Song Analysis

Dear Old Nicki

Nicki Minaj’s song “Dear Old Nicki” is usually viewed as a very emotional song. In this song Nicki Minaj expresses her feelings on whom she has become. She reflects on her previous actions and actions to come through a conversation with herself. While Nicki Minaj is an excellent female rapper, she needed something unique. She needed to acquire a character and to stand out. In this particular song she sings about missing who she used to be before the fame. She reflects on how her life has changed and why she has changed. She doesn’t think she changed for the money, fame, and power and says if that is why she changed then she is ashamed. We can see this in the following lines, “Did I Chase The Glitz And Glamour
Money, Fame And Power
Cause If So That Will Forever Go Down My Lamest Hour” She does not necessarily regret her old self but she is hesitant to change in her new chapter of her life. Lastly, she justifies her evolving into a new person by saying “But You Was Underground, And I Was Mainstream
I Live The Life Now, That We Would Daydream
My Only Wish Is You Come Enjoy It With Me,” She made her dreams come true and wishes she could have done this without changing.  

            This song has a few literary terms throughout it. One that really sticks out is the repetition of the to words “Holding you.” This lets us know the old Nicki Minaj is still there and she is holding in to it. In many verses the last word of every line rhymes giving is a pleasing sound or in other words it contains euphony. There are not many other literary devices used in this song, as it is more of a dialogue between Nicki Minaj and herself.

            The story this song tells would not be as provoking if they were not sung in a song. This song has a “dear diary” feel to it and to get that feeling in a song is unique. The music she is singing to is also slow but catchy at the same time. Lastly, this song clearly displays her ability to rap, which is why she became who she is today.

            While this song may come off as depressing or sad I personally do not take it that way. I analyze this song as Nicki Minaj starting a new chapter in her life and with that chapter came changes. This song summarizes her desired changes she went through, especially when becoming part of Young Money, but also her hurt for the “loss” of her old self.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxtmTJJE5Ac