Wings - Macklemore By Trevor Thirsk

What does “I stick out my tongue so everyone can see that logo” mean? This line has 2 meanings for starters it could mean that he sticks out the ‘tongue’ of his shoes to display the logo printed on the top of the tongue, or it could also mean that he literally sticks his tongue out at people to draw attention to himself and his shoes.

Why did his friend Carlos’ brother get murdered for his Fours? ‘Fours’ refer to Air Jordan 4 basketball shoes, a very expensive and sought after shoe. Some models of this shoe are worth up to $25,000 so if Carlos’ brother owned an expensive or rare pair he may have been murdered for them.

What is so bad about being caught between Genesee Park to Othello? Genesee Park to Othello is a rough neighbourhood in Washington. If you were caught in that area wearing expensive shoes or your ‘starter coat’, as it says in the previous verse, then you may be jumped for your gear.

Who is Mike and why does he want to be like him? Mike is referring to Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time, and the creator of Air Jordan, the most iconic basketball shoe brand. Anyone who plays basketball would want to be ‘like Mike’

Who is Phil Knight and how did he trick us all? Phil Knight is the Co-Founder of Nike. Macklemore thinks that he ‘tricked us all’ because Nike was the first brand to start over-inflating their basketball shoe prices, and that created a hype around their shoes because not everyone could afford them.

Song Meaning The song 'Wings' By Macklemore is addressing consumerism and the way that price tags and shoes can begin to define who you are, instead of your personality defining you. People are starting to think you can buy happiness, and every purchase gives them a temporary joy rush. Macklemore’s statement “we are what we wear, and we wear what we are” is becoming too true. People are beginning to covet shoes so much that getting those shoes will enable them to “fly” and to “achieve their dreams”. Brands control their consumers like puppeteers who “pull the strings” and people will do anything for their merchandise. In the end Macklemore says “this dream they sold to you… and now I see it’s just another pair of shoes”. I think this displays how he finally realized that shoes don’t define who you are.

Michael Jordan | Macklemore

$25,000 Air Jordan 4 'UNDFTD'

Othello, Washington