropped a new song on Friday.  That song, Dear Slim, is going to be the first one we take a look at. 

In the future we will do more Tom MacDonald songs, as well as other artists that I love.  Let's get started.  I have posted the music video below for you to give a watch before reading further.  When it comes to Tom MacDonald's music the videos that he makes with his girlfriend, Nova Rockafeller, always add an extra layer to the song.  So, give the video a watch and than head on back to find out my thoughts.

Dear Slim Music Video

Alright, have you watched?  You sure?  Well, than let's get started.  I have posted each Verse, and the chorus, separately to talk about.  Read through or scroll on down to the review itself.  

Dear Slim, I thought you mighta heard of me maybe
‘Cause lately everywhere I turn someone’s comparing us, crazy
I never woulda thought when I was bumping Biggie and Pac
That I would buy bleach in a box and become the product of Shady
But I’m here now, hi, my name is Tom MacDonald
People call me controversial, I’m the one that counterculture follows
Every song I drop’s a problem, I offend an awful lot
With topics commenting on race and politics, I’m pretty awesome
Dear Slim, I know we’re very different politically
Seems like some of your biggest fans are the victims I’m triggering
They’re convinced I don’t like you which ain’t consistent with history
I was picked on as a kid and they don’t know what Slim did for me
But I’m here now, and I fight the system just like you
Was addicted to pills and liquor and quit ’em just like you
People claim that you hate me, but Marshall, that can’t be right, dude
You’d have to hate yourself as well, ’cause Marshall, I’m you

 When Tom was first promo-ing this new video everyone was theorizing as to what the song would be about, and there were a lot of people that thought that he would be calling out Eminem with this song, or even dissing him.  But it is clear even within the first few lines that that isn't true.  To be fair, as a fan of Tom's I know that he has always been a huge fan of Eminem and he wouldn't actually diss him, because that has never really been Tom's style.  

"I never woulda thought when I was bumping Biggie and Pac, that I would buy bleach in a box and become a product of Shady." This is the first line where we actually see that this song is more of a tribute.  Tom is telling us that when he was a teenager and he first found the music of Eminem that he would bleach his hair to be just like him.  This is something that a fan would do.  They would want to be just like who they idolize.  

Tom then starts talking about the kind of songs that he puts, and how the topics he writes about even seem to offend people that are fans of Eminem, because they differ in their social and political opinions.  But clearly we see through his lyrics that these differences in opinions aren't something that stops Tom from loving Eminem's music.  "They're convinced I don't like you which ain't consistent with history..."  These lines show this point.  He's saying that just because I disagree with you doesn't mean that he automatically hates them.  And I think that's something that people should take to heart in general.  You can disagree with someone, and still be their friend or love them (depending on who the person is).

Marshall, remember back when
You became Eminem
You changed the world with a pen
Well, now I’m just like you
I don’t give a what saying what I want with my fingers up
Everybody triggered and they think I suck
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na na na na

 I particularly love the chorus, or hook, of this song.  It really is typical Tom MacDonald.  The way that he emphasizes that he doesn't care, "I don't give a what."  And the way he uses the "na na-na na-na", like he's taunting all the haters talking about how he sucks.  "Remember back when you became Eminem.  You changed the world with a pen.  Well, now I'm just like you."  We also see Tom saying he's like Eminem.  A lot of people will hear this line and say that they think Tom is saying he's Eminem, and he so conceited and egotistical.  But I don't think that's really what he means.  I think that what Tom is saying that Eminem burst out on the scene and was rapping about topics that were both extremely controversial but also relatable to the fans that are listening to his music.  This is what Tom is saying.  He's saying that his fans, the Hangover Gang, feel the same way about the music that Tom is writing.

Dear Slim, I thought that maybe ’cause you paved the way for me
You might relate to weight that Caucasian rappers are carrying
They’re constantly comparing us to you, it’s embarrassing
Never gaining their approval, it’s just hate we’re inheriting
But I’m here now, go ahead and hate, it don’t hurt
Call me culture vulture garbage, those are ignorant words
I kill a vulture, cook the poultry in a pan till it’s burnt
See, Marshall, I’m just like you, I’m flipping the bird
Dear Slim, I just wanna give you your flowers
I spent hours memorizing all of your songs in 2000
You were the reason I screamed at all of my teachers, a teen
I needed your CD on repeat and Shady’s face on my t-shirt
But I’m here now, they call me controversial just like you
We’re both white, both rap, both of our eyes blue
Screw any guy who tries to say you’ve changed and don’t like you
‘Cause in my mind it’s still ’99 and I’m you

 "They're constantly comparing us to you, it's embarrassing.  Never gaining their approval, it's just hate we're inheriting."  In these lines I think what he is talking about isn't just that he gets compared to Eminem but that every white rapper gets compared to him.  Not because they are necessarily like him but because they are both white rappers.  They are inheriting this hate because it's like they are saying 'oh your a white rapper?  Well you're not Eminem. 

