Sound and Words: Hollywood

[RUADJAI 14,930]

 

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

 

[EgoRod 5,435]

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.

 

[Guest DeeperDeeper]

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. 

 

[deathproof 10,582]

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.

[Voguerista 11,776]

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).

[RUADJAI 14,930]

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.