“Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle Expresses a fathers’ deep emotion towards his young daughter who seems to be growing up too fast, which makes their relationship more distant. Watching the father sing about his daughter creates a feeling that he truly cares about his daughter. They have a special bond that is very important to him, as well as the little girl who keeps their memories with her as she ages. Throughout this video I am drawn to the flowers that are shown in many scenes. Some may think those flowers have little or no meaning, but to me they used to be very important to my relationship with my dad. From the day that I can remember, he would bring me one hand picked flower when he got home after work. In return, I would give him a big hug and kiss. As I’m watching this video, the flowers show me how they symbolized a growing bond between my dad and I.. That was until my parents separation when I was seven, which seemed to also separate my relationship with my dad. Not only did he stop saying “I love you” but the flowers stopped coming too. The actions of the father and daughter in this video very much remind me of what I used to share with my dad. Unfortunately for me, growing up wasn’t what separated me and my father, it was the divorce of my parents that completely changed my dad and the way he treated my family, but more importantly; me. I have not seen or talked to my dad since I was thirteen years old. The actions that are expressed throughout this video portray an idealistic relationship between a father and daughter that I once had, but now envy. The lyrics hold just as much of a meaning to me as the actions. To this day, everyday I receive flowers I instantly am reminded of my father; a proud, caring man who protected me with everything. If I only had my dad to watch me grow up and see me spread my wings. Yes, this song holds a very important place in my heart, but it cannot bring back the relationship of me and my dad.
“Slipped Away” by Avril Lavigne creates a mixture of emotions. Although I don’t exactly believe that this is the best music video, it does capture my attention by the way it consistently jumps from scene to scene. That was the way I lived my life after the loss of my dad. My life continued but I wasn’t always there. I tried pretending to be happy, but inside I knew that I was constantly hurting. The pain of losing someone you never had the chance to say goodbye to is one of the worst pains I have endured in my life, considering the fact it was my dad. I can relate to this video in many instances throughout my life, not just that of losing my dad but also the loss of many friends and other relatives. Most of the people that slipped out of my life weren’t by a cause of death, but because of relationships that grew apart. While repeatedly watching this video, the girl’s face expression is what holds my attention. I can clearly picture me as being that girl. One who tries to be happy, but can’t; One who tries to get over it; but can’t; One who wants to believe it wasn’t her fault; but can’t. Like the girl in the video, all I needed was someone to support me and understand what I was going through to listen and feel my pain. My mom was the one that went through this roller coaster ride with me. She has made me come to the realization that the day my father slipped away was the day that it would never be the same.
"Photograph" by Nickelback could be interpreted as an emotional song with scenes that can relate to anyones life. As his actions relate to the lyrics being sung, I recognize the photographs in the video. A photograph is an entry way to many different doors that may lead to the answer of what is happening in the picture, the emotions, and the time or place. I have always had an unusual obsession with taking pictures and I personally believe that a picture is worth a thousand words. Any photograph can be interpreted in many different ways. Everyone has their own perspectives in life and a picture can have many different meanings. The only person that truly knows the story behind the picture may be the photographer or people in the picture. When I am in an odd mood or need some cheering up, I always turn to pictures of my past which will instantly take me back to a time that I will never forget. It enables me to relive those memories in my mind; some good, some bad, but all unforgettable periods in my life. Looking at a photograph may create a wide array of emotions, it all depends what is taking place in the picture. All people choose their own way of sharing their life stories; I have taken up the hobby of creating scrapbooks to relive the way of my past, present, and near future.
"Apologize" by OneRepublic has a very interesting video that contains a lot of contrast throughout the song. The boyfriend and girlfriend are talking over the phone being hung upside down. There is a table that has different objects which begin to turn around and round. Those objects seem to be something that was or once was apart of their relationship. I believe that the items are spinning as it relates to what must be going on in their minds. The video becomes intense when the flowers and mirror and lightbulb become destroyed one way or another; burnt, broken or left behind. Those destroyed objects are items that relate to my life somehow. Whenever I have gone through a tough time, my world would spin and spin, creating many emotions that I couldn't control. I took my anger on my possessions that meant something to me and the situation I was going through. The video posseses a meaning that those objects can be destroyed on the outside but doesn't hide their importance or past meaning.
