Tlc's Waterfalls

TLC’s “Waterfalls”

To me, this song tackles the issues of drug dealing and AIDS. Writer Marqueze Etheridge explains that the image of a waterfall was chosen because it's "one of the most beautiful things in the world, but at the same time is one of the most deadly". This song touches me and means a great deal to me. I’ve had a lot of people come and go in my life from “chasing waterfalls” (dreams). To me the song means that it’s about taking the time and thinking about the choices and decisions we make in life. Sometimes it’s better to stick to what you know than venturing out into the unknown.

The song “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan can be interpreted in a lot of different ways. How I interpret it is based on his crowd which is a younger (at the time) and less traditional age group. I believe it means that no matter where life puts you keep your beliefs and aspirations from the times you were young and had a more wish full thinking.

As for Rod Stewart’s version of “Forever Young” it sounds like he wishes for the person to remain true to themselves, to live by what they learned from growing up. The words forever young could mean the singer wants the person never to grow out of who they've become. It can also be interpreted as a message to his children to never lose that childish innocence and youth.

Linking Will.I.Am’s recent version to Bob Dylan’s version is simple, but it connects the past with the present times. Sure the fashion may be different as well as the music, but many of the things that we enjoy today were popular 40 yrs ago as well. Will.i.am picks up the visual cues from the 1970s Bob Dylan, posing with sun glasses and singing in concert. Footage from the 1970s is compared with the 21st century… showing returning soldiers, skate boarders, martial arts movies, concerts (candles to cell phones), surfing, transit vans, graffiti, animation (Gumby to Shrek), music, movies, dance and political rallies. Every generation refreshes the world.