"Hello
Squirrel"
Jaide Williams
What comes to mind when you think of love? Do you think of long walks on the beach while you and your partner talk about your life goals and dreams? Do you prefer grand gestures of romance or small reminders like love notes in a lunch box? What does love look like to you? Well to me, love looks like acceptance. Acceptance of a person’s assets and strengths, as well as their flaws and weaknesses. Love shouldn’t ask someone to change who they are to receive it, but rather remind them that they deserve love no matter who they are. “Hello” by Erykah Badu, feat Andre 3000, describes what real and true love looks like when given to someone else, unconditional and accepting.
With a creative and euphoric production and a slight touch of futurism, Erykah and Andre use their voices and lyricism to paint a vivid picture of a man and woman reconnecting through a telephone call, after what seems like a long time apart. In Andre’s first rap verse it’s revealed to the listener that he’s reminiscing about the intense love they shared and that he’s nervous she won’t “click over” or return to his call, do to some of their past issues. Erykah then responds with a verse expressing that she’s been thinking about their relationship “for a long, long time,” and that she still thinks of Andre as her man, which he then follows by singing a verse recognizing and showing appreciation for the love she has for him. With harmonies and sultry melodies, they end the song by reminding each other that they never want the other to change and that they always remember they are “free” with each other.
If you’re into r&b and soul, hip-hop, or maybe you enjoy music that carries you off into off into memories that remind you of “the one,” regardless of genre. Whatever your preference may be, if you enjoy music that expresses true love, you’ll enjoy “Hello.”
For those who have similar personalities to mine, sensitive and emotional, music is one of the ways for you to engage and sink into those emotions and sensitivity. When I listen to this song, I think of the people I love and truly accept for who they are, and I think of the people that love me the same. I connect the lyrics to my relationships that are free of judgment, free of preconceived notions of what a person “should” be or how a person “should” act. Relationships that are free of ego, selfish desires, and one-sided perspectives. I also imagine the story the artists are telling about two people that love each so much they remind the other that they are perfect and beautiful just the way they are. As an avid music listener, the lyricism and the word play used to paint vivid pictures are aspects of the song that I appreciate greatly, and leave me inspired to write my own stories of unconditional love and freedom, and tell my own stories about my experiences with being in love. Being in love is beautiful and liberating, and when I listen to “Hello” I experience those exact emotions. I drift off, and my imagination runs away, and I allow my mind to enjoy the feelings and vibrations that come with listening to good music. And “Hello” by Erykah Badu, featuring Andre 3000, is nothing short of good music.