[LaLaLand]

Youtube video

[Mokka]

Genius

[JerseyWins]

Lol I literally just saw/heard this on youtube

It's not the most catchy imo (although growing on me already) but very good song

Gambino's dancing neeeeeeds to be gif'd

[LemonJam]

Excellent video

[LaLaLand]

It's incredible. THIS is how you get political!

Also, this dropped at the EXACT moment SNL (hosted by Glover) aired this Kanye/Trump sketch... genius.

Youtube video

[LaLaLand]

Also debuted this new song "Saturday":

Youtube video

[LaLaLand]

1. The guns are treated with more respect than human lives

Soon after each gun is brandished in the video — it happens twice — Glover gently places it on a red cloth held by well-dressed man. The body is then dragged off the screen by two similarly dressed men.

2. What the choir represents

One interpretation is that the choir can be seen as representing the folks who were gunned down while inside a church during the 2015 shooting in Charleston, South Carolina. Their faces are clear as day and jovial. Glover strolls in, shoots, and walks away without any harm.

3. Pay attention to the background ....but also pay attention to the dances.

As the video progresses, the background gets more and more intense. Riots are breaking out and cars are on fire — all while Glover and some kids dance. It's a pretty clear metaphor — the dancing, or the cultural contributions of black entertainers, draw cheers from all corners of society while racial violence and injustice continues to be an everyday and oft-ignored aspect of life.

Incorporated throughout the video are various moves — everything from viral video moves to Blocboy JB's shoot dance to the South African Gwara Gwara. These all have different origins but blend together to form something unique, that is very much a part of our American tradition.

These dance numbers have multiple interpretations: to some, these moments of joy drawn from the latest viral dances or videos provides a brief respite and reminder of joy. To others, they might be a way to gain a quick buck or a few followers.

The "dancing" around things like police brutality and gun violence could be seen as a metaphor for how in this country, politicians often dance around these issue.

Additionally, the fact that the dancing is front-and-center provides another lens of interpretation: that this, and similar culture, is all America sees when they see black people. Glover often makes exaggerated facial expressions while dancing in the video, which can perhaps be seen as a subtle nod to the caricatures made during the Jim Crow era.

4. Phones are out and recording

In the video, a bunch of folks (what appears to be kids) are hanging from the balcony with phones out and face masks on, recording the action below.

Whether their phones are pointing to the dancers or the chaos beyond isn't clear — but it's a quick pan that lines up perfectly with Glover rapping the lyrics "This a celly / That's a tool," which references two things: the cell phone — not a tool — that Stephon Clark was holding before he was killed by police officers in his own backyard; the many instances cell phones have been used as tools to broadcast police shooting, rioting against, or choking black people in this country.

5. The white horse

In the background of one scene, we see a hooded figure riding a white horse. Twitter user @courtneysalvin pointed out that this could be a reference to tale of Horseman of the Apocalypse, referenced in the book of Revelations in the Bible. The first horse of four is white, as is the one riding in the video.

6. SZA's cameo

All eyes are on Glover, which means SZA's appearance in "This Is America" is easy to miss. The singer is perched on a car, and doesn't have any lines — but perhaps it's a teaser for work to come from the two of them. It's worth noting all the car models seem to be from the '80s or '90s (in 2016, Philando Castille was killed by a police officer in a 1997 Oldsmobile).

7. Is Glover running from...the Sunken Place?

At the end of the video, Glover is running from a tunnel of darkness being chased by a variety of what seems to be non-black people, all while Young Thug sings in the background. Many on Twitter have theorized that Glover is in fact running from the Sunken Place, a concept developed in the film Get Out.

It's worth noting here: Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya was the one who introduced Glover's performance of "This Is America" on Saturday Night Live.

One message of "This Is America" is relatively clear: we've cultivated a culture in which we emphasize the trivial while pressing issues and life-or-death are all around us, unaddressed. Our priorities are messed up, Glover seems to be saying.

Woah

[Withano]

dont like it as a song. The video is excellent though.

[Jordan.]

I'm a fan

[Mokka]

Why are more people on here not talking about how f.u.c.k.i.n.g amazing this video and song are.
The rest of the world is

[Jamie89]

Originally Posted by Mokka

Why are more people on here not talking about how f.u.c.k.i.n.g amazing this video and song are.
The rest of the world is

We're all hypnotized by your sig

Honestly though it's probably one of the best music video's of all time

[Shaun]

I liked the video but the song's just ok... tbh I've thought he's very overrated for a long time and I wonder if it's just because I found 'Community' annoying...

[Mokka]

Originally Posted by Shaun

I liked the video but the song's just ok... tbh I've thought he's very overrated for a long time and I wonder if it's just because I found 'Community' annoying...

How can he be over rated? This is the first time he's hit Billboard top 10 and he's been a musical artist for a decade.

Also:
https://pitchfork.com/news/childish-...ebuts-at-no-1/

This is America is #1

[JerseyWins]

Originally Posted by Mokka

Also:
https://pitchfork.com/news/childish-...ebuts-at-no-1/

This is America is #1

He deserves it

[Brother Leon]

The video is amazing. The song isn’t close to his best stuff, but it serves it’s purpose.

-Plays Redbone before going bed-

[JerseyWins]

Originally Posted by Brother Leon

The video is amazing. The song isn’t close to his best stuff, but it serves it’s purpose.

Gotta agree with this... I literally only listen to this with the video But the video helps make it so good

[LaLaLand]

I agree with most.

If it wasn't for the video, I wouldn't like the song half as much as I do, if that makes sense?

[Mokka]

Maybe you are all rt... but I do know that I can put on the video and dance around the house not watching it... and enjoy the song... even though the video is what makes the song. And yes... his last album was a hidden jem... and Redbone is hella good... but this is also a good song... and the video has made it into a number one song.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Mokka

How can he be over rated? This is the first time he's hit Billboard top 10 and he's been a musical artist for a decade.

I was talking about the critic acclaim Redbone got, and most of his other material has got. Redbone was just 'good', nothing more

[Alf]

Everyone seems to agree in here, on their love for this video, so I guess somebody needs to throw a spanner in the works.

PJW has done a video on it, imagine my shock!

Youtube video

[Mokka]

Originally Posted by Alf

Everyone seems to agree in here, on their love for this video, so I guess somebody needs to throw a spanner in the works.

PJW has done a video on it, imagine my shock!

Youtube video

Yeah... I don't need other people to tell me what my opinion on art and music should be. I tend to enjoy thinking for myself

I won't be watching.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Mokka

Yeah... I don't need other people to tell me what my opinion on art and music should be. I tend to enjoy thinking for myself

I won't be watching.

He's not telling you what your opinion should be, he's just giving his take on the video and his reasons for being against it.

You should be able to watch his video and still be able to think for yourself. We get our information from listening to other people.

[Mokka]

Originally Posted by Alf

He's not telling you what your opinion should be, he's just giving his take on the video and his reasons for being against it.

You should be able to watch his video and still be able to think for yourself. We get our information from listening to other people.

Of course I'm able to... but I don't care about his "reasons for being against it". My opinion is, if he's against it, he has missed the point of what art and music are... and I'm not interested in his opinion.

[Oliver_W]

The best thing about it is the memes which came from it.

[LaLaLand]

Youtube video

Can't cope.