Midterm Paper

Many artists base their songs on past experiences in their life. Many of them are happy, sad, controversial, and at times have no meaning to them. One particular artist has many of these themes hidden away in her music. Grimes is a renowned artist known for her Indie music. With her ethereal and ambient sounding tones, it is hard to differentiate actual lyrics and when her voice is actually the rhythm that is being heard in her music. Her song Oblivion is perhaps one of her most understandable when it comes to lyrics. Her song Oblivion has a story, poetic themes, and imagery.
Grimes' Oblivion has story engrained in her lyrics. When the song starts, it has an upbeat electronic tempo in the begging. It sounds as though, it would not have any lyrics because of its heaviness. The first line of the song is as if it is an event going on in that moment. It’s almost like a moment in her life which she is recalling. Grimes sings (2012)"And now the walk about, after dark." It is assumed she is walking about at night. The she goes on to say "It’s my point of view", which assumes she has an opinion on walking about at night. It is confirmed when she goes on to say (2012)"If someone could break your neck. Coming up behind you, always coming and you'd never have a clue". That line is very gruesome, so there may be some underlying context to that line. Perhaps Grimes was assaulted at some point in her life or is making a general statement, that it is not safe at night.
"Oblivion" has poetic themes surrounding it as well. One theme that can be seen is metaphor. Grimes sings (2012), "And now the look behind, all the time, I will wait forever, always looking straight, Thinking, counting, all the hours you wait". This may be actually be tied to paranoia. Looking back constantly over the shoulder suggest one thinks someone is following them. It also may be personifying "Oblivion" itself, as she states (2012)"I will wait forever", suggests it is never ending and she is stuck in oblivion or paranoia, until someone comes to save her. That person in question is stated at the end when she sings (2012), “I need someone else to look into my eyes and tell me, and Girl you know you gotta watch your health." So it seems as though she is looking for guidance at the end of this. Her rhyme scheme alternates to ABAB CDCD. It alternates and leaves little to confusion. So the song is easy to follow because of this.
There is plenty of imagery in the song. She gives descriptive imagery in her song. When she sings about someone coming to break your neck at night, it becomes clear that she want there to be little to the imagination. Her song also has video along with it as well. Her video has her in a football stadium while there is an audience watching a game. Everyone is staring at her like she is weird because she is singing and dancing around the stands. Some people even follow her. This could suggest that what her lyrics say in the begging when someone "coming up behind you... ", may relate to any stranger. The video also takes place at night too. At some point she is in a room with a dozen or so shirtless frat boys dancing around and pushing each other. This could also suggest a sense of masculinity being involved in the song as well. At that point the song has also taken a darker tone it is rhythm, suggesting danger. So the song may have a lot to do with men and their strength in general.
Grimes' Oblivion has many certain things engraved into her lyrics. She has a deep storyline, which may suggest assault in a criminal or devious intent. It could also mean that at some point she was assaulted and almost died. She has many poetic themes in her music. Even though she does not say what her metaphor is being compared to, her song lyrics suggest paranoia at some point. It also personifies "Oblivion" itself as having to wait for a long time to wait for someone or something to guide her out of her paranoia. Her song also has heavy imagery in it. What helps the listener is the music video accompanied by the song. It suggests it references to masculinity or men in general and how strong they can be. There is still many things that may be suggested as well in this song, that have to do with sexism, it is something that may be looked at in the song in terms of the video too.
WC 782

Reference
Boucher, Claire. (2012). Oblivion. [Recorded by Grimes]. On Visions [CD] United States: Arbutus.