Backmasking

1. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
I think that backmasking was used in this song. It was a song that I could partially here backmasking in before I read the reverse lyrics. The phrase is very specific and fairly long for backmasking. It seems that there has to be some backmasking in this song.
2.…Baby One More Time Brittney Spears
I can not tell if this song is backmasking or not. It seems very clear to me when I play the lyrics in reverse that the song says “sleep with me I’m not too young”. On the other hand, it does not seem practical for Spears to backmask that into one of her songs. I would lean more towards it is backmasking, although I do not understand the purpose of it in this case.
3. My Name Is… Eminem
I do not think backmasking is in this song. Listening to it in reverse, it does not seem clear enough. The lyrics are said to say “It is Slim. It’s Eminem” but to me the words are too slurred together. I don’t even hear “Slim”, or at least not the “S”.
4. Another One Bites the Dust
I do think there is backmasking in this song. Without looking at the reverse lyrics, I could hear what they said; “it’s fun to smoke marijuana”. The words are very clear, and pronounced. It seems like a case of backmasking to me.
5. Paparazzi Lady Gaga
I do not think there is backmasking in this song. When listening to the reverse song without knowing the lyrics I heard nothing but a song played in reverse. When I looked at the lyrics and listened to the song, I heard some of the supposed backmasking, but not all of it. I think it was just over-analyzed, and there is no backmasking.
6. Work It Missy Elliot
I do think there is backmasking in this song. She is pretty much telling you to reverse the song in the lyrics. Then. When you reverse the song it says the same thing backwards. It seems very intentional.
7. This Life I Lead Tupac Shakur
I don’t think there is back masking in this song. I can here the “yes I’m alive and I’m missing you”, but I think it’s just a coincidence. I don’t see the point of him putting it in the song, at that point. Obviously he is dead now, and maybe he knew he was going to die, but I think that’s unlikely.
8. Imagine John Lennon
I do not think this song contains backmasking. When listening to the reverse lyrics, without knowing what they say, I hear nothing. When I looked at the lyrics I still really did hear anything. It is suppose to say “The people war beside me”. That doesn’t even make much sense, so why would you bother backmasking it.
9. Beat It Michael Jackson
This is not backmasking. I didn’t hear the “backmasking” listening to it without looking at the lyrics, and the same looking at the lyrics. It just sounded like a song played in reverse. The words were slurred together, and I don’t think there was anything to find.
10. Kiss, Kiss, Kiss Yoko Ono
I don’t think this is backmasking. I feel like people got way too into John Lennon being supposedly “dead” from all these “clues”. I could hear the “I shot John Lennon” after I looked at what it was suppose to say and played it about ten times. But I think at that point my brain was probably helping with that. I defiantly do not think this is backmasking.

In general, I think backmasking does exist. There are some songs where is seems very clear that there is something said in reverse. On the other hand, I think people, at points, get too enthralled in finding backmasking. This results in accusations of backmasking that really are not there. Backmasking does exist, just not as much as people presume.

Song Analysis 2 "Sparks Fly"

There are many artists that sing about relationships, but not many that have continuous success. Taylor Swift has had three platinum selling records, with her recent “Speak Now”, breaking one million copies with-in the week. Swift sings about her life, breaking up, and making up in a way that relates to any teenage life. On her most recent album songs like “Sparks fly”, “Mine”, and “Last Kiss”, are just a few of the gems. Taylor Swift’s song “Speak Now” uses objectification and similes to epitomize the overall theme of love and happiness.

“Sparks Fly” provides and abundance of objectification throughout the song. At the beginning of the song Swift sings “You’re the kind of reckless that should send me running”. The boy would send her running, not the state of recklessness. Still, the line starts the song well, and begins the narrative of how the boy isn’t great for her, but she loves him. Another line, “My mind forgets to remind me/ that you’re a bad idea” shows how the boy, again, is not the best for her. Her mind can’t remind her on it’s own, there are a lot of parts to it, but the line exemplifies the fact that she should know he is no good. “Sparks Fly” also uses many similes to narrate the song. Swift wants to show how enthralled she is with this guy, and opens the song saying “The way you move is like a full on rainstorm/ and I’m a house of cards”. This simile shows how her attraction towards the guy is so powerful that it blows her away. On a similar note, to bring the song to a close, Swift sings “I’m captivated by you, baby/ like a fireworks show”. The guy really interests her and she is comparing it to watching fireworks in order to show this.

These devices bring out the themes of love and happiness with-in the song. This song is a perfect example of a narrative, so these devices really make it stand out. The lyrics show how Swift loves the guy she is talking about, although it might not be the best idea, she can not help herself. When swift says “I’m captivated by you, baby/ like a fireworks show” it is not only a simile but it shows happiness. When one thinks of fireworks, they think of times like the Fourth of July, which is really fun and happy. The various poetic devices in the song really help demonstrate the overall theme.

“Sparks Fly” by Taylor Swift uses various poetic devices to make the song original. Devices like objectification and simile are used abundantly throughout. All of these devices bring out the theme of love an happiness that Swift tries to put in many of her songs. “Sparks Fly” is a very relatable song to many teenagers today.