I would like to choose “Make Me Feel” by artist Janelle Monae or “You Need to Calm Down” by artist Taylor Swift. Monae’s song is a celebratory song to feel free, no matter who you are, where you are in your life, to control the narrative of yourself and your body. I think what is challenging about this song is, is she singing about her sexuality? Other people’s sexuality and sexual freedom? Both? I think a deeper analysis of this song could lead me into learning more about Monae as an artist and how she is influenced by artists before her such as Prince and how music has shaped her as a seemingly confident and strong black queer woman. I think her song represents a topic in history and society that is always present, equality for not only women, not only black people, not only those who identify in the LGBTQ+ community, but also those who embody all of those characteristics. Monae has also performed this song numerous times, has a video out for the song as well as done various interviews with publications such as Rolling Stone about herself and her music.

Taylor’s song rings a similar message as she speaks her mind and takes a stand for the LGBTQ+ community and for women in her song. Released in August of 2019, Swift speaks up about the impact of social media and online bullying on not only society and others but on herself. I think this song could be good for this project because it could lead into research more about her personal career dealing with social media and bullying but as well as how she supports the LGBTQ+ community. I think people usually are a lover or a hater of Taylor Swift, for some reason she seems to be a controversial music figure so that could also be a point of research choosing a song of hers. I think her song also has a topic in society that is ever present very similar to Janelle Monae’s, that bullying and inequality for LGBTQ+ and women is a problem and there needs to be some real changes. Swift is a well known artist with many performances and interviews, she first released the video for this song on Good Morning America for the nation to see altogether. There should not be a shortage of content on her, her music making and inspiration for her music. 

Some concerns I have about the project are first and foremost about audio editing. I am not great at editing video or audio, the most experience I have is in iMovie and it is very minimal. I am trying to familiarize myself with Audacity as that seems to be the most user and learner friendly. Another concern I have is just that the song itself is not going to have enough information on it or that what I find in my research and analysis is going to become repetitive. I think that is why it took me so long to land on two songs because I second guessed every choice I made in fear that it was not going to be good enough or dense enough.