Subtle Differences

Rachel Platten v. Adam Levine: "Stand By You" and "Locked Away"

I've long had a bone to pick (not beef to pick, right? colloquialisms!) with the sort of relationship depicted in the song "Locked Away" feauring Adam Levine. I admit, when I first heard it, I dug it. Great tune, seemed sincere, uplifting. But then I listened to the lyrics.... :

"If I showed you my flaws (please do, Adam)...
If I couldn't be strong (join the club)--
Would you still love me the same? (Of course, Adam, we all have down days!)......
If I got locked away (wait...)
And we lost it all today (what did you lose?? Why??)
Would you still love me the same...?"

Well, Adam, I'm afraid to say I don't think after you've been jailed (apparently) for making some morally questionable and hugely risky move, that the love between us would be quite what it was! The idea of being a companion through thick and Thin is an ideal I think we all hope for and strive for. But being locked up and losing everything sounds less like a, "I make a mistake in a potential investment which would lead to greater financial security for my family" and more like, "I committed a felony". Things are gonna be different.

Now, a better example of what I think Adam and R City were going for is exemplified in Rachel Platten's "Stand by you". Check out these Lyrics:

"Hand, put your empty hands in mine...
And scars, show me all the scars you hide.
And hey, if your wings are broken
Borrow mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you...

Even if we're Breaking down, we can find a way to break through
even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through hell with you..."

Of COURSE I'll walk through hell with my husband. We probably will! There's just a fundamental difference between whether you went there on purpose or we were thrown in it.

Anyways, two different songs. 1 attempted meaning. Who do you think did it better?



"Stand by You"-- Rachel Platten (Official Video)


"Locked Away"--R City ft. Adam Levine (Official Video)







P.S. I'm still doing my challenge and it's great so far!

KL



Comments

  1. McKaySeptember 23, 2019 at 5:09 PM

    I LOVE the way that you analyzed these two songs! I love "Stand by You" too, and I think you're totally right about how Rachel better presents the message of standing by the side of your loved ones through their trials and rough patches.

    ReplyDelete

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