“Stand” by Rascal Flatts expresses that throughout life there are going to be many instances that may break you, but you have to make the choice to be the better person and grow from the experience and then just shake it off. This video contains lyrics that create the object in my mind; “You feel like a candle in a hurricane, just like a picture with a broken frame, alone and helpless like you’ve lost your fight, but you’ll be alright, you'll be alright.” This is a motivating song that has helped me in many times of need. I am a self-motivator and this song enables me to have the power to push myself even when the going gets rough. I have learned at a young age that life is tough but to never give up on yourself because everyone is capable of making it. Learning from mistakes; yours and others, is something that everyone needs to grasp out of life and put to good use.Towards the end of the video there was a punching bag that a woman was using. I can relate to relieving my stress with having a punching bag. I used to have a very bad temper that I unfortunately took after my dad. I knew that I didn’t want to become him so I used that as my therapy. Not only did I feel less tense after hitting it, but I felt like a better person on the inside. Just like this song, I have had help motivating myself through a punching bag. When the going gets rough, just stand.
"Girl Next door" by Saving Jane is a perfect high school girl song creating scenes that are present in most every school There are always two sides in that teenage universe and the filmstrip throughout the video shows the two different lifestyles by two very different people. "She is the prom queen, I'm in the marching band, She is a cheerleader, I'm sitting in the stands" are lyrics that identify exactly different worlds of girls in any typical high school. The lyrics can relate to a lot of high school girls who wished they were the popular one and not just the girl next door. In the end it does show that being the girl next door doesn't always have to be a bad thing. You have to make the most out of life to get what you want. The video presents a typical high school with typical people with two very different lifestyles. The high school scenes remind me of the way my high school was. Since my graduating class was so large, there were many different ethnicities, personalities, athletes, geeks, clubs, and classes. My school was run by the popular group choosing the destiny of other kids. The classmates who they felt were below them had no chance. There was no in between; you either had it or you didn't.
"Don't Forget to Remember Me" by Carrie Underwood is a story of a girl getting ready to leave the place she has called home for the past eighteen years of her life. She is going to hit the road to experience the real world, which is what most kids dream of and cannot wait for that day. Experiencing life for your own is something everyone goes through. Leaving home was the day that I counted down for. It finally came and was a very devastating one for my mom and younger brother. Me on the other hand was beyond excited. At first I realized how great the freedom was, but then it hit me that I no longer have everything that I once took for granted. The materialistic things; my own room, free home-cooked meals, shopping money, whatever I needed and more. Being independent is a characteristic that I have always had, but didn't realize how hard it actually is to be independent in the real world. I took many things for granted in life which didn't hit me until I was officialy out on my own. Being on your own is a lot harder than what most kids could ever imagine.
“You’re Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera is a heartwarming song that helps in raising people’s confidence about inner and outer beauty. This song can relate to a large audience because I’m positive many kids and adults have dealt with low self esteem, including myself. The object that has been there throughout my entire life is the mirror represented in this video. Sometimes it has been the enemy, other times it has been the enforcer in my life. Looking into a mirror can make or break you. Sometimes you see something you don’t want to; a person that you wished to never become. At other times you are able to see what you want to become. One point that I got from this video was that people are always judging but sometimes the biggest judger is yourself, especially when you have that mirror to look upon. I feel that my biggest competitor is me, nothing is ever good enough which also makes it worse when others think that of me also. When I take the time to stare into the mirror I truly do see someone that I have always told myself I wasn’t going to become. Although the mirror does show this, it also inspires me to what I need and want to become.
