Guest Blogger: Zach 2

The past couple of years for the music industry have been huge. Rising stars have conquered the top of the charts from out of nowhere. One man who has made his way to the top as a star is Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III, also known as Aloe Blacc. Blacc, who is only 35 years of age, released his charting song "The Man" in 2014 as the second single from his third album, Lift Your Spirit. This song has seen a rise in popularity due to it being featured as the backdrop for a series of Beats by Dre commercials. "The Man" is of the pop/soul genre which can easily be figured from hearing the sounds of the jazzy trumpets and the rhythmic drum sounds in the background. The lyrics coupled with the music choice of this great song give listeners the feeling that they can accomplish anything and it fills them with energy. The resounding sounds of the trumpets give the impression that something great can happen which when paired with the lyrics truly makes this message shine forth. Listeners can hear the similarities between other well-known singers whose songs also feature soul. This artist is Cee Lo Green. Green and Blacc both have many songs that feature jazz instruments, especially the great sounds of trumpets. This is where the similarities stop though. Blacc, unlike Green whose voice seems to edge into the cartoony realm, has a deep voice filled with soul that people want to listen to. The lyrics along with the music makes this song very motivational. The main lyrics in this song that stick out are, "I'm the man, I'm the man." These are very memorable because they are inspirational. For people going through tough times they can listen to this song and hear the words and have the strength to do anything. Critics are raving over how this song has affected people in a very positive way. Pluggedin.com praises “The Man” because of its lyrics like "Somewhere I heard that life is a test/I been through the worst but still I give my best." This site compliments how these words are motivational and this is very true. On About.com’s Top 40/Pop Bill Lamb talks about how powerful the song is and how it celebrates successes in life. This song inspires people to do great things and one cannot help but try to do something great so they can say, "I'm the man." For those still undecided if they should take the jump to buy this song, stop thinking! This song is an amazing listen no matter what kind of mood you are in. If you are feeling down this song will drive you up and if you are already feeling great this song will push you to the top.