"Where is the Love"
This week, I’d like to discuss the rhetoric of a song that I see as being civically engaging. The lyrics of “Where is the Love” by the Black Eyed Peas promote a message and mindset that listeners can easily pick up on when mindlessly listening to the song. This message can be received as a result of rhetoric at work in the lyrics that has potential for listeners to act consistently with the song’s view. Even without watching the music video or searching for an analysis of the song, listeners can see the disappointment being expressed over the lack of unity and togetherness in the world. The lyrics mention gangs, violence, people killing each other, hurt children who are crying, hypocrisy, yet how we share the world with each other. These undeniable parts of life as we know it, and their negative connotations, evoke disappointment, sadness, and regret.
Even considering people who just sing along or listen because the song is catchy, it is hard to miss the idea of people hating and mistreating each other for no valid reason. Merely the repetition of “where is the love?” throughout the song establishes some type of thought or connection to the problem at hand. The connection makes people think, which opens the possibility for a perspective change.
Additionally, when they say, “ask yourself,” “we,” and “one” in phrases throughout the song, they establish a connection between themselves, the song, and listeners which can make listeners feel more involved, impacted, responsible, etc. in regarding the issue. Listeners realize they are not hearing about someone else’s problems, but their own, and they can be part of the solution.
The feelings of disappointment, sadness, and exclusion have been familiarized with everyone at one time or another. Using relatable emotions, and also children as examples, creates an appeal to ethos, and motivates change among people. Since everyone knows the feeling, people may realize they shouldn’t try to bring it upon others; by not creating it, they can work to eliminate it.
Also, the lyrics create an appeal to logos in the way they subtly slip in explanations. For example, there is a verse that goes, “But if you only have love for your own race, then you leave space to discriminate, and to discriminate only generates hate, and when you hate you’re bound to get irate.” The progression is simple and sensible, allowing it to be understood in a song, yet related to realistic circumstances.
In terms of this song as a means of civic engagement, I think it is effective because it points out a problem to which almost anyone can relate. It also paints the problem in a way that highlights its relevance and negativity, which inspires people to discontinue behaviors that reinforce these negativities. If that happens, people may treat each other more nicely, and perhaps we can discover “the love” that the Black Eyed Peas cannot find.
*Click here to view the lyrics of "Where is the Love"
Even considering people who just sing along or listen because the song is catchy, it is hard to miss the idea of people hating and mistreating each other for no valid reason. Merely the repetition of “where is the love?” throughout the song establishes some type of thought or connection to the problem at hand. The connection makes people think, which opens the possibility for a perspective change.
Additionally, when they say, “ask yourself,” “we,” and “one” in phrases throughout the song, they establish a connection between themselves, the song, and listeners which can make listeners feel more involved, impacted, responsible, etc. in regarding the issue. Listeners realize they are not hearing about someone else’s problems, but their own, and they can be part of the solution.
The feelings of disappointment, sadness, and exclusion have been familiarized with everyone at one time or another. Using relatable emotions, and also children as examples, creates an appeal to ethos, and motivates change among people. Since everyone knows the feeling, people may realize they shouldn’t try to bring it upon others; by not creating it, they can work to eliminate it.
Also, the lyrics create an appeal to logos in the way they subtly slip in explanations. For example, there is a verse that goes, “But if you only have love for your own race, then you leave space to discriminate, and to discriminate only generates hate, and when you hate you’re bound to get irate.” The progression is simple and sensible, allowing it to be understood in a song, yet related to realistic circumstances.
In terms of this song as a means of civic engagement, I think it is effective because it points out a problem to which almost anyone can relate. It also paints the problem in a way that highlights its relevance and negativity, which inspires people to discontinue behaviors that reinforce these negativities. If that happens, people may treat each other more nicely, and perhaps we can discover “the love” that the Black Eyed Peas cannot find.
*Click here to view the lyrics of "Where is the Love"