Excuse me but that song just made fun of you

Outkast totally pulled the wool over your eyes and you didn't even know it.

I love this song! But at the same time I also recognize it as one of the biggest scam I've ever heard. It's anti-love, pro-casual sex and it basically insults the listener. It's dance beat and the repetition of words like "shake it like a polaroid picture", "alright", "hey ya", "why oh why oh", etc. hypnotizes listeners into a frenzy of gyrations. They are too busy dancing to notice that Andre is talking to a girl whose love he can't return but whose body he still wants to enjoy. He keeps on this point for about 2 minutes until the insult comes. Andre mutters, almost under his breath right before the song bridges to it's climax. "Y'all don't wanna hear me, y'all just wanna dance." That's right Andre. Most of the people who will listen to this song will completely overlook the anti-love message you are spouting and will be dancing to the beat, oblivious to your negative thoughts on love. They are only there to dance, not to be preached to. By the point that Andre says, "y'all just wanna dance" and delivers a few more lines of lyrics, he completely drops the anti-love message and basically commands his audience to start shaking their bodies like they would shake a polaroid picture to get it to develop faster. Genius! He stops his message before the audience can catch on and encourages them to lose themselves in the beat and in their dancing.

Let's talk about the elements of the video for a bit. There is a green coffin on stage. I like to think that represents the death of love. How it's not forever because like Andre says, if nothing is forever so why is love the exception. And I think it's kind of funny that the actor Ryan Philippe, who was notorious for cheating on his ex-wife Reese Witherspoon, introduced the Andre-multiple fake band "The Love Below" in the video. If anyone knows how to kill love with a swift blow, it's him! Not that they would have known that in 2003 but I like this regardless. Now, let's talk about those multiples Andres. All in green and with different functions and personalities. What a great distraction! While you are watching the video, you'll be too busy picking out all the Andres to realize that Andre is breaking up with his girlfriend in the song. The girls screaming in the background to be Andre's next girlfriend (whichever Andre on stage they can get). I think this is funny too. He just said he doesn't believe in love. So you want to be with him so he can make you cum-a and toss you aside?

I've talked to a few people about the anti-love message and the insult in the song and most of them never noticed (well duh that's the point) or they think I've over-analyzing the song. If you think of a song or any type of art whether it be a book, a movie, a painting, etc. is only what it is at the surface then you are deluding yourself.  There is always something more once you pull back the curtains and see what's really inside.

Lyrics

My baby don't mess around 

because she loves me so

and this I know for sure

but does she really want to

because she can't stand 

to see me walk out the door

don't try to fight the feeling

'cause the thought alone

is killing me right now

Thank God for mom and dad

for sticking two together

'cause we don't know how

hey ya, hey ya, hey ya, hey ya

hey ya, hey ya, hey ya, hey ya

you think you've got it?

oh you think you've got it?

but got it just don't get it

'cause there's nothing at all

we fit together

oh we fit together

but separate is always better

when there's feelings involved

'cause what they say is

nothing is forever

then what makes, then what makes, then what makes

love the exception?

so why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh

are we so in denial?

when we know we're not happy here

Y'all don't want to hear me

Y'all just want to dance

Don't want to meet your Daddy

just want you in my Cadi

Don't want to meet your Momma

just want to make you cum-ah

I'm, I'm just being honest

I'm just being honest

alright now fellas

yeah?

what's cooler than being cool?

ice cold

I can't hear you

what's cooler than being cool?

ice cold

alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright...

ok now ladies

we are going to break this thing down in a second

now don't make me break this thing down for nothing

now I want to see y'all on your baddest behavior

lend me some sugar, I am your neighbor

Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it, like a polaroid picture (repeat)

hey ya (repeat)