Billy Steinberg- Nate Tadlock
Billy Steinberg
Links:
Song Lyrics for "True Colors" and "I'll Stand by You"
Music Videos for "True Colors" and "I'll Stand by You"
Question:
How does Billy Steinberg encourage progressivism through the song “True Colors”, and “I’ll Stand by You”?
Answer:
According to the dictionary progressivism is defined as “social reform movement focused on advancing the public good through government action”. With that in mind, I looked at how Billy Steinberg’s music connects to broader social and political issues.The first issue that comes to mind are the societal and lawful views of the LGBTQ community. Just before the time of “True Colors’” release the emergence of AIDS created a worldwide crisis. The disease was spread primarily between the LGBTQ community which led the public to point their anger towards them. That anger caused a growing discomfort in the community and led to many questioning their self worth (Bell et al.). Then the song “True Colors” was released and many in the LGBTQ community resonated with its message. The true message of the song is don’t be afraid to be yourself because someone will always love you Billy demonstrates this when he says “I see your true colors, And that's why I love you” (Steinberg). I used the LGBTQ community as an example simply because of the history surrounding the song’s release, but truly this message includes everyone. In a time when laws still restricted same-sex marriage and racial discrimination was deeply embedded in society, this message carried real weight. This demonstrates progressive ideas through reducing stereotyping by establishing that each person is an individual and then promoting fairness by saying that each person deserves kindness.
The second way that Steinberg promotes Progressivism is by bringing attention to male suffering. There was this idea in the 90s that men always had to be tough and crying in front of others was frowned upon. Billy Steinberg wrote the song “I’ll stand by you for his friend who in the music video is portrayed as a male. When the music video starts you see a man walk into the door and as he starts to cry Chrissie Hynde sings, “Come on and come to me now, Don't be ashamed to cry, Let me see you through,'Cause I've seen the dark side too.(Steinberg)”. This message says that it's ok for men to cry because everyone feels sad or upset sometimes. Overall while Steinberg did originally intend to write about political or societal issues his work can be applied in the context of many and connected to many modern ways of thinking.
Prompt 1: Consider the sound and structure of the music and how it adds to the meaning of the songs. Write a brief paragraph explaining how the repetition, chorus, and rhythm add to the messages you hear in the songs.
The most important aspect of music when it comes to meaning is how a song makes you feel, and the thing that influences feeling the most throughout a song are the chords. Taking a close look at the chord structure for the song True Colors I notice that they use minor and major chords in a specific way. To clarify what those mean, generally a Major sound makes you feel happy or peaceful while a minor chord is meant to make you feel sad or distressed. At the risk of going on a rant I will stick with the basics and say that I notice that minor sounds are applied to specific phrases such as, “You with the sad eyes”(Steinberg). Then the following line, “, Don't be discouraged” has a Major sound. It created a very interesting back and forth effect throughout the song where it’s like, you're sad but it will be ok, you're struggling but im here for you. Then during the chorus where the message is most prevalent it switches to almost all major chords making the listener feel hopeful. I’ll stand by you has a very similar thing going on but some of the chord choices seem to be more for the enjoyment of the listener rather than the meaning.
Prompt 2: focus on who is speaking in the song. Is it the artist, a persona, or an imagined voice/speaker. Write a brief paragraph explaining how does the point-of-view shape your understanding of the songs or message? What might change if the song were written from a different perspective.
Both songs are written in the first person. I think that this point of view changes the meaning by making the listener feel more connected to the words being said in the song. This is because it feels like you are saying the word yourself and you know the people being talked to personally. I think that if the view shifted to an outside perspective such as third person it would get rid of some of the impact. Generally it is true that if you know someone you will care about them more than a random stranger so if you switch to third person you would no longer know the person and begin to care less about the message. I don’t honestly understand the second person that well but I think writing in the second person for either of these songs would be odd.
