Tom MacDonald released another music video. Normally, I’d wait till next week for another Tom MacDonald Friday, cause as Tom says that’s his day, but I want to get Withdrawals out now. Let’s get this amazing, and emotional, song trending on YouTube. Click the video link below to of course give the video a watch before getting into my breakdown. Let’s get going.
Let me start off by saying that I have never personally dealt with addiction before. However, I have know people close to me who have. So, I just wanted to put that out there that these are my own personal feelings and opinions of someone who hasn't suffered addiction, but has dealt with some mental illness issues.
In this first verse we see Tom talking about how he had to go through this period in his life by himself. Of course I can't know for certain, but it sounds like the doctors (and meds they were giving him) weren't helping so he threw them out. "I tried to call, like, all my friends and none of them are answering." This line is one in this song that I can relate to most. When you are in the midst of the days that are the hardest there either is no one there, or it feels that way. When you need someone to have your back, it always seems to be the hardest time to find someone to just pick up the phone and talk.
Is this the moment where I can't control it?
Got no appetite, I guess the party's over
I can't sleep at night, and I keep rolling over
'Cause my skin is itchy and the paranoia
Got me worried, sick, and it is so annoying
I been throwing up, it looked like motor oil
But I chosе to quit, and now I can't avoid it
The right things to do are the hardеst choices
Is this the moment when I need a donor?
Liver failing from the liquor pouring
All the room is spinning, it ain't vodka, soda
What is almost killing me is being sober
This verse is very powerful. We get to see a very personal and private look into the hardest part of his getting sober. Tom doesn't gloss over the horrible aspects of withdrawal that he went through. The hardest hitting part of the whole verse though is when he says that all of this doesn't just feel like it's killing him, it very well could (as going through withdrawal can kill you), but that it's being sober that is causing him all of this physical and mental pain, "All the room is spinning, it ain't vodka, soda, what is almost killing me is being sober." The whole idea that once you kick the addiction everything will be sunshine and roses really is just that, a dream (an idea). There is more suffering, and pain, through the act of getting clean.
Talk about pitfalls, surrounded by brick walls
This is what kids call
Withdrawals
Deleted every number from my phone, I'm staying home
Really wish that I was drunk with all my friends
I'm gonna beat it or I won't and overdose
Really wish that I was high with all my friends
The chorus gives us a bit of a look at the thoughts in Tom's head as he was struggling with the effects of withdrawal. First he says that he wishes "that I was drunk with all my friends," and than "with that I was high with all my friends." While the end product of getting sober is why he's putting himself through the pain of it, but in the moment the easiest way to stop the suffering is to join everyone else who is still getting wasted. Tom even says that there are only two ways through, "beat it or I won't and overdose." I know I'm not the only one who is beyond grateful that he made it through to inspire millions with the music he makes.
Never care for therapist
My arrogance embarrassing
It isn't fair the terror this
Addiction placed my parents in
I'm scared repair will never fix
The voluntary negligence
The wear and tear my errors did
They almost had to bury me
Here we have Tom talking about more than just what this does on himself, but on the people who loves him most. His family. He recognizes that his addiction doesn't just ruin his life, but the lives of your family. Talking about his parents he says, "They almost had to bury me." This is something that Tom has put in his songs in before. Acknowledging that something this horrible effects everyone, and not just yourself. Especially if you lose the battle.
Is this the moment where I screw up and relapse?
Waste all my money on rehab
Can't take a pill from the doctor to relax
Lash out in anger whenever I react
Feel like a weak man, I don't wanna be that
Living every day to get a buzz on the weekend
I'm in the deep end, fighting with demons
Tryna stay clean, I just really need a reason
My bones are shaking and my hands and feet
I see my rib cage, but I can't eat
I still wake up panicking, so I can't sleep
I just sit in the bathtub and try to breathe
Here Tom is talking about struggles of not just getting clean but staying clean. He talks about being irritable and lashing out at the people around him. The reasons to stay clean seem to be hard to find when coupled with everything he's going through. Unable to sleep, to eat, to think it seem so overwhelming. I can't even imagine what he, and others, might have gone through while struggling with this.
