Wallets Light, but Smiles Still Bright

What do you desire: happiness or wealth? Will you choose to live? Or will you waste your life seeking wealth? Time is running out on us, and yet we are spending what is left to gain wealth. This is causing us to forget to live. Jessie J sees this problem and expresses her thoughts through the song “Price Tag”. Using word choice, repetition, rhythm, and chord progression, Jessie J communicates that money is not the most important thing in life, and that we should focus on enjoying ourselves.

Jessie J uses word choice to show that money is not the most important thing in life. She makes her point through the line, “Money can't buy us happiness” (line 29). Jessie J includes this line to convey that though money can meet our needs, it can't replace everything. Happiness is something that we badly need, and therefore we cannot completely focus on money. Through this, Jessie J explains that happiness is more important than money.

In her song “Price Tag”, Jessi J uses repetition to emphasize that we should focus on enjoying life instead of focusing on money. People think money is very important in their life. However, Jessi J repeats again and again the sentiment that “We don’t need your money” (line 15) to depict that we should not worry about money. Through this, Jessie J communicates that money is not the most important thing in our life, and that there are more important things than we should chase after. Jessi J’s repetition of another line in “Price Tag” answers the question of what we should be chasing after: “We just want to make the world dance” (line 17). Through this line, Jessie J conveys that enjoying ourselves is something we should focus on in life, since dancing is something that brings us joy. Not only that, but when we are enjoying our life, everyone will have less worries and can stop worrying about money. Thus, through repetition Jessi J communicates that we should focus on life instead of money.

Jessie J uses word choice to show that we should focus on enjoying ourselves instead of focusing on money. To support her point, Jessie J writes, “Just stop, for a minute and Smile” (line 5). The word ‘stop’ tells us to stop working for and worrying over money. Then ‘smile’ communicates relaxation. Therefore, her word choice communicates that we should forget about our work and relax for a minute. Overall, Jessie J uses word choices to tell us to focus on enjoying ourselves rather than on money.

Jessie J makes use of rhythm and chord progression to convey that we should focus on enjoying life. The rhythm and chord progression used in “Price Tag” is usually upbeat and laidback. During the chorus of “Price Tag”, the two come together to crescendo, and the music becomes especially upbeat and lively. This rhythm and chord choice convey a feeling of celebration and happiness. It exudes a sense of relaxation, and from this Jessie J communicates that slowing down and enjoying life is essential. Thus, through rhythm and chord progression Jessie J illustrates that we should enjoy life.

In conclusion, the singer Jessie J uses repetition, word choice, rhythm and chord progression to convey that money is not the most important thing in life, and that we should focus on enjoying life. Lyrically, Jessie J emphasizes the idea that we should not worry about money, while musically, she keeps an upbeat and relaxing tone to keep the tone of the song cheerful. “Price Tag” tells us that we should stop worrying so much about money, and that we should enjoy life. This is an important message in postmodern times. As time has passed, money has become more and more of a worry for people. We are becoming obsessed with it, and all of social media is taunting us with things we would have if only we had more money. This obsession is depressing for the world, because in the end, just as Jessi J says, money cannot buy you happiness. It is not a replacement for the love of family and friends. This reminder to stop worrying over money and enjoy life is one we greatly need in modern times.

-B. Lit. Group 6

#Postmodern