April has always been a tricky month for me. My ambition gets stifled and getting out of the bed starts feeling like a mission. The transition from Winter to Summer should be filled with excitement and positivity. But during the Spring, I usually feel more anxious and doubtful of my future. Yet as soon as May arrives, I am generally fully adjusted and back to my normal mood.
Childish Gambino's hit track, "Feels Like Summer," perfectly captures my attitude during April. On a song about the weather feeling like Summer, which should be positive, Childish Gambino points to problems like gang violence, climate change, flawed capitalism, resource scarcity, etc. The existential threats that Gambino sings about continue to weigh on the minds of countless people every day, making them feel powerless and small in this universe. It is especially crippling when you are aware of the lack of action that is taken to solve these issues.
"Oh, my mind is still the same / I'm hoping that this world will change / But it just seems the same."
This lyric is a very cynical outlook on our world today that I tend to adopt whenever I am down, especially in April. But, it can really get dangerous when this attitude becomes your fixed mindset. Anyway, the brilliant production done by Ludwig Göransson and Childish Gambino himself compliments the theme of the track very well. The beat features some tropical keyboard and guitar progressions coupled with maracas and tribal drums. But those colorful components are also mixed in with hazy synths and the haunting reverb placed on Gambino's voice. So although the song is fun to listen to, the psychedelic elements of the production and underlying message can be unsettling in a beautiful way.
Overall, "Feels Like Summer" is another genius piece of art crafted by Childish Gambino and his colleagues that is conscious but fun to listen to in the summer weather.
You can learn more about Childish Gambino here:
About The Curator - Mussie Fitsum
I am a student at the University of Maryland, College Park where I am studying Criminal Justice and Criminology with a minor in International Development and Conflict Management. After college, I want to get my law degree and practice criminal law. I am also a big music lover that listens to r&b, hip-hop, rock, reggae, and pop. But, I am also trying to expand my taste in music as much as I can to appreciate the different amount of genres out there. I also started a music blog in August 2018; so if you like reading interesting takes on music and concert opinions, then give it a glance.
Music Blog: https://tuneexpressions.com/