This song is about Dizzee rascal's life and his perspective and thoughts on what happened to him from when he was growing up as a child.
The music video for "Dream" starts with some building blocks, that have animals printed on them this could have connotations with his younger self-being more primal since he talks about his life and his aspirations as a child; the blocks then rotate to reveal the name "Dizzee Rascal". A children's music box tune plays as the camera zooms in on a woman at a piano, who says "Hello boys and girls, shall we see what Dizzee Rascal's up to today? He's such a rascal," this is a parody based on Annette Mills and Muffin the Mule Dizzee Rascal may have used this as a parody because this connotes with the theme of his upbringing as a child. She then starts playing the piano and the song starts. Dizzee appears out of a music box, and starts by wondering "how he's going to pull this off, man, without singing the dots." He then states that the track he's rapping on is "too sensible for him," this probably link to the fact that his life was rough and that his environment was not the most "sensible".
Then he starts rapping the song. Throughout the video, several incidents occur; two puppet men steal a TV, and the puppet police appear in a police car and beat the puppet thieves this aggressive act, even though shown in puppet form it doesn't take the police brutality that black people face lightly; conjointly these scenes are shown with a close up of the woman portraying Annette Mills gave a facial expression that shows surprise as to what she was seeing, the reason for this could have been used in order to show that it's not the normal thing people would see. Then another puppet spray paints a shop wall; two puppets walk on screen pushing prams one being a woman and the other a man reasoning for this is probably because you don't typically see baby fathers with their pushing around their children and Dizzee Rascal does pay homage to parents staying with their children.
The video ends with Dizzee climbing back into his music box, and the lady says "Goodbye, Dizzee, Goodbye, Boys and Girls, Goodbye..." and the building block logo appears again, and the video ends.
Overall the music video is a good way at portraying his life and his experiences and the way he has set up the music video is also good because it doesn’t take itself too seriously which is smart based on the things hes gone through.
Formation contains strong political criticism in its lyrics, being described by Los Angeles Times's Mikael Wood as "a statement of radical black positivity." It also was noted by Joseph Lamour who commented during a review for MTV that Formation is "a song whose lyrics are teeming with notions of empowerment and pride in her heritage as a black American with roots in Alabama and Louisiana." The song opens with rumbling sirens, in the opening lines, "Y'all haters corny with that Illuminati mess," the song addresses rumors about the singer's connection to popular conspiracy theories about the Illuminati. This synth effect appears as Beyoncé repeats the first verse "My daddy Alabama/ Momma Louisiana", NPR's Mandalit del Barco noted during the verse, Beyoncé represents her family roots, he said, "Her mother is from Louisiana, as she let us know in the song. This has always been a big part of her identity; it's not one that the mainstream focus is on. People talk about her not centering it." He also described the lines as an "unapologetic blackness.
In comparison with Dizzee Rascal who also embraces where he came from,his upbringing and his overall expirences makes these two songs lyrically similar however in terms of musci video Dizzee Rascal emits a satirical vibe which makes his upbringing even though serious easier for an audience to digest, which from a preffered reading stand point he may have done this to inspire children since the puppets and childlike characters are easier for kids to understand and empathise with. In contrast to Formation who goes for a stronger vivid way of expressing embrace this is seen from the dark colours Beyoncé chooses to wear which could have connotations with a dark a mysterious undertone which in my opinion works well with the idea of the music video since she’s in New Orleans in the middle of the flood trying to unite African Americans which could have connotations with the title of the music video Formation which could mean for African Americans to all be together and stay in formation. However, she does typically argue the feminist route throughout the music video and wants female empowerment but the oppositional reading would argue the point that if thats her aim why would she dress in such provocative clothing but the negotiated reading would say that even though she dresses that way she shouldn’t be judged since its her body and her choice.
Overall the two music videos are good at what they try to inspire since Dream is made for people who need motivation to aspire to what they want in life and Formation is for the empowerment and the unity of women and African Americans.
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