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 Mikes 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 thats how much consumerism have taken over our lives. When Macklemores
friends brother Carlos gets murdered for his Jordan IV, thats when we start to really
notice the seriousness of the situation. and how people are so sucked in on having
whats 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 doesnt 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, its what defines him - makes himself believe that he's better at
the game because of the shoes
Tries to criticize consumerism but hes 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 peoples dependence/reliance of shoes
Even at a young age your image is important, sees that its not
important but still cant pull away from it
Consumption is in your veins: it is part of human nature to want want &
wantwe want what we cant 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.