Works Cited
Bell, Jonathan, et al. “Interchange: Hiv/Aids and U.S. History.” The Journal of American History, vol. 104, no. 2, 2017, pp. 431–60. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48548637. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48548637?seq=1
Steinburg, Billy. “True Colors.” True Colors, Performed by Cyndi Lauper, Portrait Records. Genius, https://genius.com/Cyndi-lauper-true-colors-lyrics
Steinburg, Billy. “I’ll Stand by You.” Last of The Independents, Performed by The Pretenders, Sire Records & WEA. Genius, https://genius.com/Pretenders-ill-stand-by-you-lyrics
Lauper, Cyndi. “True Colors.” YouTube, uploaded by Cyndi Lauper, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPn0KFlbqX8
The Pretenders - I’ll Stand By You [MV].” YouTube, uploaded by 196301104, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABGPMw_ir08
The question of the blog is "How does Billy Steinberg encourage progressivism through the song “True Colors”, and “I’ll Stand by You”?". In the blogger there was a quote that I thought showed a lot about why progressivism was needed "Just before the time of “True Colors’” release the emergence of AIDS created a worldwide crisis. The disease was spread primarily between the LGBTQ community which led the public to point their anger towards them. That anger caused a growing discomfort in the community and led to many questioning their self worth (Bell et al.)." (Nate Tadlock). To add on to this is that gay men were not allowed to donate blood since people thought that any gay man may have AIDs. This wasn't formally changed until May of 2023 which can be found out from the American Red Cross. A quote from “True Colors” that I thought showed signs of progressivism is "So don't be afraid to let them show Your true colors True colors Are beautiful like a rainbow" ( “True Colors”). In a time that people were scared to be themselves cause what people were scared of what people would think or do the song tells people to be themselves and that everyone is beautiful, which unfortunately is controversial to say.
ReplyDeleteAnother quote from the blogger that I think also adds the concept of progressivism is " This message says that it's ok for men to cry because everyone feels sad or upset sometimes. Overall while Steinberg did originally intend to write about political or societal issues his work can be applied in the context of many and connected to many modern ways of thinking." (Nate Tadlock). Men talking about their emotions was seen as taboo so talking about it and saying that is normal instead of criticizing it was in itself progressive. This line in “I’ll Stand by You” that I think really incapsulates this is "Don't be ashamed to cry Let me see you through 'Cause I've seen the dark side too" ( “I’ll Stand by You.”).
Hi Nate! I think Billy Steinberg encourages progressivism in both songs by pushing the idea that people should be accepted and supported no matter who they are or what they are going through. In “True Colors,” the line “I see your true colors, and that’s why I love you” shows that people deserve love for their real selves, which connects to progressive ideas about equality and inclusion (Steinberg). This message goes against discrimination because it tells listeners not to hide who they are. It especially fits with LGBTQ struggles at the time, but like you said, it can apply to anyone who feels judged. In “I’ll Stand by You,” the lyrics “Don’t be ashamed to cry” challenge the stereotype that men have to hide their emotions (Steinberg). That idea supports progressivism because it promotes emotional openness and breaks harmful gender norms. Both songs also show support instead of judgment, which is important in social reform movements that focus on fairness. Overall, Steinberg is not directly talking about laws or politics, but his messages still encourage people to think in a more accepting and understanding way. I think that kind of mindset is what helps lead to real social change over time.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited
Steinberg, Billy. “True Colors.” True Colors, performed by Cyndi Lauper, Portrait Records. Genius.
Steinberg, Billy. “I’ll Stand by You.” Last of the Independents, performed by The Pretenders, Sire Records. Genius.
Hey Nate! I’ve heard both of these songs before, but I never really knew who wrote them, so that was cool to learn. I liked your point about the major chords in the chorus of “True Colors” making it sound more hopeful. I agree that when the chorus comes in, it makes the message stronger. When Billy Steinburg sings, “I see your true colors / And that’s why I love you,” it feels like he is repeating it so the listener really believes it. The rhythm and simple structure of the song also make it feel calm and steady, which matches the supportive message. In “I’ll Stand by You,” the line “I’ll stand by you / Won’t let nobody hurt you”being repeated also shows loyalty and protection. I also think both songs get louder and stronger as he move toward the chorus, which makes the message feel more important. Your idea about the chords made me think too. Do you think the chorus would feel as strong if it stayed in a minor key instead of switching to major? I feel like the brighter sound helps the encouragement feel more real. Overall, I agree that the way the music sounds is just as important as the lyrics when understanding the meaning of the songs!! I agree with your argument that he encourages progressivism through his writings.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited
Steinberg, Billy. “True Colors.” True Colors, performed by Cyndi Lauper, Portrait Records. Genius.
Steinberg, Billy. “I’ll Stand by You.” Last of the Independents, performed by The Pretenders, Sire Records. Genius.
Billy Steinberg encourages progressivism in “True Colors” and “I’ll Stand by You” by focusing on being there for people and showing compassion when they are going through tough or lonely moments. In “True Colors,” the line “Show me a smile then, don’t be unhappy, can’t remember when I last saw you laughing” shows someone noticing another person’s sadness and trying to lift them up, which connects to the idea of caring about people’s mental and emotional health. In “I’ll Stand by You,” the lyrics “When the night falls on you, you don’t know what to do, nothing you confess could make me love you less” shows strong support no matter what someone is dealing with or has done. Both songs push the idea that people should be kind and willing to stand by others without judging them, which connects to a more progressive way of thinking.
