Rhetorical Analysis of Song Lyrics

Sharmil Whyatt March 6, 2012 English Rhetorical Analysis of Song Lyrics My song of choice is, Wale. “Bad”. Folarin. Maybach Music, 2012. Mixtape. This song since hitting the mixtape scene is being played all of the time and is being sung by people all over the world. A rhetorical analysis is when you break down a text and try to understand the deeper meaning that you think it might mean. This is helpful because it allows you to do two things, further understand the text and also make sure that you understand what you are learning about.
I choose this song for a couple of reasons, one it was stuck in my head the day the assignment was announced, two I really do like the song and I think that people can relate to it, and finally a friend of mine said that this song defines me. I took this opportunity to get to better understand what Wale might be trying to say in this song. I think that this song as excellent example of logos, ethos, and pathos that many people can relate to. The word logos is used to appeal to the readers common sense, also their beliefs and values.
I think that Wale is trying to say that if you believe in love then you should also be able to believe in fucking. The beginning hook of the song speaks for its self “Is it bad that I never made love, no I never did I, but I sure know how to fuck”( Tiara Thomas Hook). If you ask anyone they will tell you there is a complete difference between making love and fucking. When I asked my roommate about the two she defines making love and I quote “Something that is passionate and soft with nothing but love and care in each other’s eyes”.

She defined fucking as “Two people who only care for each other in that moment, you only need them to please and then they can leave”. At the end of the day everybody is looking for love, he even says at the beginning of the song that “Monogamy or whatever you call it…ain’t for everybody” (Wale Intro) but if you’re not making love then your fucking. Yea you might have those little emotions that you think it might be real but when you find out it’s not you go out and look to find what we call in this generation as a rebound or a fuck buddy.
The word ethos is when you use the words or reputation of the artist or writer to support your ideas. Wale is a very smart individual, even though he didn’t graduate from college he was a student athlete. I think that this song is more like him putting his emotions out about himself. That he has never actually made love that he has only fucked women. I think that he telling it all to us in this one line “Most of us rushing into it anyways, you know what I’m saying”. I also think that he is throwing a curve ball when he says that “You ain’t rushing for love, and I ain’t up here to judge”.
That maybe he once was in love but he and this woman never had their love go to an intimacy level. I have been in love before but when me and my partner where together it was never we were making love it was we were fucking. You can call it what you want but at the end of the day when you are no longer with them you look back on it, you realize that it wasn’t love. The word pathos is when you use your feelings, emotions, and inner thought to influence people. I think that Wale might be trying to tell us of his inner emotions.
I am not completely sure if he is trying to tell us that he is ready to make love or if he wants to continue down his path of just fucking women. In the lines “I don’t need emotions to open your deep sea, I can see the ocean by going between legs”. In this line I think that he has made up his mind that he will just get this emotion that he seeks from in between a woman legs. It’s almost as though he is having a relationship and the vagina (in between legs) is that thing that you don’t want to lose.
It’s just like that relationship where you are with someone and they tell you that if you don’t do things there way you risk them leaving you. Wale is using his desire of vagina to keep the girls coming back, it’s possible that the females that he has been choosing all want to make love but he will not let it get to that level. Wale or the female of his choice just take what they need and then leave. In conclusion I have learned the difference between ethos, pathos, and logos.
I had learned about it every year of English but with doing this assignment I have a better knowledge of it because I had to actually do something with what I learned. This song might be more important than we actually think because it makes you think. It makes you think about your past and you future and where you might want to go with it. The song gives you an in-depth look into the soul of Wale and how he feels about certain things. I you now my generation we don’t really listen to music anymore.
An when I say that I mean the lyrics what the artist is actually trying to say. The only thing we hear is a catchy hook and base line that can make you shake your head and shake your butt. I think that Drake said it best though “When you are happy you hear the music, but when you are sad you hear the lyrics”. Works Cited Thomas , Kelson , Tiara Thomas , and Wale . “Wale a€“ Bad Lyrics | Rap Genius. ” Discover the Meaning of Rap Lyrics | Rap Genius. N. p. , 30 Dec. 2012. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. . MLA formatting by BibMe. org.