OutKast – Hey Ya!

My InterpretationThe man is unable to figure out if the girl he's with actually cares for him. He is distressed, and but assures himself it is fine, but he "just don't get it." He discovers her actions, but she doesn't care because she believes "separates always better when there's feelings involved," going so far as to say love is not an exception to the phrase "nothing lasts forever." He then realizes their own denial in their dysfunctional relationship, and doesn't understand why they stay in their relationship when he too does not honor it.

The entire song is sad because he is describing the very real and serious issues that he is dealing with. This pained man, in his attempts to write a song that conveys his feelings, concludes that no one will ever care about his own problems, he is yelling saying how the audience "don't want him here they just wanna dance."

He then lists his superficial relationships, remaining distant so as not to get hurt, finally stating this behavior is perfectly normal,because society glorifies people who are "ice cold." He then re-addresses the superficial and sexual nature of modern society, "shake it, shake, shake it like a Polaroid picture." Contemporary relationships are unable to find meaning because they "shake it," or rather, in their impatience ruin something that could be good. In contrast, past people, like mom and dad, knew how to "stick two together" while they don't know how. He then says they know what to do, meaning they know this and fully embrace what he too has come to accept.

All the while, he has this upbeat instrumental section, existing because it is what the crowd wants, and he knows they'll be happy despite his sad lyrics, thus proving his own claim: the audience doesn't care what you're feeling, they just want to have a good time, and as a musical professional he can't ruin the happy mood. He realizes he's a popular music artist and that people just don't like or understand emotionally meaningful songs, even if it's by someone they like because society is superficial. The saddest part: people truly did think this song was happy and they did glorify it, they thought they "got it," but they "just don't get it," there is "nothing at all."

This song is about the descent of morals and values in respect to relationships, from mom and dad's past generation to the present generation. The man changes himself, trying his best to fit in and meet the quota, however, despite his attempts to convince himself that he does meet the expectation, despite making the song upbeat, despite putting up a smile in front of the crowd, he cannot help but convey his emotion. This all proves that he is truly disheartened in the face of modern expectations: he has lost hope for love, he is losing himself, he does not believe in society.

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  @SeanDaNerd
  +1

  That was beautiful, you are the Andre Whisperer.

  Flag madscience84on November 24, 2013  

  +3

  @SeanDaNerd If that was any deeper, Adele would be rolling in it

  Flag barney1232on February 14, 2015  

General CommentThere's even meaning to "What's COOLER THAN BEING COOL" "ICE COLD"

It's about how love has become completely degraded today. We confuse sex for love, and we don't have real feelings. It's "cool" to NOT SHOW EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT. It's cooler than being cool. Be ice cold, completely emotionally unattached, cuz being a player is way more idealized than being a cool person with a steady girlfriend or boyfriend. All love is today is women showing off our goodies and men idealizing emotional unattachment. This song is deceptively deep. Love it.

Outkast=the shit!

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  @jsaldarriaga86
  0

  Damn that's deep! Outkast really is the shit!

  Flag Cindyloulouon January 28, 2011  

  0

  Brilliant!! We're all so afraid of showing how we feel because it makes us vulnerable. It's much better to be ice cold. To act like you don't care.
  
  Life is short guys! Tell em how you feel today, because you might not get the chance tomorrow.

  Flag thewalker91on March 10, 2013  

General CommentI'm not sure i completely get this song, it's kind of a mix of happy and sad. It's such a good song. I always thought it was a happy happy song, but after being forced to listen to the lyrices, it became so much better, and complex.
To me, it's about the bittersweet side of love, it's great to be in love and you always want it to be like that and force it to be like it is in the movies, but sometimes it just doesn't/won't work ("you think you've got it, but got it just don't get it when there's nothing at all to get"). It's about accepting the inevitability of change ("People say that nothig lasts forever, what makes love an exception?") and acting upon it. I think he knows that the relationship is doomed, and it must be ended before it hurts them both ("separate's always better when there's feelings involved"). He is after all, just being honest.
I don't really understand the bit about ("thank God for Mum and Dad for keeping two together"), but maybe it's like he's taking comfort in the fact that relationships sometimes do progress past the tough periods (if they're made to) and that kind of long term love does exist and is possible.
I love the line "y'all don't want to hear me, y'all just want to dance" because to me it's what the song's about, having fun without thinking about the end, you don't want to hear, just dance, live for the moment.

um, yeah.... I love this song (but probably not forever...)

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  @moomoosnake
  0

  I totally agree i think there is a very bittersweet quality to the song. I def think he is referring to how some relationships, along with many other thigns ins life have to come to an end.

  Flag mdm508on February 22, 2014  

General Commentit's so fucked up that people think just because someone's famous they have the right to say "end your life" if they don't like their music. im assuming you've never met the man you wish death upon? outkast is the shit, but i wouldn't even wish death upon james blunt

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  @MusicIsMyCrack

General CommentHey Ya: a splash of ice-cold water

[Intro]
One two three go!

[Verse One - Andre 3000]
"My baby don't mess around
Because she loves me so
And this I know fo shooo.."
- Knowing that the girl loves and wants to be committed to the guy, thus she is being loyal to him.