ReplyDelete“I’ll Stand by You” and “True Colors” both have themes of friendship and support through progressivism. “I’ll Stand by You” hints at toxic masculinity. Lyrics like, “Don’t be ashamed to cry Let me see you through ‘Cause I’ve seen the dark side too,” support the idea that Billy is saying it is okay for men to cry and express their emotions (I’ll Stand by You). People will still be there to support them. He shows empathy in the line, “I get angry too Well, I’m a lot like you,” (I’ll Stand by You). This stanza also supports the idea that it is okay to express all emotions, not just sadness, “So if you’re mad, get mad Don’t hold it all inside,” (I’ll Stand by You). Throughout the song he repeats the line “I’ll stand by you,” (I’ll Stand by You). “True Colors” is about supporting groups that are facing criticism in society. The most prevalent group referenced in this song is gay men because people were afraid of the AIDS pandemic. Lines like, “Your true colors Are beautiful like a rainbow,” and “True colors,” illude to the LGBTQ+ community specifically, which also makes sense when you consider the historical context which it was written (True Colors). Support is shown in the lyric, “I see your true colors And that’s why I love you,” (True Colors). These songs show progressivism by supporting minority groups during the time they were written. Both songs show support within friendships no matter who you are, through whatever happens. This means progressivism is encouraged by supporting people being their true selves without tearing them down.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited:
Steinburg, Billy. “I’ll Stand by You.” Last of The Independents, Performed by The Pretenders, Sire Records & WEA. Genius, https://genius.com/Pretenders-ill-stand-by-you-lyrics
Steinburg, Billy. “True Colors.” True Colors, Performed by Cyndi Lauper, Portrait Records. Genius, https://genius.com/Cyndi-lauper-true-colors-lyrics
Billy Steinberg in his songs “True Colors” and “I’ll Stand by You” encourage the idea of progressivism. In the Song “True Colors” these lyrics highlight how being someone's true self can emphasize relationships which are manifestations of progressivism; “But I see your true colors, Shining through, I see your true colors, And that's why I love you, So don't be afraid to let them show, Your true colors”. In the song “I’ll Stand by You” “Oh, why you look so sad? Tears are in your eyes, Come on and come to me now, Don't be ashamed to cry, Let me see you through, 'Cause I've seen the dark side too”. These lyrics show that the subject of the song is in a state of suffering and they are being comforted by the singer and this suffering and Billy Steinberg saying in the song “Won't let nobody hurt you, I'll stand by you” which shows that he is trying the protect the subject of the song and this can show progressivism in standing up for the person who is suffering and in need of help with their struggle. Both of the songs by Billy Steinberg embody progressivism through their display of the suffering and struggles of individuals and how they can be supported and helped.
ReplyDeleteSteinburg uses his songs, "True Colors" and "I'll Stand by You" to show themes of progressiveness in a time of inqeuality. I thinkt that he uses his voice very specifically to protray these themes by use of imagery. In "True Colors" he states, "You with the sad eyes/Don't be discouraged" (Steinburg). In this statement he is describing an image of a sad person, feeling down on themselves. This song being published in the AIDS crisis places a stronger emphasis on encouraging gay men to be themselves. In "I'll Stand by You" he says, "Nothin' you confess/Could make me love you less" (Steinburg). In this song, he uses specifically a rhyming scheme to allow for a greater picture of acceptance. He is trying to show that nothing will happen if you come as you are. These songs are especially progressive in this time because people were not accepted as heavily.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited
Steinburg, Billy. “True Colors.” True Colors, Performed by Cyndi Lauper, Portrait Records. Genius, https://genius.com/Cyndi-lauper-true-colors-lyrics
Steinburg, Billy. “I’ll Stand by You.” Last of The Independents, Performed by The Pretenders, Sire Records & WEA. Genius, https://genius.com/Pretenders-ill-stand-by-you-lyrics
Billy Steinberg uses his lyrics in "True Colors" and "I'll Stand by You" to support progressive ideas like being yourself and helping others. In the song "True Colors," he tells the listener that it is okay to show who they really are inside. He writes, "But I see your true colors / Shining through" to show that everyone has a unique beauty (Genius, “Cyndi Lauper – True Colors”). This message helps people feel safe being different, which is a big part of progressivism. In the song "I'll Stand by You," the lyrics focus on supporting people when they are sad or in trouble. He writes, "I'll stand by you / Won't let nobody hurt you" to promise total loyalty (Genius, “Pretenders – I’ll Stand by You”). This song teaches us that we should take care of each other as a community. By writing about kindness and courage, Steinberg encourages people to be more accepting of others. Both songs move away from judgment and focus on love instead. These lyrics help create a world where people feel like they belong no matter what. Through these famous songs, Steinberg shows that standing up for one another is the best way to move forward.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited:
Genius. “Cyndi Lauper – True Colors.” Genius.com, 25 Aug. 1986, genius.com/Cyndi-lauper-true-colors-lyrics.