Talk about pitfalls, surrounded by brick walls
This is what kids call
Withdrawals
Deleted every number from my phone, I'm staying home
Really wish that I was drunk with all my friends
I'm gonna beat it or I won't and overdose
Really wish that I was high with all my friends
I've never felt this bad before
I don't know if I'll make it
Don't have the strength to get off the floor right now
But I'm hoping and praying
My whole life I wanted more
This might be the end
But now I've had too much fun, it's over now
I loved what I hated
"I never felt this bad before." I find this to be an interesting line (saying that, I find it completely believable). He's saying this is as bad as he has felt. Does this include the realization that the addiction could kill you? The physical, mental, and emotional struggle all at once is truly the scariest thing that I would never really want to go through.
Deleted every number from my phone, I'm staying home
Really wish that I was drunk with all my friends
I'm gonna beat it or I won't and overdose
Really wish that I was high with all my friends
Deleted every number from my phone, I'm staying home
Really wish that I was drunk with all my friends
I'm gonna beat it or I won't and overdose
Really wish that I was high with all my friends
That's it for the song. I just want to wrap it up by saying if you haven't watched the video scroll back to the top and watch it. I've said this before, and I'll say it again, but the videos always back an added punch to all of Tom's songs (especially the emotional ones). Watch it, because I truly believe that this isn't an act. I think that writing this song, and filming this video, caused the emotional reaction that you see in the video. Tom literally in tears. Some artists I wouldn't really believe, but with Tom I find him to be truly authentic.
If you have his Flowers for the Dead album there is a song called Naz, which is about his dog dying while at the vet. However, his dog made a miraculous resurrection and is doing great. In this song you can literally hear the pain and tears breaking through his voice as he's writing about this horrible moment of nearly losing his dog. That song literally made my mother cry.
All right everyone, that's it for this special installment of this series. Going forward I will post one song each Friday. Let me know what you thought in the comment section down below.
Hey everyone, welcome back to another review. We will be looking at another song, of course again by the one and only Tom MacDonald. Don't Look Down is Tom's newest song, the video of which came out about a week and a half ago. Watch the music video before getting into my thoughts and opinions, as it truly gives all of Tom's songs an added level of amazingness. Buckle up kids, this is a 7 1/2 minute song/video.
Have you taken the 7 1/2 minutes to watch the music video yet? Yes? Good, now we can get started. Let's take a look at each part of the song. A lot of people (and by people I mean haters) don't like the song because they are saying that it is a song just about Tom's ego and that he's doing nothing praising himself, and about how great he is. I don't believe that's what is going on with this song. While, yes, I do think that Tom is flexing I don't think it's because he's got a big head. I think that it's because he's finally gotten to where he has always dreamed of being and has done it all by himself (aside from his girlfriend Nova) and with all the haters screaming he's trash he wants to show them that's he's not, by showing them what he now has.
I can't hide my frown, my smile is hiding from my mouth
I can't lie, my mind keeps finding time to fight myself
I dive so deep inside, feel like I died and I'm in hell
Or I'm so high, my eyes can't see the ground beneath the clouds
I tried to keep it quiet, silence all my cries for help
As long as I am rising 'til I'm upside down, I won't look down
This particular song doesn't necessarily have a chorus, but it there were one I think this would be it. As it is in the song a second time. For those who know about Tom MacDonald's past know that he has, and still does, battle with mental illness. This subject is something that Tom doesn't shy away from in many of his songs (which we will get to in the future).
In this section I think this is partly what we are seeing. His, "smile is hiding from (his) mouth." And he says his mind is fighting himself, and he silences his cries for help. Even know with his videos getting millions of views, charting on the Billboard charts, and selling 10's of thousands of physical CD's when he drops them he still admits that he struggles. This is because mental illness is not something that simply goes away just because you finally have money (your dream job, and whatever it is you are searching for). The don't look down line sounds to me like he is saying to the him that has gotten to where he wants to be can't look back(down) at where he was before.
This a meteoric rise
Keep ignoring all the horror stories like
So-and-so, got way too famous
And ended up killing himself with some pills and a knife,
I am not the one who's gonna self-destruct
Got it out the mud
I came way too far to fail and screw it up
I ain't droppin' balls, I just blew 'em up,
I will never let my mental illness be the cause of my downfall
I will never lie to none of my fans, if I did, it would sound wrong
I will never try convincin' you dummies, this isn't a town hall
In this section what I see is him talking about the things that he has overcome. As well as fighting with mental illness Tom has also struggled with addiction. He says that he has heard "horror" stories of other rappers who got famous and where unable to handle everything that came with the notoriety. He isn't going to let that fame get to him through the mental illness, that he brings up in this section, as he says it won't be his downfall. All of his songs, including this one, are honest and at times brutally so. He says that he won't lie to his fans, and what we see is a truth, and honesty, that most musicians are usually hiding.
