Critical Essay #2

    Music plays a large part in our society, it is used to convey a message through lyrical poetry. In this blog I will be discussing one of my favorite songs by a Filipino artist. The song is entitled "Kaleidoscope World" by Francis Magalona. I will be analyzing certain lyrics and try to give my personal interpretation on them through the lense of a post-colonial ideal

"Kaleidoscope World" was recorded in 1994 and released in 1995, written and recorded by Francis Magalona as a part of his 1995 album "FreeMan"under the record label Musiko Records and BMG Records (Pilipinas) inc.It is regarded as one of Magalona's signature songs and was used to commemorate him after his untimely death in 2009 from leukemia. Francis Magalona was known as the father of Filipino Rap as well as a leading figure in Pinoy Rock.

The title of the song refers to a kaleidoscope which is an optical instrument that is normally cylindrical in shape containing beads, pebbles and glass that when viewed through one end different colorful patterns will be shown due to the light coming in from the other end and the repeated reflection of the mirrors. The term kaleidoscope world could refer to the fact that their are many kinds of people inhabiting our world all coming from different ethnicities and walks of life and that everyone is unique in his or her own different way.

So many faces, so many races
Different voices, different choices
Some are mad, while others laugh
Some live alone with no better half
Others grieve while others curse
And others mourn behind a big black hearse
Some are pure and some half-bred
Some are sober and some are wasted
Some are rich because of fate and
Some are poor with no food on their plate
Some stand out while others blend
Some are fat and stout while some are thin
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most

In the first verse, Francis Magalona states that their are different kinds of people in our world and that each and everyone one of us goes through different experiences. He states that "Some are rich because of fate and some are poor with no food on their plate" which can be easily related to the Philippines as well as other countries, sometimes people are lucky enough to be born into a wealthy family thus does not need to worry about anything while others are not as lucky and have to struggle just to get a decent meal, this idea is once again reiterated in the line "some have some while some have most". The focus of this verse seems to lean towards a post-colonial message through it's emphasis on identity within society as well as the struggles of people from different classes

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin' round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

In the chorus of the song Magalona tells us that even thug we all have things that makes use individually unique from one another we still share similarities such as being human beings hence "every color every hue, is represented by me and you". The chorus once again tackles a post colonial theme through "every color, every hue" which deals with identity

Some are great and some are few
Others lie while some tell the truth
Some say poems and some do sing
Others sing through their guitar strings
Some know it all while some act dumb
Let the bass line strum to the bang of the drum
Some can swim while some will sink
And some will find their minds and think
Others walk while others run
You can't talk peace and have a gun
Some are hurt and start to cry
Don't ask me how don't ask me why
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most

In the second and final verse of the song, Magalona reiterates his message in the first verse albeit with different lyrics. My favorite line in the entire song is found in this verse and it is "You can't talk peace and have a gun" which I believe is very true. Right now in the Philippines there have been a string of deaths linked to vigilantism against drug pushers and drug addicts, these acts are done in the name of peace and justice and though I am for these acts I can't help but to remember this particular line from this song which makes me rethink my stand on the issue. One cannot sue for peace with violence as it will only bring more devastation and harm to the innocent.

                  

All in all the message of this song still holds true 11 years after it was first released. The struggle for individuals to find their own personal identity within our society and the struggles of fitting in with the world we live in today. It just goes to show you they greatness of this song, it is one thing for a song to be popular at the time of its release and it is another if its meaning and message withstands the test of time

References:
http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/f/francis_m/kaleidoscope_world_lyrics.html