Many people may listen to Avril Lavigne's "Complicated" and think, “Hmm…what a great song.” But others when given the opportunity to complete an in-depth analysis of the song may realize that the lyrics discuss life, a person’s identity, and self presentation. The themes of “Complicated” are themes that many of us have been forced to explore during our own lives. In high school, a trying time in life begins where many teenagers are trying to fit in. How do they present themselves? I certainly do remember when I had to have the coolest backpack, the newest shoes, and the most fashionable outfit because if I didn’t I would face what the other kids would think of me. Everyone has the need to fit into a social organization and “Complicated” shares with the listener that everyone struggles to present themselves in a way that creates acceptance of others. Identity is also a main theme in “Complicated” that is something many people focus on every day. Who are we? Who do we want to be? Who do others want us to be? These questions are always running through our minds. Personally, I have always wanted to be the girl that everyone looked at as being interested in learning, independent, caring, compassionate, and always and forever a small town girl. But just as Lavigne explains life in her song, we all struggle at one point or another to be a certain way regardless of whether that is who we truly are.
Identity can be defined as a "theory of self" formed and maintained through actually or imagined interpersonal agreement about what the self is like. A major part of the song deals with changing your identity to fit into a particular social organization. The person being spoken to in the song by Lavigne is having an interpersonal disagreement between their formed and imagined self. In order to fit in, it seems as though they have gone against their own personal identity. In the lyrics below, Lavigne tries to tell the individual that they are perfect in their own way. Lavigne is frustrated with this person for trying to be someone that they are not, just to gain acceptance from others. This could be compared to times when your friends told you to “never change” or “be yourself.” We may all be one physical body, but we do tend to change our personality, identity, and self-presentation to become what we think we should be. Lavigne sees these changes although truly wants this person to “never change” and be themselves.
I like, you the way you are
When we're drivin' in your car
And you're, talkin' to me one on one
But you become
In the lyrics below, Lavigne continues to explain what happens to all of us at some point in our lives. Lavigne sees this person that she thinks so knows change depending on the social situation or atmosphere. When this person is just with her, they are different and she likes them just the way they are. Lavigne also sees the tension and anxiety that wanting to fit into a social organization can cause. She sees the person become anxious when trying to be something that they really are not. Lavigne doesn’t really like what she sees and appreciates the true person much more than the “fake” person that everyone supposedly likes more. In life, many people are two-sided, they are friends for the wrong reasons, and many times they get into trouble for doing what is “cool.” Lavigne gives the same “everyone’s doing it” lecture that a parent would give a child, but instead the lecture can only be interpreted through her music. Lavigne knows the interpersonal truth….”not everyone is doing it” and “so what if they are because you are an amazing person just the way you are.”
Somebody else
'Round everyone else
Your watchin' your back
Like you can't relax
You tryin' to be cool
You look like a fool to me
The Social Identity Theory states that people's concepts of themselves are linked to membership in social groups. This fits the song perfectly because this person's concept of themselves has changed in order to be accepted as member into that social group. People also change how they represent themselves based upon the situations they are in. When at home you could be one person, but once in a group you could be someone totally different. In the song, Avril Lavigne says "Dressed up like you're something else" she seems to be the only one who sees this person's elaborate changes of identity and self presentation as they go from themselves to someone else just to fit in.
You come over unannounced
Dressed up, like you're somethin' else
Where you are ain't where it's at you see
You're makin' me
Laugh out, when you strike a pose
Take off, all your preppy clothes
You know, you're not foolin' anyone
In the above lyrics, Lavigne continues to impress upon the fact that a person cannot completely ever be someone they are not. You can not be a prep, if you are not the preppy type. Certain clothes don’t always define who a person is, although clothes define people for a short period of time. Lavigne wants to point out in this song that she can see the true person through the clothes and that the true person is not a prep, but visually seen that way through their “preppy clothes.”
I see the way you're actin' like you're somebody else
Gets me frustrated
Honestly, you promised me
I'm never gonna find you fake it
In the final lyrics of Avril Lavigne’s song “Complicated” she continues to relay the message to her audience that people really want to see the true you, not who you can be through changes in self-presentation and identity. Lavigne feels that she knows the real person in this song and in a weird way feels they have lied to her and many others through trying to fit into a social organization where they don’t belong.
Lavigne is obviously frustrated with this interpersonal relationship battle that all people go through to find themselves, their social organization, their identify, and their way of self-presentation. Writing this blog certainly helped to analyze a song that has such a deep message that touches everyone in a different way. We all struggle at some point to fit in and Lavigne gives us strength through her music to be ourselves, instead of someone you’re not. “Be You! And that will be enough to make you fit into a social organization and have an identity.”
No comments:
Post a Comment