My favorite line in this section is the last one. "I will never try convincin' you dummies this isn't a town hall." A town hall is described as where constituents in a local, or national, setting can get together and discuss specific topics upcoming in legislature or to debate issues they have. So, when the haters, and trolls, are flooding the comments sections of his socials or his videos and telling him how terrible he is and how he needs to stop doing this and change that...blah blah blah. So, here he is basically saying is that who I am, and what I do and stand for, isn't up for debate...So, shut the hell up.
Never look down, never look down, just look around, y'all
Ayy, all of my demons are here
All I can feel is fear
All I can do is keep bein' myself
And that's what I been doin' for 32 years
All of my haters came out, chasin' my name for some clout
What are they angry about?
They're climbing as high as their ladders can take 'em
And screamin' my name, but I don't look down
Here he says that all he can do his be himself, and that's what he has been doing his entire life. Now that he has gained a following, a platform, and fame there are other smaller rappers, and YouTube reaction channels that use his name to get "clout", or views. For some of them it feels like maybe they are only screaming the hate because it gets them noticed. As Tom says, "What are they angry about?"
Hi, guys, remember me? I'm the white guy
Everybody wanted to cancel, nice try
Too sick, I might die right
Two fists full of middle fingers, I got no time for high fives
Too rich for a drive-by
Pay the pilot on my private jet to keep it low and do a fly-by
Take nine knives on a bike ride
Why nine? 'Cause I heard that a pussy has nine lives
Tom is a bit of a troll himself, and I'm all for it because he is completely trolling all of his haters who troll him first. That's what I'm seeing here in the above lines. First he's laughing at all of the people who tried to cancel the white rapper, "nice try." The next line feels like he's calling out the people who smile to his face than hate him behind their screens. He's too busy flipping them off to give high fives to his fake friends.
I'm the one that y'all hated
I'm the one who won the game, got paid and famous
I'm the one who laughed in all they faces
And became the greatest since old Slim Shady
I'm the one who don't care, I'm the one who goes where
No one goes 'cause they're scared
I'm the one who don't choke when the boat don't float
My throat gets no air
I can barely breathe all the air I need
Oxygen is very thin at the top
I can rarely sleep, stars I'm underneath
Shining too bright, and I can't turn 'em off
I'm high as the birds now
Flying too close to the sun, got a burn, wow
This section also feels like flexing, even when he is just talking about how he got where he is, and what he's willing to do and give up (even metaphorically) to get and stay there. As he stats all the things that he is, and has achieved, it implies that these are the things that his haters have not done. He's gotten "paid and famous" while laughing at all the haters. The line I like most here is when he says "I'm the one who goes where no one goes 'cause they're scared." That's one of the things that draws me to Tom's music, the fact that he's not afraid to write songs about the topics that the majority of people are afraid will get them cancelled. Because you can't get cancelled if you don't care.
I been turnin' up, and I ain't turnin' down
Maybe I should chill, but I ain't learnin' how
Ayy, I'm not afraid of success
I'm afraid of what happens if I take a rest
I'm afraid that I'll end up where I was before
In the hood, with no money or food for the rent
I'm scared if I look at the water, I'll drown
So I look at the sky and deny there's a ground
I'm not scared of the altitude up in the clouds
I'm scared of the fall, so I don't look down
Here we see some of what motivates Tom to the non-stop grinding that he puts into his music. If you keep track of his socials, and the videos he puts out, your hard pressed to find him going more than a few days (week at most) were he's not working on something. A new song, new video, album, new clothing line (which he and his girlfriend designed themselves). Never stops, and I feel like this is what he is talking about here. He doesn't stop because if he does it may lead to going back to where he came from. And that is the last place that he wants to go back to.
Fuck you, every single mother fuckin' one of you
I can't even see you because I don't look down (Don't look down)
Hahahahaha (Don't look down, don't look down)
Yeah (Don't look down)
A lot of people who hear these lines think that he is telling anyone listening to him to a "F-You", and that's just not true. People just want something to criticize, and find anything to complain about. But I guess to be fair he is saying fuck you to all the people bitching and complaining. For that's who it is for, the internet trolls.
