Lily Allen - The Fear

I think this is a really good song because of what she sings about. Here's a rundown and commentary of the lyrics.

I want to be rich and I want lots of money
I don’t care about clever I don’t care about funny
I want loads of clothes and i want fuckloads of diamonds
I heard people die while they are trying to find them

It's a curious problem we have in this day and age when there are polarized communities who lead very different lives - one out for glam and money, the other struggling to make a living. The former knows all that's going on because of the info overload we are subject to on a daily basis and because of technology and the Internet. The latter does anything to stay alive, even putting themselves through danger and peril to meet the desires of the 'people on the other side' - the rich consumers who live on clean streets and eat 3 meals a day. But don't really care where their desirables come from.

And i’ll take my clothes off and it will be shameless
Cuz everyone knows that’s how you get famous
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah I’m on to a winner

Haha, probably a swipe at Paris Hilton. But seriously if you make a nudie and you're famous, you'll be even more famous. Any publicity is good publicity. In the end, no one really cares it seems. It also bring young peoples attitude to sex to the fore. It's become no big deal anymore. Kids at 12 are doing it. I don't think it's progress. Some might call it erosion.

[Chorus]
I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore
I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore
When do you think it will all become clear?
‘Cuz I’m being taken over by The Fear

"The Fear"! Of what? I think it's being alone, of not getting any attention. Sort of like being a teenager. Social acceptance and exaltation. Doing anything to make that 15 minutes of fame last longer than it should. The media has turned kids on themselves - if you're not being Facebooked, Twittered, Orkuted, MySpaced, Googled, texted about, you're not worth being around with. The price of fame is living in Fear.

Life’s about film stars and less about mothers
It’s all about fast cars and cussing each other
But it doesn’t matter cause I’m packing plastic
and that’s what makes my life so fucking fantastic

We all wanna know what's happening to the stars. Somehow getting a cup of coffee is different when you're famous. Imagine if the paparazzi stalked ordinary mothers, making them famous. Haha. Packing plastic caused the economic crises we're in. Credit is king; buy now pay later; buy everything now, don't worry about it, you deserve it.

And I am a weapon of massive consumption
And its not my fault it’s how I’m programmed to function
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah we're on to a winner

I love that line "weapon of massive consumption". And the next line testifies to what we grow up learning - get a job, get money to buy the things you want. That's it. 2nd reference to sun and mirror. When you face the sun, you're blind to all around you but everyone else see you. When you look in the mirror, you see yourself, and you want that self to look good. Ego-stroking.

Chorus again

Forget about guns and forget ammunition
Cause I’m killing them all on my own little mission
Now I’m not a saint but I’m not a sinner
Now everything's cool as long as I’m gettin thinner

Sounds like she has a plan. I think many people do, to somehow make it, be famous. Especially young people these days. Am I generalising? Once again, looking pretty and acceptable takes the cake. It's all good as long as you're thin. Haha. Thin people can get sick too. Better to be fit and aware then thin and in despair.

Chorus again

So will people change? I doubt it. Sort of ironic this song, since she'll be more famous for highlighting this issue facing modern folk of today. Ultimately, I guess we need to change the way we think about our short lives on this planet. Is it all about being popular? Is it about helping one another?