"I just want to give you your flowers.  I spent hours memorizing all your songs in 2000...I needed your CD on repeat and Shady's face on my t-shirt."  This is just more of Tom showing his fans, and the haters, that he really is a true fan just like they are.  When he was a kid listening to this music he was doing the same things that everyone else was.  Listening to the songs so much you know the lyrics on repeat, and the t-shirts.  I had so many t-shirts with musicians faces or logos on them, actually I still do.

"They call me controversial just like you.  We're both white, both rap, both of our eyes blue."  When I hear these lines I automatically think that the comparisons are just silly.  While there are similarities between the music of Eminem that you listened to as a kid and the music that Tom creates now.  He's also saying that those comparisons are just superficial.  He says that they are both white rappers with blue eyes.  Well of course they must be exactly the same.

Marshall, remember back when
You became Eminem
You changed the world with a pen
Well, now I’m just like you
I don’t give a what saying what I want with my fingers up
Everybody triggered and they think I suck
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na na na na

 

Whether you love me or hate me or think I’m crazy
Dropped a hundred grand to get a beat from Shady
I really hope when I bought it he wasn’t angry
But I really had to tell him that he changed me
The truth of the matter is without you Marshall Mathers
I woulda committed suicide before I was a rapper
You showed me that I could do it, I didn’t need to be blacker
I know it’s stupid but I just had to do my best to say thank you

 I think the bridge is one of my favorite parts of the song.  It's completely real, and Tom is opening himself up for literally the entire world to see.  This realness of Tom's is one of the reasons I love his music so much.  He's willing to talk about anything, and he's not afraid to talk about the dark and painful parts of his life and past.  He's talking about why he created this song, and what Eminem's music meant to him than and now.  Tom spent $100,000 on probably the most expensive thank you letter in the history of the world.

The line that really stands out is, "The truth of the matter is without you Marshall Mathers I woulda committed suicide before I was a rapper."  Tom as talked about his addictions and depression in previous songs, and in his live streams with fans, and I don't think this line is just that.  I think that this is real.  That finding Eminem's music saved him, and inspired him to be a rapper.  And what a better place we have with his music in it.

Marshall, remember back when
You became Eminem
You changed the world with a pen
Well, now I’m just like you
I don’t give a what saying what I want with my fingers up
Everybody triggered and they think I suck
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na na na na

Marshall, remember back when
You became Eminem
You changed the world with a pen
Well, now I’m just like you
I don’t give a what saying what I want with my fingers up
Everybody triggered and they think I suck
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na na na na

We won't discuss the chorus again, since I already went over it.  That's it for this post review on "Dear Slim" by Tom MacDonald.  Comment down below with your own thoughts, and opinions, on this song.  I can't wait to go through more songs with you.

Till Next Time Friends,

Words by Ali

 

What's Happening: We The People

 Not too long ago President Joe Biden held a joint meeting of Congress (or he claims that what it was).  During this speech he said that it was, "Time that we remember that 'We the People' means the government."  I'm not the only one that had an issue with this comment for many reasons.  Mainly because that is not what these words mean.  "We the People" means literally what it says.  We the people of the United States, that is every American.  Me, you, are families, are neighbors, and everyone in between.  If they had meant the Government I think they would have said that, and not what they did.

The Constitution of the United States was written in response to the Revolutionary War, were the leaders of America just fought a war with Britain for the freedom to rule themselves and not by the British Crown.  So, for a group of people who just fought a deadly war against the rule of a monarchy why would they then immediately write their Constitution saying that they will be giving the power to the "government" and not the actual people as it says?  I mean really think about that.  They disliked the government so much that they fought a war to get out from under it, just to give their hard fought freedom back to another government.

We the People means just that.  The people of America for that was who the war was fought for.  That is who the Constitution was written for.  That is who the government is supposed to be listening to when they pass laws, and legislation.  It is supposed to be for the people that they represent, and not for the government.  Don't let the Government take that away from you, it is something that everyone who calls themselves an American in entitled to.  There is little that I think people are truly entitled to, but the freedom that the Constitution provides is one of the few true things that you are entitled to have.

Till Next Time Friends,

Words by Ali