I can't hide my tears, I dry my eyes and more come out
I can't lie, my fear is suicide, not bank accounts
Keep my chin up, but my head weighs, like, a million pounds
Feels like my neck might break, I hear it crack, ignore the sound
I tried to keep it quiet, silence all my cries for help
As long as I am rising 'til I'm upside down, I won't look down
This a legendary climb
Stand on the edge of the ledge and it's very high
Think of the men who are dead
'Cause it got to their head at a cemetery time
I ain't the one who gon' throw it away
'Cause I'm feelin' too lonely up here
I ain't the guy who gon' break from the pressure
It's snowy, my pipes are not frozen up here
There are two parts to this section. The first is where we see the dark thoughts that Tom lives with. As I've mentioned previously Tom has never shied away talking about his mental illness, and fight with suicide, which we see at the beginning of this set of lyrics. You can almost feel the weight of what he's feeling in those first few lines. The weight of the world presses down on you until you break, but you can't let it. You have to keep fighting.
The second part is Tom telling you that you do have to keep fighting. He says that there have been others before him that got to the top and let it drag them down, and killed them. But he says that he's not going to throw it away because it's hard. He says, "I ain't the guy who gon' break from the pressure."
I don't wanna hear about these YouTube rappers
I am not in that bracket, punk
Billboard plaques all stacked in my mansion
A million cash for my taxes, punk
Call me trash while I produce anthems
Y'all attackin' with plastic guns
I'm the biggest independent rapper in the fuckin' world
You just live on my planet, punk
Got an acid tongue and massive lungs
Every single track I've done has packed a punch
Used to be an addict, yup, I crashed a truck in Canada
Goin' too fast, blackout, drunk
I was nice at the start, but the mood all changed
The reactors who trash me for views are lame
Don't ask me to help you remove no claims
If I see you punks, you gon' lose your chains
Here we see Tom calling out all the crap that he is being told in the comment sections of his socials. He constantly gets called a YouTube rapper. Now, while he does post his videos on YouTube, and that it's an enormous part of how he gets his music out, he isn't actually what is defined as a YouTube rapper. Which is defined as a YouTube creator who creates content as well as music. And that is something Tom doesn't do, e just does music. That's not to say that there's anything wrong with that, if that's what works for them than they go for it. Tom just doesn't want to be labeled that now that he's at the top of his mountain.
I am the one who they all called a liar
When I told 'em that I'd help my mom retire
They thought that I'd buy a new crib and a chain
And a ring, and a whip, and some rims for the tires
Guess what? Mom don't work
Sent a 100 grand in a LV purse
Made the album with Nova and Brandon
They own half the masters, I told 'em the fam comes first
Anyone who knows Tom's music knows that he doesn't usually talk about money, and the things that he has, unless it's in a negative light. But here we do see him talking him money, and boy did the haters go crazy. More talk from the trolls saying his ego is making him talk about all of the money he has. Ummm? Are we hearing the same song? That's clearly not what I'm seeing. He's saying that everyone, talking about him, said that he would get famous and buy himself all the stuff that he sings against. But that's not what he says. He says that he literally used the money he made to retire his mother. He sent her money and a Louis Vuitton purse. Doesn't sound like someone bragging about all of the money and expensive things he's bought. But what do I know?
Still got the pills that the doctor gave me
To combat the depression and the panic attacks
I'm the type of person who won't even take a Tylenol
Even when I got a dozen knives in my back
They're callin' me wack, but I don't react
I don't have time to write raps, replyin' to trash
I'll meet a whole team, yeah, they're tryin' to cap
I'm concrete, but my demons hide in the cracks
Here is more of Tom's philosophy when it comes to the hating trolls. They don't matter, and you shouldn't waste your time reacting to them. "I don't have time to write raps, replyin' to trash." If he were to take the time it would require to reply to everyone slinging hate around he would never get anything accomplished. And at the rate that he gets music, and videos out, he clearly doesn't waste that time. He uses it to fuel his music. Such in songs like this one and "I'm Corny", another amazing song and video.
I'm the one, I ain't bought liquor for months
And you're lucky I'm sober, I'm nuts when I'm drunk
Mix the whiskey with soda, the man I'd become
Would invite you all over, put drugs in your punch
When you pass out, I'll wrap you in plastic
And hit you with hammers and flatten your skull 'til it's crushed
I don't name names, I don't play games
I just aim, spray and throw out the gun
The rappers who hate act like family now
They're tryna jack my style like some hand-me-downs
They want a million views, I want a Grammy now
And the closest they'll come is they grammy's house
I don't even drink, but I'm plannin' how
I can make a brewery in a massive house
To give free booze out to these rappin' clowns
And they could die usin' that to wash Xannies down
I'm the most successful guy to hold a pencil
I've been great for so long, I'm bored of flexin'
I became a machine made of iron, check inside
Peel the skin off and let the metal shine
I've been the greatest for so fuckin' long
It feels normal for me to be special
So much clout, I could buy back the souls of these rappers
That sold 'em for cash to the devil
This part of the song is really just one big metaphorical take on what Tom will do to the haters if they don't stop trolling and hating. He's going to use his music to destroy them. That who part with the hammer is disgusting, in like the best way possible.
