Song Analysis of Counting Stars by OneRepublic Essay Example

Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player ever, once said, “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed”. Jordan talks about his perseverance as seen in the song in the song, “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic. The main singer of

OneRepublic is battling drug abuse and is trying to persevere through his regret and disappointment to please himself and those he loves. During the downtimes, you can persevere and come back on top because of the lessons you learned on the way. The listener sees this theme come out when the motif of his regret of poor choices. The listener also sees them through the use of craft moves, alliteration, and metaphors.

OneRepublic sings about perseverance when he sings about his regret of poor choices. OneRepublic sang, “Take that money, watch it burn/Sink in the river the lessons I've learned”(OneRepublic, lines 80-81 ). This quote was sung in the chorus which means he is constantly bringing it back up. When he is talking about money he is noticing that the choices he made are quickly depleting him of money. At this moment, “Sink in the river the lessons I’ve learned” he recognizes he has the tools to persevere back on top. This relates to the theme because he is at a downtime and is recognizing that he has the tools to persevere back on top.

In addition to including motifs around the song to hint at the theme, OneRepublic uses alliteration to express their theme. Alliteration is seen when the artist sings, “But baby i've been, i've been praying hard”(OneRepublic, line 3). Most of the words have the sound “B” which is smooth and pleasing to the reader’s ear. When he is singing this he is saying it in a deep and depressing voice. His deep voice is hinting he is at a low point in life. This alliteration is helping prove by smoothly showing how he is coping with his struggles and how he needs to persevere.

While some people interpret this alliteration to be a coincidence that there are multiple B’s it is more likely that the author used the B’s on purpose because there are many words and ways he could have shortened this line and excluded the B’s. The B’s are proving the theme because when he sings, “But baby” is showing that he has been trying this for a long time and that is an ineffective way of fixing his mistakes. Proving is which he is at a low point in life and using perseverance is better than praying which is not working.

Along with alliteration, OneRepublic uses metaphors to hint at a growing theme. The listener sees a metaphor when the band sings, “I feel your love and I feel it burn”(OneRepublic, line 32). This metaphor means he is feeling bad for hurting one of his loved ones. This metaphor hints that he is at a low point in life because he is hurting. The metaphor helps prove the theme because of the fact that he is recognizing he is in pain and can persevere to overcome his struggles.

OneRepublic shows you whenever you are at a low point in your life you can persevere and get back on top because of all of the lessons you have experienced. The theme is shown in the motif, regret of poor choices. We see the theme through the clever usage of alliteration, metaphors, and the motif of perseverance. “Counting Stars” prepares the listener for the tough times ahead, and that using your previous experiences is your best way to regain your footing in life.