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My favorite song thus far is Frank Ocean's Bad Religion. I believe this is an excellent song that forces the listener to 'read' between the lines. On the surface, a listener may think that this song is an attack on the religion of Islam because of the references made within it; however, this song is actually referring to sexual identity.
When the song begins, Frank Ocean is in a taxi with a Muslim driver. Frank Ocean is weighed down by his secret and starts to confine in the driver. Frank Ocean wants to tell the driver everything that he has been running away from and suggests to the driver to drive on the streets to give him ample amount of time to do so. Before Frank Ocean, is done telling the driver his story, the driver says, "allahu akbar" which is Arabic for God is great. The driver says this phrase to perhaps, stop Frank Ocean from continuing on with his story. The driver probably had a notion of what Frank's story was and did not know any better way of helping him. Frank Ocean responses to him by saying, "Don't curse me." He may have said this because he did not understand the meaning behind the phrase; alternatively, the phrase reminded him of pain and agony he feels inside. The innocent taxi driver tells Frank "boy you need prayer" believing that any problem Frank Ocean has, can be overcome if he devotes himself to God.
The most powerful part of the song was when Frank Ocean responses to the taxi driver suggestion with, "If it brings me to my knees. It's a bad religion." These lines are essence of the song. Frank Ocean cleverly uses the action of kneeling as a symbolic correlation to religion. In most organized religions, this action is used to talk to God in some fashion. By using this analogy, he avoids attacking a single religion. His statement that is a 'bad religion' is in reference to how he is expected to beg God for forgiveness for his sin, but the sin he has performed is pulling him apart from God to begin with. None of the popular religions accept or acknowledge homosexuals. Frank Ocean begging to God will bring about unbearable pain and anger to himself because he would not be able to love thing the way he wants to. These lines bring up the question 'what is the point to praising God, if he does not recognize and accept your devotion to him because of you who you fell in love with?'
This question bothered me for a while, until I came up with my answer. We are using old customs to solve a modern problem. We all products of a sinful world, and should not stop or limited ourselves based on societal norms. If we do not love our true self, how can we expect anyone else to, nonetheless, God too?
Frank Ocean magnificently used a forum in which comfortable to express what he and others like him were feeling. Very rarely do I see or hear art that is genuine and relatable to me. He did not care about the public's opinion when he expressed his truth, and I condemn him for that. He did something noble and courageous, and I aspire to do something similar to him. Although I am not homosexual, after listening and analyzing this song, I gained a whole new perspective on life. This song allowed me see the turmoil homosexuals face; the internal conflict they face with in themselves. A conflict in which no one can solve and something we can all relate to.
My favorite song thus far is Frank Ocean's Bad Religion. I believe this is an excellent song that forces the listener to 'read' between the lines. On the surface, a listener may think that this song is an attack on the religion of Islam because of the references made within it; however, this song is actually referring to sexual identity.
When the song begins, Frank Ocean is in a taxi with a Muslim driver. Frank Ocean is weighed down by his secret and starts to confine in the driver. Frank Ocean wants to tell the driver everything that he has been running away from and suggests to the driver to drive on the streets to give him ample amount of time to do so. Before Frank Ocean, is done telling the driver his story, the driver says, "allahu akbar" which is Arabic for God is great. The driver says this phrase to perhaps, stop Frank Ocean from continuing on with his story. The driver probably had a notion of what Frank's story was and did not know any better way of helping him. Frank Ocean responses to him by saying, "Don't curse me." He may have said this because he did not understand the meaning behind the phrase; alternatively, the phrase reminded him of pain and agony he feels inside. The innocent taxi driver tells Frank "boy you need prayer" believing that any problem Frank Ocean has, can be overcome if he devotes himself to God.
The most powerful part of the song was when Frank Ocean responses to the taxi driver suggestion with, "If it brings me to my knees. It's a bad religion." These lines are essence of the song. Frank Ocean cleverly uses the action of kneeling as a symbolic correlation to religion. In most organized religions, this action is used to talk to God in some fashion. By using this analogy, he avoids attacking a single religion. His statement that is a 'bad religion' is in reference to how he is expected to beg God for forgiveness for his sin, but the sin he has performed is pulling him apart from God to begin with. None of the popular religions accept or acknowledge homosexuals. Frank Ocean begging to God will bring about unbearable pain and anger to himself because he would not be able to love thing the way he wants to. These lines bring up the question 'what is the point to praising God, if he does not recognize and accept your devotion to him because of you who you fell in love with?'
This question bothered me for a while, until I came up with my answer. We are using old customs to solve a modern problem. We all products of a sinful world, and should not stop or limited ourselves based on societal norms. If we do not love our true self, how can we expect anyone else to, nonetheless, God too?
Frank Ocean magnificently used a forum in which comfortable to express what he and others like him were feeling. Very rarely do I see or hear art that is genuine and relatable to me. He did not care about the public's opinion when he expressed his truth, and I condemn him for that. He did something noble and courageous, and I aspire to do something similar to him. Although I am not homosexual, after listening and analyzing this song, I gained a whole new perspective on life. This song allowed me see the turmoil homosexuals face; the internal conflict they face with in themselves. A conflict in which no one can solve and something we can all relate to.