Why is everybody always talkin' shit? Criticizin' how I'm doin' it my way?
If I'm so trash, why don't y'all release your videos on a Friday?
'Cause that's my day, comparing our numbers, you'd cook like some fried eggs
Pussy like wide legs, you only get views if you say my name
Angry I'm famous and not a great rapper, and you been workin' stupid hard
I don't have to rap fast to impress all my fans, I am a superstar, hahahahaha!
Here is one of my favorite lines from this song. "If I'm so trash, why don't y'all release your videos on a Friday? Cause that's my day." It is the epitome of a flex, telling the haters that they're afraid to release their music on the same day as Tom because the know that he's video will get more views than them. It's also so true. Tom MacDonald Friday will always be when he drops music videos. Doesn't matter what else is coming out. He dropped his "Best Rapper Ever" music video the same day Eminem dropped an album. That doesn't stop Tom.
Man, I'm built for this, I'd kill for this
Never get back for the blood that I spilled for this
I'm at the top, it don't even seem high enough
I need a couple more hills and some stilts for this
there ain't nobody around
The top of the mountain, I scream and I shout
Nobody up here but me is allowed
The VIP section is deep in the clouds
Go ahead and call me a clown
'Cause I cannot hear it, your sky is my ground
Here is about more of the same. Talking about how far he's come, and all that he has achieved. Metaphorically of course.
To look me in the eye, you'd have to reach the summit
I won't see you comin', I don't look down
If I stepped on glass and my feet on fire
My toes turn black and my shoes melt off
And my bones touch ground, I will not look back, I cannot look down
I don't care about how hard it gets
I gotta be the fire in the dark, I guess
I got a beating heart inside an iron chest
If they're sleepin' on me, I ain't tryin' to rest
Hope they die in their sleep while I climb to the peak
And their eyes never see all the heights that I reach
I deserve it 'cause I took the stairs to the moon
I might die from exhaustion, but I like the view
I'm higher than planets, the average person
Would die from the temperature, bodies are burning
The oxygen needed for life is inadequate
I hold my breath until I'm turning purple
All my life all you did was doubt
And now my success gon' kill you now
Wish I could see and put you in the ground
But as bad as I want to, I'll never look down
This part I think is the most emotional. This isn't just from the lyrics either, even though it might still be at the top even if I did just mean the words. If you watched the video than you probably know what I mean. You can hear it in his voice. He has put so much passion into this song that he has literally screamed his voice hoarse. That's what you can hear in this portion of the song. Other artists would hear that and fix it, change it to sound "normal", but not Tom. This is one of the things that I really love about Tom and his music. The music that he makes is such a part of him that when these moments of pure, raw, emotion are put into his music it is something that you, as the listener, can both hear and feel.
Hahahahaha
You don't get it still? I am the one, hahahahaha (Don't look down)
You don't have to admit it to yourself, you don't have to admit it (Don't look down)
You don't have to tell the whole world that when you look at me
You have to look up to me, and I don't look down (Don't look down)
Everybody, please keep on talking
I am a fucking superstar
Hahahahaha
You are a superstar Tom. He's one of my favorite musical artists, and I have yet to hear a song that wasn't good. Obviously, there will always be some that I love more than others but that's to be expected. I think this one is definitely near the top. Top 5, maybe top 3, but can't be completely sure. Let me know what you thought of my review in the comment section.
I'm back with another book review. I just got finished reading Unmasked by Andy Ngo, about the realities of ANTIFA that you won't hear in the media. So, I have recently been reading a lot more non-fiction than I have in the past. I used to not be into non-fiction, except for military memoirs (absolutely love those). But, here's the thing I honestly probably never would have heard of this book if it weren't the extreme left trying to cancel someone for having the audacity to read a freaking book.
