Music Review: The Script & will.I.am "Hall of Fame"
"You can talk to God, go banging on his door"
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The Script & will.I.am
Hall of Fame
Album: #3
Year: 2012
Danny O’Donoghue and will.I.am motivate people to become superstars in the ineffectul “Hall of Fame.”
A studious piano opens the single, setting an grandiose tone. O’Donoghue and will.I. am switch lines, as they tell people they are capable of doing anything. He adds if they have an terrific idea, they would be able to overcome hurdles. Saying a prayer will also help. They can beat their compeition and achieve the impossible. They are in control and keep working every day towards their dream. (“Yeah, you can be the greatest/You can be the best/You can be the King Kong banging on your chest/You could beat the world/You could beat the war/You could talk to God, go banging on his door/You can throw your hands up/You can beat the clock (yeah)/You can move a mountain/You can break rocks/You can be a master/Don't wait for luck/Dedicate yourself and you gon' find yourself.”)
In the chorus, O’Donoghue said if people believe they will be remembered decades long after they have passed. (“Standing in the hall of fame (yeah)/And the world's gonna know your name (yeah)/'Cause you burn with the brightest flame (yeah)/And the world's gonna know your name (yeah)/And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame.”)
O’Donoghue and will.I.am once again switch lyrics. They people are able to make it past their limits and see a happy result. They will be recongnized for saving the day or do the one thing the other person couldn’t. They can find inspiration in their family, friends and their need to do well. It’s a risk that has to be taken. They could start a non-profit which helps other people. They can make a new start. (“You can go the distance/You can run the mile/You can walk straight through hell with a smile/You could be the hero/You could get the gold/Breaking all the records they thought never could be broke/Yeah, do it for your people/Do it for your pride/How you ever gonna know if you never even try?/Do it for your country/Do it for your name/'Cause there's gonna be a day.”)
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, O’Donoghue tells people they can be winners. He encourages people to learn as much as they can. They will be someone who others can look up to and make a difference in their life. (“Be a champion, be a champion, be a champion, be a champion/On the walls of the hall of fame/Be students/
Be teachers/Be politicians/Be preachers (Yeah)/Be believers/Be leaders/Be astronauts/Be champions/
Be truth seekers/Be students/Be teachers/Be politicians/Be preachers/Be believers/Be leaders/Be astronauts
Be champions.”)
The chorus is sung again.
The first verse is sung again, with will.I.am added “you can be a champion’ in between every lyric.
O’Donoghue says “standing in the hall of fame” to end the single.
O’Donoghue and will.I.am’s vocals are both digitized, swirled around in a blender, turning into a unappetizing concotion of metal and plastic. will.I.am’s occansional “yeah’s” and O’Donoghue singing the chorus at least allow for some distinction.
O’Donoghue and will.I.am tell people they only have to believe and it will happen. However, it’s not magic. It takes support from other people, a passion to keep going even as opportunities slip away, a thick skin to deal with discouragement, and the smarts to know when a mentor is acting on their own self-interest. They leave out they are the lucky ones who are able to have a Top 40 song on the radio discussing their point of view. A slim amount of people rarely do get the chance.
The elitist “Hall of Fame” claims to have the answers but doesn’t give any guidance.