Audio By Carbonatix
Dated enough for you? 1994, then, was the perfect time for a song like “Regulate” to peak in popularity. Why, then, has it taken until now for a synopsis of the song to materialize?
“Regulate” possesses all the perfect elements for a synopsis of the song to even be considered. It featured spoken word dialogue from the 1988 movie Young Guns as well as a smooth sample from Michael McDonald’s “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near).” As well, what made “Regulate” truly unique was the song’s brilliant narrative, told from Warren G’s slick, laid-back point of view. It’s astonishing that no one had thought to write down a different take on the rich story within “Regulate” until now.
Why can’t other songs that feature similar, narrative-driven structures be extrapolated, if you will, in the same manner? Oh they can, and they have. Behold — my own take on the Geto Boys’ 1991 classic “Mind Playing Tricks on Me:”
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Mind Playing Tricks on Me Literal Explanation from EmLeaux on Vimeo.
I’m not taking credit for whomever wrote the fantastic synopsis for “Regulate” in the first place, but I will admit to borrowing the idea and applying it to other songs. I’m a long-winded, verbose English major who loves old-school rap — I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to figure out how much fun it is to present these lyrics, if you will, in a more formal, scholastic (and dorky-sounding) manner. And what specific genre of music — minus country — contains more songs that are basically a story being told over music?
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