Recently, I stumbled upon an artist who grabbed my attention with his raw, captivating sound—Mk.gee. His music immediately stood out to me, blending genres and delivering a unique auditory experience. However, there was one challenge: I found it difficult to understand what he was singing. His vocal delivery, though emotionally rich, made the lyrics hard to decipher.
This frustration led me to look up the lyrics, and, curious to delve deeper, I decided to turn to AI for help. Using ChatGPT, I asked it to analyse one of his tracks, “Candy,” and explain both the meaning behind the lyrics and the writing style. Here’s how AI helped me unpack the song.
Candy
[Chorus]
Candy is all in my business
And if she’s lookin’ hard, she will find it (Mmm)
Candy, you’re just wastin’ time (Mmm)
Girl, you just like to fantasize
Yeah, Candy likes to fantasize
[Verse 1]
In the heat of the night, you come calling
Screaming like you lost all your conscience
Well, I repeat it time from time
The only one I fantasize
The only one I fantasize
You’re the only one I fantasize
[Verse 2]
I’ve done some bad, I won’t fake it
I got patterns, don’t think I’ll shake it
Ah, but you fucked up too, and that’s fine
I cut you slack, you cut me minе
I cut you slack, you cut me mine
[Chorus]
Candy is all in my business
And if shе’s lookin’ hard, she will find it (Mmm)
Candy, you’re just wastin’ time (Mmm)
Who is Mk.gee?
Before diving into the analysis, let me introduce Mk.gee, born Michael Todd Gordon on September 27, 1996, in Linwood, New Jersey. He’s a multi-talented musician and producer with a sound that fuses elements of Indie, alternative. and lo-fi. Mk.gee’s music feels both raw and polished, full of lo-fi textures that draw you in while keeping a sense of spontaneity. His sound is the kind that grows on you, leaving layers of complexity to uncover with each listen.
But, as I mentioned earlier, Mk.gee’s vocal style can be challenging to follow. His delivery is casual and almost slurred at times, which fits the laid-back, experimental nature of his music but makes it tricky to grasp the full meaning of his lyrics. That’s where I needed a bit of assistance.
AI to the Rescue: Analysing “Candy”
I took the lyrics of one of his songs, “Candy,” and asked ChatGPT to help me break it down.
PROMPT: “I’ll share the lyrics of a song called ‘Candy.’ Please analyse it, explain the meaning, and describe the writing style.”
This is what AI had to say:
The song “Candy” seems to tell the story of a relationship entangled in misunderstandings, jealousy, and fantasy. Here’s a deeper analysis of both its meaning and the writing style:
Meaning:
- Characterisation of Candy: “Candy” appears to represent a person who is overly involved in the speaker’s personal affairs. This could be a partner, lover, or someone fixated on them. The lyrics, “Candy is all in my business,” suggest that Candy is prying or perhaps possessively curious about the speaker’s life.
- Wasted Efforts and Fantasies: The line “Well, candy you’re just wasting time” shows the speaker’s frustration, implying that Candy’s concerns or attempts to control or intrude are futile. There’s a strong sense of someone being too invested in an illusion or a false reality, as shown in the repeated idea of “fantasizing.” The speaker acknowledges that Candy “likes to fantasize,” which hints at a detachment from reality or a perception that Candy creates problems that don’t exist.
- Tension in the Relationship: The speaker reveals personal flaws, confessing “I’ve done some bad, I won’t fake it / I got patterns, don’t think I’ll shake it.” This line expresses a sense of self-awareness. The speaker acknowledges their mistakes and harmful tendencies, but they also seem resigned to these patterns, suggesting a level of acceptance or even apathy.
- Mutual Compromise: The lyrics later highlight a dynamic of mutual forgiveness: “Ah, but you fuck up too and that’s fine / I cut you slack, you cut me mine.” This indicates a relationship where both parties have made mistakes and, to some extent, tolerate each other’s flaws. It suggests a sense of balance, but it might also hint at a toxic relationship where each person uses the other’s errors as a way to justify their own.
Writing Style:
- Repetition for Emphasis: The song relies heavily on repetition. Phrases like “Candy likes to fantasize” and “You’re the only one I fantasize” are repeated, which can serve to underline the central emotional themes. Repetition in this context emphasizes the obsession, frustration, and fixation both the speaker and Candy experience.