Several months ago a read a news article about how one of the musicians from Mumford and Sons told his social media followers about this book and how he thought they all should read it. They than bitched and moaned about how him reading this book, and posting it on his social hurt their feelings. I'm sorry what? How does someone you don't actually know reading a book you don't agree with affect your life in any way whatsoever? If reading a book hurts your feelings I think you really need to do some self reflection and think about what's going on in your life, and not someone else's.
To be completely honest, I think it is the books about ideas, thoughts, and opinions that you don't agree with that you need to read the most. Why do you need to read them? To get a little f-ing perspective. If all your reading, and listening to is telling you about the same thing, over and over, than you aren't capable of having an informed opinion. You have to be willing to listen to the otherside of the argument or you will be incapable of debating you points. So, to all of the Cancel Culture trolls who tried to cancel this book, thanks for letting me know it exists :D Now let's talk a little about the book itself.
Ngo's book addresses what ANTIFA has been doing within our country for the past few years, but most especially during 2019, and the riots in 2020. Including his own run ins with the group, that always seem to end violently, and the author ending up in the hospital, and with the group stalking his private residence and family. This book highlights several instances of violent attacks by ANTIFA that I didn't even know had happened. But how could huge things, like what is talked about in this book, happen and you not know about it? Because the mainstream media doesn't want to talk about it. Which is ridiculous. If something horrible is happening: people are being attacked/killed, buildings burned down, police officers attacked, and public figures are calling for people to actually cause violence and destruction than it needs to be talked about. It shouldn't matter who the agressores are and who the victims are, it should be talked about and condemned.
This book is also very well written. The information is put in a way that keeps the readers interest, and entertains. Not only do I want to find more works from Andy Ngo to read but I want to read more about ANTIFA. Not because i suddenly want to "join" them, but because knowledge is power. Knowing and understanding what's going on around you helps you to be a better person. I highly recommend that you read this book whether you agree with the information or disagree. It's a great read, and it has helped me to see what is going on around the country I live in.
That's it for this post. Thanks for taking the time to read my review. If there's any books you think I should read and review let me know down in the comments.
This seems like a silly question but unfortunately in the world we live in this seems to be a real issue. It seems as if we have gotten to a point where we can no longer talk to people about anything that they don't agree with, or may not understand. Why? Because we seem to have reached a point where debate has devolved into little more than hurling hate. Whatever happened being able to disagree with someone and still respect them? Nowadays it seems if you disagree with someone they feel like they now have the right to personally attack you and throw around hate.
When did it become standard that when someone hears something they disagree with they call offended and then label you some sort of bigot. What kind depends on what you are disagreeing with them on. It appears that facts are no longer important to an argument, and certainly not when the person you are talking to has had their feelings hurt for some nonsensical reason. Truth, honesty, and facts seem to have become less important than feelings and taking offense. In the words of Tom MacDonald, from his song Politically Incorrect:
We've become so ultra-sensitive and hyper-tolerant that, honestly, honesty gon' be illegal
It's crazy y'all get so shocked and bothered from people sayin' things that aren't responsible
If that seems logical, y'all are weak then
Unfortunately, the sentiments seen in these lyrics are what our conversations and debates have devolved into. "We've become so ultra-sensitive and hyper-tolerant that honestly, honesty is gon' be illegal." That's not to say that tolerance is a bad thing. Quite the opposite actually, tolerance is a great thing. As long as it is actually tolerance. See, there are a group of people who see tolerance as "we should have tolerance for every single different person out there, unless you disagree with me on anything." There is a difference between being intolerant and not agreeing with someone else's ideology or opinions.
I have seen so many people in conversations, and debates, come to the table with facts, statistics, and proof to back up their argument. Then what does the otherside do? Do they also have proof, facts, or statistics to back up their side as well? No, no they do. They scream about how they are offended and how the person's facts don't matter because they are "hateful" and "bigoted". Ummm? I'm sorry, what? Facts don't have anything to do with your feelings. Let me give a fictionalized example:
If I were to say here is this book it was written in 2010, and I can prove that by the Copyright page which shows the earliest publication date was 2010. Than the person I'm talking to would say how i'm wrong, that they got their book brand new in 2013, and horrible I am for saying otherwise. Do you see the facts that were ignored? They got the book in one year so the fact that I could prove when it was first published doesn't matter.
This of course is a made of example, but the sentiment is still true. The facts don't care when their feelings disagree, and they find themselves offended because they disagree. What has our world come to? And why can't normal and reasonable people come back to the forefront of social media, and just the media in general.
That's it for this particular rant. Please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments below. I'd love to have a conversation.
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.
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.
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.
