English paper #3
Dr. Vance Smith
Music is a part of many peoples everyday lives. Today there are channels on the television that pertain only to music. Many of the new artists that are out today make a name of themselves on these channels. These videos are not only a chance to let t
he artists sell their music, but often to sell a message. The artist Coolio has a song on MTV called "Too Hot". This video shows the watcher how easily AIDS may be transmitted, and how easily it can be spread without the use of protection.
In the beginning of this video, Coolio is laying in bed with a beautiful woman. Coolio wakes to see this woman leaving to answer her beeper. Coolio has a very angry look on his face as she leaves and watches her out the bedroom window enter another man s car. The song then begins talking how the people are "Running around town, putting it down, without no protection, for the erection. "During this part of the video the video the lady is riding in expensive sports car, with a very big smile on her face . During this part of the video, the watcher is to see that there are many people out there that do not think twice about sleeping around.
The song at this time is saying "Iesa slept with Mark and Mark slept with Tina. Tina slept with Haviet first time he seen her, Haviet slept with Loopy and Loopy slept with Rob. Rob slept with Lisa who slept with Steve, and Steve was positive , HIV." S ome say that if you sleep with one person, it is the same as sleeping with seven. This shows the viewer how easy it is to get the virus. The people were of African, American, Spanish, and Asian ethnic background. Coolio is trying to get the point acro ss that AIDS is a universal disease, by this I mean that it does not affect just one type of person, it affects us all. Not everyone out there can be trusted, you may know that you are clean of sexually transmitted diseases, but you can not be sure of yo ur partner.
"A mind is a terrible thing to waste was a slogan, but now it's '95, and don't forget the Trojan.", is the next verse. This statement shows that people in the past use to think of drugs all the time . Today, in the '90's, most you see and hear is having to do with AIDS, and the use of a condom to lower the risk. During this part of the song, a man and a woman are in an alley way hooking up. The woman pulls out a condom and shows the man. The man shakes his head and throws the condom away. It is common knowledge to most that a man does not want to wear a condom during sex. In the video the two are drunk, and this just adds to that factor. During sex the man looks up and sees the woman light up, the man is surprised and gets up. The women ignites into flames and the man runs away from a line of fire that is chasing him. When the man runs the flame is not far behind. This gives the watcher a sense of what's happening when the man stops. During this time the chorus comes on which has the verse "You bett er run for shelter, you better run for shade, it's Too Hot".
The woman in the first scene, containing Coolio now goes to her husbands office to check on him. As she walks down the corridor to his office, all the women are staring her down, yet the women does not even seem to notice. All these women probably knew that he was sleeping around, yet did not tell her, or stop her from entering the room. The husband is then seen having sex with his secretary on his desk. The song is now playing ,"Walking in the rain, but they ain't got no hat." The man's penis is not s hown of course, but the watcher gets the idea that the man is not wearing a condom. The wife then walks through the door, and sees her husband fixing his tie, and the woman her dress. They all get a stunned look on their face, and the man begins to shake . The man then turns into marbles and they all fall to the ground. The wife runs from the office, and is seen by a man sitting in his office. The man watches the woman run and gets a look on his face like " Damn". How many people can actually be affecte d by HIV?
"Just a little bump and grind can seal your fate.", is the next notable verse in the song. Coolio is saying that it does not take a person that gets around to get the virus, anyone can get it, and without protection your chances are increased. On the te levision, the wife is then seen getting out of her car and running into Coolio's apartment. The woman opens the door to his place and sees Coolio sitting in a chair in a devil outfit, all the while, the chorus is playing. This part of the video gives the watcher the impression that AIDS is evil. Surrounding Coolio are three beautiful women, also in devil clothing. The screen turns upside down, and the music stops. After this, Coolio is seen in the same bed setting as in the first scene of the video. H e awakens in terror, the whole thing was to be a dream. Coolio rolls over and gives the woman a kiss, then grabs a condom and the two disappear in the covers. The camera exits the room and the building's roof is shown in the last scene.
Many people think about AIDS everyday, this video, and others like it allow people to open their mind to the subject when it comes on the television. In today's poll of Most Wanted Videos, this video was number 7. This shows that the younger generatio n is watching. The artist may actually by getting the message of irresponsible sexual consequences across, through reaching broad audiences. In today's world, the ever popular slogan of "Safe Sex or No Sex at all" is constantly being reiterated, this video does just that .