fripodding and burning: “the fire” the roots & john legend

Today’s friPod goes out to all the kiddies and college students… or anyone going back to any kind of school, or going out to do something that they believe in to either better themselves or others around them. Once again, this is coming from The Roots featuring John Legend bringing you “The Fire.”

This song, like much of the album, is about achieving and overcoming, if you couldn’t tell from the album’s title How I Got Over. The title track, by the way, is an equally awesome if not the best song on the album. Specifically, well to me, “The Fire” is about desire, passion and ambition for reaching and accomplishing that goal you set for yourself. I really resonate with this song personally because it’s speaking to that fire within me, to achieve something great. I admit I kinda lost my drive over the summer. But as I, and many others, remind me–life happens. So I lost some of the passion and focus that I need to keep going and doing what I need to do, but I’m gaining it back and do what needs to be done.

This is why I felt this song is perfect for this time of year and for all those that are going back to school, hoping that fire in them only grows brighter and stronger so they can become great as well. I was never a fan of saying “Good luck” to people, mostly due to my unbelief in luck… but it also felt like some throw away encouragement phrase that doesn’t hold a lot of weight when someone is about to tackle an obstacle. Well, this song’s chorus says what I will say from now on:

There’s something in your heart
And it’s in your eyes
It’s the fire, inside of you
Let it burn
You don’t say “good luck”
You say “don’t give up”
It’s the fire, inside of you
Let it burn

I love that. Honestly, that’s a much better thing to tell people, especially with a challenge like school and education. Speaking as a non-college graduate, giving up seems so much easier than going through. But, I’m not going to give up. I wish I hadn’t stopped. Part of that reason is due to the school loan repayments kicking in (and it’s ridiculous that higher education is so expensive), but being continuously fed knowledge is awesome. Knowledge really is power, that isn’t just something people say.

So with that, I will quote the end of Black Thought’s verse (I love quoting this guy and I love his raps… he’s a lyrical idol of mine). As I said, I loved the whole song and many other lines, but this is one that truly sums it all up.

Something in my eyes say I’m so close to having the prize / I realize I’m suppose to reach for the skies / Never let somebody try to tell you otherwise

My last note on this song is the instrumentals from the band itself. It gives me the feeling of triumph and determination. This is what I’d call “Champion music.” The driving drum line, no doubt one of the many products of ?uestlove. But just the way the song is structured, it sounds like an anthem, or maybe something you’d hear in a movie when the hero is about to embark or is engaging in battle, or a march, or possibly a theme played in the resulting victory. Needless to say, vocals and instruments compliment each other. There’s an invigorating and triumphant mood to it that makes me want to turn this up to 11 every time I hear it. There is a music video, to be honest I’m not a huge fan of it, but it’s something different. Feel free to discuss your thoughts with me afterwards.

So with that, Indoobians, I encourage you to not give up on whatever endeavor you are about to endure. Also, keep an open mind because you can never learn too much.