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Gangsta's Paradise

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Gangsta's Paradise
Will Jellicorse
Samantha Holt
English 101
1 October 2011
The Definition of Paradise One person 's utopian world may not always be the same as their neighbor’s. What one person may deem a paradise may well be a slum for others. Depending on the time and location of the speaker, their ideal lifestyle may be a reality, or simply a dream of one. Both Stevie Wonder, and Coolio musically interpret their societies’ idea of paradise. Both Coolio’s and Wonder’s songs gloomily display their views on society. Through the difference in context of each writer’s life, these two interpretations of the same song are very different in meaning. Both songs identify the struggle of life as being directly related to the evils of the world such as money and power. Stevie Wonder 's “Pastime Paradise” reflects on the racial inequalities that America has struggled with for decades. The song also describes the hope for a future world free from discrimination. Coolio 's “Gangsta’s Paradise” represents the hard lived lives of gangsters in inner cities. The song also alludes to their dream of one day living in peace. Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise” reflection on discrimination between races was greatly altered by Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise.” Coolio’s description of struggles between gangs was still similar in theme, but very different in meaning. Stevie Wonder was born on May 13, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan (Marquis Who 's Who LLC.). The blind Stevie Wonder has been known by America as an R&B icon since his early 1963 release of “12 Year Old Genius”. Since his start in the music industry, Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards (Africa News), was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 (Puterbaugh), and has been recently awarded the Library of Congress ' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by President Obama (Africa News). Throughout his career, Wonder has created many songs in which he addresses certain subjects in order to bring change. Wonder once said “I am not a politician. I am an


Cited: Web. 5 Oct. 2011.
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