Aim # 2 and 4 Commentary

In this assignment I thought that the Aim on Worldly success was more prevalent in American pop music.  The reason I though this aim was more prevalent, because most artists come up big with their sings and that success is sometimes portrayed in the music. Most of the artist dream big and want to achieve something, something that gives them pleasure. This is another reason Success is more prevalent to American music because it ties in with the aim of pleasure.  The reason for this is because the artist loves to have power and money and fame. All of these three things relate to pleasure. While doing this assignment, I found it hard to find liberation songs because, when listening to songs that could be seen as liberation also may be seen as a success song. This made it hard for me to differentiate between what category the song could fall under. I also noticed that worldly success could also mean happiness as well. Both pleasure and worldly success has double meaning to eat is open to many interpretations.  Happiness can be an interpretation to pleasure and worldly success because when your successful you are happy, and success can have many meanings as well. You could be an average family and still be successful.  When doing this assignment I was surprised that one of the songs can be having both aims in it.  The Hindu understanding of worldly success talks about celebration and money. It also says that there are limitations to success. Even though it is needed in support for household and to complete civic duties, the limitations are as follows. The first thing is wealth and power is exclusive, meaning that there is not a lot of it to be shared with everyone. Second, you have to be greedy sometimes when going for your desire. Wealth and money is not shared so it’s a competition.  Third it centers meaning in the self and fourth achievements are temporary. I feel that based on the Hindu interpretation it is very different from American pop music because when they have the money there are really no limitations because once they have it, it’s done, they can just easily get more without any limitations. Success in general based on the Hindu understanding is seen through wealth and fame and power.

Aim # 2- Worldly Success
1. MIA, Paper Planes, Alternative Hip Hop, 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewRjZoRtu0Y
2. Travis McCoy( Ft. Bruno Mars), Billionaire, Hip Hop Regge Fusion, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aRor905cCw
3. B.O.B ft. Haley Williams and Eminem, Airplanes, Alternative Hip Hop, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn6-c223DUU
4. Kevin Rudolf, I made It, Rap Rock, Pop, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp1K40FNVJ8
5. Charice ft. Iyaz, Pyramid, Pop, R&B, 2010


Aim # 4- Liberation
1.  Pharoahe Monch, Free, Hip Hop, 1972
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waEG_DQPUZk
2. Dead Prez, We Want Freedom, Underground Hip Hop, 2000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG-eT4oK9lU
3. Tupac, Thugz Mansion, Hip Hop, 2002
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kExHaBkEYi8
4. Alicia Keys, How it feels to fly, R&B, Pop, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5JU2cjiz48&feature=fvst
5. Katy Perry, Firework, Dance, Pop, 2010

Aim # 1 and Aim # 3

I thought that the aim that was more prevalent was aim one, pleasure. This aim is common amongst the American pop music because it is pleasure that inspires the artists to perform. The joy of singing and the wealth and fame they get from it is what pleases the artists. Many people listen to pop music because it is what they consider pleasure music to them. I had noticed however that artist who perform music in relation to helping others or to the community do it after something tragic happens.  For example after the attack of 9/11 the black eyed peas came out with the song where the love is.  This is also why that American pop music is mostly considered as pleasure. When doing this assignment most songs that came to mind that had to pleasure was all about sex, drugs, and love.  Although that can be pleasing at times, I feel that pleasure can be seen in a different aspect as well.  For example pleasure is something that people want and at many time people want happiness. Happiness can be seen as pleasurable as well because it makes the other person happy and it something they want, In relation to the Hindu text,  pleasure is said to be anything that pleases you and anything you want.  Another aspect of pleasure is relaxation.  This can be another person’s pleasure. There are many ways to view pleasure and because of those many aspects American pop music correlates very well to the Hindu aim of pleasure. In the Hindu understanding of the four aims, it says pleasure can be seen for health and prosperity.  It says to go and do what pleases the self and to do things that you want.  This is different from the Hindu understanding of pleasure because there is a negative connotation towards what is seen as pleasure. For example, it is saying that health is pleasure in the Hindu text, and this is seen as a good type of pleasure, however now days most American Pop music promotes an unhealthy intake pleasure. Also the difference in the aim of community service is that in American pop music community service is seen more of a service verses in the Hindu text community service is posed as a duty.

Aim # 1- Pleasure
1. Black Eyed Peas, My Humps, Hip hip, R&B, 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEe_eraFWWs
2. Kelly clarkson, A Moment Like this, Pop, 2002

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSSoMw3R-E8

3. Kid Cudi, Pursuit of Happiness, Tri Hop, Alternative Rock, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xzU9Qqdqww
4. Bone Thugz N harmony, Ecstasy, Rap, 2000 ( Rated R)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsTj9Lvhv2o
5. David Guetta Ft. Akon, Sexy Chick, Electro house, 2009


Aim # 3- Community Service
1.  Linkin Park, Not Alone, Rock, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrbL1s9qwBs
2. Charice, Note To God, Pop, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4Xd435coD4&feature=related
3. Black Eyed Peas, Where is the love, Hip Hop Soul, 2003
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc
4. Bone Thugs N Harmony Ft. Akon, I Tried, Rap, 2007 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4EiBFUpFXg
5. K'naan Ft. Will.I.Am and David Guetta, Wavin Flag, Hip Hop, Pop, 2009