Wing$ by Macklemore

The tune of the song quickly transitions from reminiscing about happy childhood memories of wearing the shoes to the dark and harsh reality of consumerism. Carlos’ brother, like other kids, in the 1980s, learned all too painfully about the value placed on a pair of shoes. Worth more than a life and worth more than a future, some people are willing to go so far as to kill someone for merely a pair of some new air Jordans. You really start to notice the severity of the situation after the murder,

; the quick transition from “wanting to be like Mike Jordan,” to fly, to stark reminder about people killed over Mike’s shoes is a powerful message. Here, Macklemore not only illustrates the value placed upon shoes but challenges listeners to think beyond the nostalgia for balling in new Jordans to remember that there are even people out there who are willing to kill someone else for merely a pair of some new air Jordans and that’s how much consumerism have taken over our lives. When Macklemore’s friend’s brother Carlos gets murdered for his Jordan IV, that’s when we start to really notice the seriousness of the situation. and how people are so sucked in on having what’s dope that they are even willing to kill someone for it

- “whoa”: wake up call to Macklemore - People exposed to the advertisement mentality: buy shoes thinking it would make them

play better and look better, instead of working hard for their success (they are depending on material needs to succeed)

- Genesee Park to Othello: places you would want to avoid wearing brand named shoes and shirts, as you would most likely to be mugged or killed: shows the effect consumerism has

- “Clown”: you would get made fun of if you wore “normal” or “uncool” shoes- “Trying to fly without leaving the ground”: setting limitations for himself, wants to succeed

without taking risks or trying hard: thought he could be a pro with just the shoes alone- Wanted to be like Michael Jordan: influence of kids wanting to be like their idol, thus

children begin to develop the presumption that by possessing expensive pro gear and shoes, they will be as good as them want to be an exact replica of their idols & be the best like them, and in order to do so they need to have the most expensive and famous brand named shoes Influence of pop culture, pervasive mindset: wants to just put on shoes and play like

Mike with no real effort or hard work (material goals) Everyone wanted to be like Mike: rich & famous: following the corrupted American

Dream, have no sense of individuality, hopes or aspirations too consumed with consumerism, for them, shoes were a symbol of status

America is just a place of conspicuous consumption (buying things to show off to people) and as a place of progress (a lot of immigrants move to America bc they want money and success)

“Bought these dreams”: kids believe that bc of high valued and popular shoes, they are worth more than what they can actually do/perform, enabling them to “fly” which is an impossibility not making realistic expectations

Shoes and quality are so important that he doesn’t even wear them “Crease”: scared that wearing it (which is what shoes are for) would get rid of its

worth/value

If the air bubble pops, he is lost: wearing the shoes gives him direction in life, it’s what defines him - makes himself believe that he's better at the game because of the shoes

Tries to criticize consumerism but he’s a part of it: conflicted: either to go outside the box or stay bounded inside the materialistic society

Parachute: dependence (not flying by yourself, life-depending device), synonymous to people’s dependence/reliance of shoes

Even at a young age your image is important, sees that it’s not important but still can’t pull away from it

“Consumption is in your veins”: it is part of human nature to want want & want…we want what we can’t have and when we do have it we always want more – dark side of capitalist society of making the rich richer

“Wings,” directed by Zia Mohajerjasbi, initially plays on the childhood memories associated with Air Jordans, ideas that likely resonate with many of this generation today. The joy of success on the court, of ballin’ like the big boys, was not a pure accomplishment, but one that was wrapped up in commercial ideas and commodification from the jump. The purity of being able to touch the net was never, in his mind, indicative of his own skills but that of the shoes. It had to be the shoes.