Genius. “Pretenders – I’ll Stand by You.” Genius.com, 21 July 1994, genius.com/Pretenders-ill-stand-by-you-lyrics.
Hi Nate! Billy Steinberg encourages progressivism in both songs by promoting acceptance and emotional openness, and I agree with the original author’s points. In “True Colors,” the line “I see your true colors, and that’s why I love you” shows unconditional acceptance. This challenges discrimination, especially toward the LGBTQ community during the AIDS crisis. The song also pushes society toward empathy and equality by reminding people they deserve to be seen and valued. I agree that while the LGBTQ context is important, the message applies to everyone. In “I’ll Stand by You,” Steinberg promotes progressivism by supporting emotional vulnerability. The lyric “Don’t be ashamed to cry” challenges harmful ideas about masculinity. This shows that progressivism includes changing everyday attitudes, not just big social movements.
ReplyDeleteHi Nate! I have never heard of Billy Steinberg before, but I have heard of “True Colors”. I think it is really interesting that you chose a lyricist to write about rather than a singer. But in both of the songs he wrote, there seems to be a recurring theme of progressivism. In Steinberg’s song “True Colors”, which was sung by Cyndi Lauper, she sings about being true to yourself and being proud of who you are with no judgment. In that time, when there was sexism, racism, and LGBTQ+ rights were on the rise, this song identified with a lot of people. With the repetition of “I see your true colors/And that's why I love you/ So don't be afraid to let them show”, it really emphasizes that idea of embracing one’s identity with full-fledged support (“True Colors”). This is seen in his song, “I’ll Stand by You”, sung by The Pretenders as well. In this song, there is an emphasis on loyalty during a time of vulnerability. That kind of unconditional support shows empathy and compassion, which connects to progressive ideas as well. Both songs encourage a more inclusive and empathetic society. Rather than focusing on judgment or exclusion, Steinberg’s lyrics promote acceptance, which was a really good message back then, and is still a great one for today.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited
Steinburg, Billy. “True Colors.” True Colors, Performed by Cyndi Lauper, Portrait Records. Genius, https://genius.com/Cyndi-lauper-true-colors-lyrics
Steinburg, Billy. “I’ll Stand by You.” Last of The Independents, Performed by The Pretenders, Sire Records & WEA. Genius, https://genius.com/Pretenders-ill-stand-by-you-lyrics
The song "True Colors" talks about showing you true self and being proud about it. A the start of the song it says "You with the sad eyes, Don't be discouraged". This is talking to people who are struggling either at work or anywhere else. Specifically the line talks to the workers in bad work environments during a progressive era. Then in the song "I'll Stand by You" it also talks about helping out one another. With lines saying "When you're at the crossroads, Dont know which path to choose, Let me come along". Which can be interpreted at someone helping another make a decision while staying along no matter what. Both these songs are about sticking together or being yourself and during a progressive era a lot of people struggled with poor work environment and life style making many depressed, and these songs were a way to tell them they arent alone.
ReplyDeleteHey Nate, to answer the question, I think that Billy Steinberg encourages progressivism in both songs by focusing on empathy and acceptance instead of judgment. In “True Colors,” the speaker reassures someone who feels insecure or rejected and tells them that their real self is valuable. This message can be connected to progressive ideas because it supports individuality and pushes back against social pressure to hide differences. When Steinberg writes, “I see your true colors, and that’s why I love you,” he suggests that people deserve respect for who they truly are rather than who society expects them to be (Steinberg, “True Colors”). That message became especially meaningful for people in the LGBTQ community because many people at the time felt isolated or discriminated against. In “I’ll Stand by You,” Steinberg also challenges traditional expectations about masculinity and emotional expression. The line “Don’t be ashamed to cry, Let me see you through” encourages people, especially men, to be open about pain instead of hiding it (Steinberg, “I’ll Stand by You”). Both songs promote the progressive belief that people should support one another, accept differences, and reject unfair stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited:
Genius. “Cyndi Lauper – True Colors.” Genius.com, 25 Aug. 1986, genius.com/Cyndi-lauper-true-colors-lyrics.
