Music Review

Song 1: Amerikkkan Idol by Joey Badass from his 2017 album

All-Amerikkkan Badass.

Song 2: Black Boys on a moped by by Sinéad O'Connor from her 1990 album I Do
Not Want What I Haven't Go

By: Robert and Ulysse Monday 13th of November.

 Review:

Song 1:

Amerikkkan Idol by Joey Badass is a powerful song from his 2017 album "All-Amerikkkan Badass." The
song's main topics are racism and injustice, faced specifically by African Americans. Joey Badass uses his
strong voice and a catchy beat to convey his frustration and urgency on these themes. Amerikkkan Idol
encourages listeners to question unfair societal norms, the song's energetic and thought-provoking
qualities make it an effective commentary on racial issues. Joey Badass delivers this important message
through several clever wordplays and intertextual references. One of these plays on words can be found in
the title of the song, “Amerikkkan Idol”. The word “American” is purposely misspelled as a reference to
the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group. An intertextual reference is also to be found in the title, as
“American Idol” is a popular American TV show and singing contest. Overall, the combination of an
important theme, impressive wordplay, and rhythm creates an enjoyable, yet very important anthem for
African Americans and their rights.

Song 2:

Black Boys on Mopeds by Sinéad O'Connor is a meaningful song from her 1990 album "I Do Not Want
What I Haven't Got." It addresses the challenges young Black men face, like racial profiling. O'Connor's
strong, emotional singing and simple acoustic music create a serious tone, focusing on the important
message. The song powerfully makes you think about the struggles of Black individuals. Even though the
song sounds sad, it's a piece that makes us think about the ongoing problems of racism and inequality.
Personally, I don’t listen to this type of music, but I must admit that this song is really good and very
emotional. She sings with a lot of feeling, making the song really touch your emotions. This song is
special because it uses music to talk about important problems, and it stays “in you”, making you reflect
on the difficulties that black communities go through. Furthermore, the song sends a strong message
addressing challenges and injustices that black people confront. The lyrics discuss issues like racial
profiling, systemic inequalities, and the tragic consequences of societal neglect. To conclude, Sinéad
O'Connor's "Black Boys on Mopeds" shows her strong voice speaking up against unfairness. She bravely
talks about societal problems, especially racial inequality. The song helps raise awareness and start
conversations about the difficulties faced by black communities.
 Bibliography:

Song 1:

Joey Bada$$ – AMERIKKKAN IDOL. (2017). Genius. https://genius.com/Joey-bada

amerikkkan-idol-lyrics

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Song 2 :

https://www.thenation.com/authors. (2023, July 28). Sinéad O’Connor Always Knew That Black

Lives Mattered. The Nation. https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/sinead-oconnor-

black-boys-on-mopeds-tribute/

Wood, J. (2022, August 24). Retrospective Review: Sinead O’Connor’s “Black Boys on

Mopeds” Illuminates the Dark Corners of our Culture | Two Story Melody. Two Story

Melody. https://twostorymelody.com/sinead-oconnors-black-boys-on-mopeds/