- Conversational Tone: The language is casual and direct, almost conversational. Lines like “I cut you slack, you cut me mine” and “Ah, but you fuck up too” give the song a relaxed, informal tone. It feels like an unfiltered expression of emotions, rather than something overly poetic or abstract.
- Fragmented and Non-linear Narrative: The narrative structure is somewhat fragmented, moving between addressing Candy directly and reflecting on the speaker’s own actions. This non-linear approach reflects the chaotic and emotionally charged nature of the relationship being described. There’s a certain rawness to the lyrics, a flow of thought that mirrors the instability or unpredictability of the emotions at play.
- Use of Imagery: While the song is largely grounded in plain language, there are moments of imagery, particularly with the line “In the heat of the night you come calling.” This conjures an image of a passionate or desperate moment, suggesting that Candy’s actions are impulsive and driven by emotion. The phrase “screaming like you lost all your conscious” adds intensity, evoking a scene of confrontation or emotional release.
- Emotional Directness: There’s no attempt to cloak the meaning in metaphors or complex imagery. The speaker is very upfront about their feelings, admitting to their flaws and mistakes, and expressing frustration with Candy’s behaviour. This directness makes the song feel raw and unpolished, adding to its authenticity and emotional intensity.
Conclusion:
The song “Candy” captures a tumultuous relationship where both parties are flawed and aware of their faults. Candy is portrayed as someone who gets overly involved in the speaker’s life, possibly obsessing or fantasising about things that don’t align with reality. The speaker, on the other hand, acknowledges their own patterns and mistakes but seems resigned to them. The relationship is marked by a mix of confrontation, emotional intensity, and a mutual understanding that both individuals are imperfect.
The writing style reflects this emotional turbulence through repetition, conversational tone, and directness. The rawness and straightforwardness of the lyrics make the emotions feel immediate and relatable.
Why I Use AI to Understand Music
As someone who is always eager to explore new sounds and artists, I’ve found that AI has become a valuable tool in my music discovery process. Mk.gee’s “Candy” is just one example of how AI can help bridge the gap between the emotional delivery of a song and the deeper meanings hidden in its lyrics. AI can act as a guide, revealing layers of meaning that might otherwise go unnoticed.
For anyone curious about Mk.gee or looking for new ways to engage with music, I encourage you to give him a listen and, if needed, don’t hesitate to ask for a little help from AI. You might be surprised by what you uncover.
WORLD TOUR Tickets @ https://www.mkgee.com
9/2/24 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
9/3/24 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
9/6/24 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
9/7/24 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
9/8/24 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
9/9/24 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park
9/11/24 – Denver, CO – Summit
9/13/24 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
9/14/24 – Austin, TX – Emo’s Austin
9/15/24 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues Dallas
9/18/24 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
9/19/24 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
9/20/24 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
9/21/24 – Newport, KY – MegaCorp Pavilion
9/23/24 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
9/24/24 – New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
9/25/24 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
9/26/24 – Boston, MA – House of Blues Boston
9/28/24 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall
9/29/24 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
10/1/24 – Toronto, ON – History
10/2/24 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall
10/3/24 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre
10/5/24 – Minneapolis, MN – Uptown Theater
10/29/24 – London, UK – Electric Brixton
10/30/24 – London, UK – Electric Brixton
10/31/24 – London, UK – Electric Brixton
11/2/24 – Paris, FR – Élysée-Montmartre
11/4/24 – Berlin, DE – Betonhalle
11/5/24 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
12/3/24 – Brisbane, QLD – The Triffid
12/5/24 – Sydney, NSW – Enmore Theatre
12/7/24 – Melbourne, VIC – Max Watt’s
12/8/24 – Melbourne, VIC – Max Watt’s
ChatGPT Notes:
In this collaboration, Manolo and I (ChatGPT) crafted a blog post introducing the artist Mk.gee and demonstrating how AI can assist in understanding music.
- Manolo shared his discovery of Mk.gee and expressed challenges in interpreting the lyrics.
- He guided me with the request to analyse the lyrics and explain the writing style.
- After my initial analysis, we refined the content to suit his blog’s tone and audience.
- Manolo provided feedback on the structure, ensuring clarity and depth in the final post.