"Uh, But does she really wanna
But can't stand to see me
Walk ou the dooo.."
- The guy is doubting the girl's intentions. He thinks the girl is not happy to be loyal to him, though he knows that the girl is sad when he leaves. In short; he thinks the girl doesn't want to have an exclusive relationship, but she doesn't want the guy to leave.

"Don't try to fight the feelin'
Because the thought alone is killing me right nooww.."
- He doesn't want to feel; because he is afraid about what he has thought.

"Uh, thank god for mom and dad
For sticking through together
'Cause we don't know hooowww...
UH!"
- He has gained insights from parental relationships and what has happened before.

[Verse Two - Andre 3000]
"You think you've got it
Ohh, you think you've go it
But got it just don't get it
Till' there's nothing at
AaaaaaaaAAAAAAAaaaaaaAAAAAAaaaaaallllll.."
- Illusion sets in at the first stages of a romantic/sexual relationship, but then reality sets in. Love runs out and emotions fade.

We've been together
"Ohh, we've been together
But seperate's always better when there's feelings
InvooooooOOOOOOOoooooooOOOOOOooooooOOOOOlved"
- Clashing of emotions/personalities, constant fights. Being away from each other increases one's love for one another, because fights stop, longing increases, and imaginations run wild.

"If what they say is ("Nothing is forever")
Then what makes, Then what makes, Then what makes
Then what makes, Then what makes LOOVVEEE?
(Love exception) "
- An illusion so many cling desperately to is that LOVE IS FOREVER. tsk tsk.

"So why you, why you
Why you, why you, why you are we so in denial
When we are not happy heeeerrreeee..."
- Acceptance of the fact that being in the relationship only creates loneliness, perhaps because of unattainable ideals.

"Y'all don't want me here you just wanna dance"
- Acknowledging the fact that people don't usually consider the message of the song; they only want to groove to the music.

[Chorus]
"Heeeyyy... Yaaaaaaa.. (OHH OH)
Heeyy Yaaaaaaaa.. (OHH OH)
Heeeyyy... Yaaaaaaa.. (Don't want to meet your daddy, OHH OH)
Heeyy Yaaaaaaaa.. (Just want you in my Caddy OHH OH)
Heeeyyy... Yaaaaaaa.. (OHH OH, don't want to meet yo' mama OHH OH)
Heeyy Yaaaaaaaa.. (Just wan't to make you cumma OHH OH)
Heeeyyy... Yaaaaaaa.. (I'm, OHH OH I'm, OHH OH)
Heeyy Yaaaaaaaa.. (I'm just being honest OHH OH, I'm just being honest)"
- Being aloof in the relationship, perhaps to avoid unpleasant situations; being honest means not playing games, which is a good thing in certain aspects

[Bridge - Andre 3000]
"Now what's cooler than bein' cool?
(ICE COLD!)"
- This gives me the shivers. Wanting total detachment.

"Shke it, shake it like a Poloroid Picture, shake it, shake it
Shh you got to, shake it, shh shake it, shake it, got to shake it
(Shake it Suga') shake it like a Poloroid Picture"
- Shake it off; not be affected by emotions
- Picture: A focus on appearances

[Verse Three - Andre 3000 (Repeating "Shake it" in background)]
"Now while Beyonc and Lucy Lui:
And baby dogs, get on the floor"
- concentrating on the physical

"(Get on the floor)
You know what to dooo..
Yooooouuu.. know I do"
- concentrating on actions; subduing emotions
- Effect: gives a feeling of power

Summary: The song describes being logical and thinking about what happens in relationships. The singer decides that the best thing to do to avoid unpleasant emotions and situations, is to be detached. The song is also about being honest about basic urges and seeking freedom from manipulation and dependency. The song acknowledges the fact that love and emotions fade, and it is impractical to stick together when happiness is gone. That is why people should just enjoy one another and not complicate things.

I recommend this song for those who constantly seek love, when all they need is sex and a healthy self-esteem

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  @9tubes3tubules

General CommentI beilve Andre 3000 said that he wrote this song about the difficulties of romace and relationships. However, realizing the beat was so good he figured people would dance to it even though it's not putting romance and such in a good light, hence the line: "ya'll don't wanna hear me, ya'll just wanna dance."

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  @herrera152

General CommentTHIS SONG KICKS ASS AND TAKES NAMES! LMFAO! :D

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  @megalli

General CommentMan , this song is awesommmeeeeee!! It's the best song! It has such a good beat....and that "shake it" part kicks ass!
This is definitely the best song of 2004!

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  @BrazilianBoy

General CommentI don't mean this in a confrontational way, but I think it is ironic that rainbow said they don't care what the song is about. "Y'all don't want to hear me, you just want to dance." And I have to agree.

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  @eokram

General CommentThe last album(s) were the wackest shit outkast ever did.

Don't y'all love it when people think all rap is about girls, guns and richez? Motherfuckas need to start viewing this shit as a CULTURE rather than the GIMMICK the record industries rape you wit

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  @Guerillabaabaa