Genius. “Pretenders – I’ll Stand by You.” Genius.com, 21 July 1994, genius.com/Pretenders-ill-stand-by-you-lyrics.
Hi Nathan! I think that both your choice of song and questions are amazing. I have heard the songs before and, if I'm being completely honest, thought that the singers would have passed on by now. It is a pleasant surprise that they are still with us. The first thing I would like to point out is the titles of the songs themselves. The title “True colors” hints at progressivism by alluding to LGBTQ+ support. The LGBTQ+ community is frequently represented by a rainbow flag. The next song’s title “I’ll stand by you” can also be connected in the same light as “True Colors”. The song is frequently used in connection with the LGBTQ+ community despite that being the original purpose. In the song “True colors” the line, “So don't be afraid to let them show
ReplyDeleteYour true colors True colors Are beautiful like a rainbow” (Cyndi Lauper) is strongly in support of the lgbtq+ community, even referencing the rainbow flag. The song talks about how it can be difficult for people to be comfortable with being themselves due to the large amount of hate that falls upon the community. She encourages people to be themselves and says, “And that's why I love you”(Cyndi Lauper). The next song “I’ll stand by you” talks about being there for a person going through a tough time. The line, “Hey, what you got to hide? I get angry too” (Billy Steinberg) helps to show how being there and connecting with someone's hurt can make them feel as if they are not alone in what they are going through.
Works Cited:
Genius. “Cyndi Lauper – True Colors.” Genius.com, 25 Aug. 1986, genius.com/Cyndi-lauper-true-colors-lyrics.
Genius. “Pretenders – I’ll Stand by You.” Genius.com, 21 July 1994, genius.com/Pretenders-ill-stand-by-you-lyrics.
Hey Nathan! Billy Steinburg did a great job promoting Progressivism. While there are many groups who go through a lot, focusing on the LGBTQ+ and male community was amazing. One way he showed Progressivism through is song lyrics is symbolism. The first song had a lyric stating, "It's hard to take courage/In a world full of people" (True Colors). I see it as symbolism because courage can represent the activists who fought for LGBTQ+ rights. Marsha P Johnson is one of the well known activist for her community as she was a transgender. She advocate for the homeless youth who struggle with HIV/Aids. In a world full of people who are quick to judge, someone like Marsha is the one who stepped up and had the courage to show the world that she is proud of who is she. Anybody who faces the same issues as her should never be ashamed of who they are.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited:
Steinburg, Billy. “I’ll Stand by You.” Last of The Independents, Performed by The Pretenders, Sire Records & WEA. Genius, https://genius.com/Pretenders-ill-stand-by-you-lyrics
Steinburg, Billy. “True Colors.” True Colors, Performed by Cyndi Lauper, Portrait Records. Genius, https://genius.com/Cyndi-lauper-true-colors-lyrics
Hi, Nate!
ReplyDeleteThough "I'll Stand by You" was written over 20 years ago about already-outdated perceptions of masculinity, it still remains deeply relevant. With lyrics like "don't be ashamed to cry" and "don't hold it all inside", the gender norm-challenging message is overwhelmingly clear ("I'll Stand by You"). Though I believe many conversations regarding how the patriarchy negatively affects men are used to discredit women's very real, oftentimes more immediately harmful disadvantages in a patriarchal society (at least, as far as online discourse goes), it seems like without explaining how it also affects them, (many) men do not take the deeply harmful affects of patriarchy on the whole of society seriously. That is why I think songs like that can be massively beneficial for everyone, even though it only focuses on half the population. That push towards progressive thinking is central to progressivism.
For "True Colors", though it wasn't originally written to represent queer people, it took on an almost unambiguous meaning once Cyndi Lauper sang her interpretation of it. As you know, it was one of her most successful songs ever released and brought more attention to the AIDS crisis, which had already ravaged the LGBTQ+ community. It is almost hard to imagine the song meaning anything else, with lyrics that almost perfectly describe queer imagery, like "your true colors/are beautiful like a rainbow" and "don't be afraid to let them show" ("True Colors"). Messages encouraging the acceptance of queer people are inherently progressive and still remain relevant today (since we still aren't past that, for some reason).
Works Cited:
Genius. “Cyndi Lauper – True Colors.” Genius.com, 25 Aug. 1986, genius.com/Cyndi-lauper-true-colors-lyrics.
Genius. “Pretenders – I’ll Stand by You.” Genius.com, 21 July 1994, genius.com/Pretenders-ill-stand-by-you-lyrics.