RUADJAI 15,069 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Such an interesting little ditty. On the surface this song seems very airy and not much on substance, but when paired with its musical harmonies a different picture comes into view. The song also has a weird song structure. Instead of the common Verse Chorus Verse Chorus, this song goes (In my opinion)... Verse 1 Pre Chorus (B Verse) Verse 2 Verse 1 but Different Melody Verse 3 Pre Chorus (B Verse) Verse 2 with a modified line New Segment Verse 1 but Different Melody Pre Chorus (B Verse) Bridge or Musical Buildup Key Change Pre Chorus (B Verse) and the punk rock electronic climax. I've never talked about it with other people but I would assume anyone who has heard Hotel California by the Eagles would notice a similarity in the idea of the song. Hollywood is beautiful and at the same time not what it seems and you are unable to leave. but I think the real magic of Madonna's song lies in the song structure and song writing. You may disagree with my song structure above and say that the Pre Chorus is actually the chorus, but it doesn't sound like a chorus. It sounds like a Pre Chorus with no release or a complimentary alternative verse. This is probably something you may have experienced the first few times listening to the song until you got used to it as it is. Or maybe you just thought the chorus wasn't very good. Same thing. It's written in a way that the song itself is meandering and repetitive. Something I think Madonna realized while performing it live on the Jonathan Ross show. But I think the meandering and repetitive are supplemental to the idea of not being able to leave. It's like you are running in circles. The overall musical feel does this as well... since there only only one or two lines that actually indicate something isn't quite right, the idea of danger is mostly in the music not in the lyrics. Most of the lyrics are self explanatory however, I wonder what you guys think of a few lines. "Check it out, this bird has flown" and "Push the button, Don't push the button, Trip the station, Change the channel" and then sometimes when performed live... "Check it out" is added to the very end. Im curious what you guys think or if you know what these lines mean or are referring to. Full lyrics so you dont have to search for them to answer. Everybody comes to Hollywood They wanna make it in the neighborhood They like the smell of it in Hollywood How could it hurt you when it looks so good Shine your light now This time it's gotta be good You get it right now Yeah 'Cause you're in Hollywood There's something in the air in Hollywood The sun is shining like you knew it would You're riding in your car in Hollywood You got the top down and it feels so good Everybody comes to Hollywood They wanna make it in the neighborhood They like the smell of it in Hollywood How could it hurt you when it looks so good I lost my memory in Hollywood I've had a million visions Bad and good There's something in the air in Hollywood I tried to leave it but I never could Shine your light now This time it's gotta be good You get it right now Yeah 'Cause you're in Hollywood There's something in the air in Hollywood I've lost my reputation Bad and good You're riding in your car in Hollywood You got the top down and it feels so good Music stations always play the same songs I'm bored with the concept of right and wrong Everybody comes to Hollywood They wanna make it in the neighborhood They like the smell of it in Hollywood How could it hurt you when it looks so good Shine your light now This time it's gotta be good You get it right now Yeah 'Cause you're in Hollywood 'Cause you're in Hollywood 'Cause you're in Hollywood In Hollywood In Hollywood In Hollywood Check it out This bird has flown Shine your light now This time it's gotta be good You get it right now Yeah 'Cause you're in Hollywood 'Cause you're in Hollywood 'Cause you're in Hollywood In Hollywood In Hollywood In Hollywood Push the button Don't push the button Trip the station Change the channel Push the button Don't push the button Trip the station Change the channel Push the button Don't push the button Trip the station Change the channel Push the button Don't push the button Trip the station Change the channel Voguerista, Prayer, NowRadiate and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EgoRod 5,489 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 I always understood the lyrics as talking of a LA lifestyle. The idea of moving there looking for some ideals, the dazzle of Hollywod but also the staleness of it. The bird has flown means someone that manage to scape and the indicatives orders I think relate to the same state of mind of freedom and soul searching, bit like Take the red pill, take the blue pill. NowRadiate, Voguerista and RUADJAI 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeeperDeeper Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 2 minutes ago, EgoRod said: I always understood the lyrics as talking of a LA lifestyle. The idea of moving there looking for some ideals, the dazzle of Hollywod but also the staleness of it. The bird has flown means someone that manage to scape and the indicatives orders I think relate to the same state of mind of freedom and soul searching, bit like Take the red pill, take the blue pill. I've always thought of it as take the red pill or take the blue pill as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathproof 10,625 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 7 hours ago, RUADJAI said: "Check it out, this bird has flown" I've always taken this as wordly experience. She's been around the world. She knows the true horrors of it all; from hell and back. RUADJAI, martinicus and Voguerista 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voguerista 11,866 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Great thread!! Musically, Hollywood isn't one of my favorite Madonna songs, but, I love the meaning behind it. I always thought of it as a warning that Hollywood isn't all that and not to get caught up into it all (adding: and it can or will ruin your life if you let it). EgoRod and RUADJAI 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUADJAI 15,069 Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 Maybe the "trip the station, change the channel" is referring back to "music stations always play the same song". Maybe she was trying to future proof her fall from radio. Especially when making such a strange, not radio-similar record. Voguerista 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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