There is always much controversy over the topic of homosexuality. There will always be that one person who stands against everything a homosexual does. Mass media has tried to change this. An attempt was made with a fourth single released by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis in 2012, called "Same Love," a rap song solely designed and released to promote the acceptance of same-sex marriage. This is not the first time a celebrity uses fame to spread a message addressing social change, but it is of the strongest and most persuasive. It's pure. No cussing, and very minute use of AAVE, unlike the large majority of the music he is known for.
The lyrics of the song boast a lot of depth and unusually sophisticated vocabulary for a rap song, and the video, approximately 7 minutes in length, also plays quite a significant part of depicting the message visually. The song begins where Macklemore shares the thoughts he experienced regarding homosexuality in his childhood. "When I was in the third grade, I thought that I was gay because I could draw...I told my mom, tears rushing down my face." He knew of stereotypically homosexual actions that he found himself doing as a kid, and was therefore worried. He thought of the idea stereotypically as a child, and the lyrics continue, mentioning that he had "a preconceived idea of what it all meant."
This is in sync with the film, as it opens with the birth of an average child, and continues to show the stages of growth and how he slowly realises he's true identity. Macklemore talked about how he failed to fully understand this kind of identity, and what it's like to be gay. Similar is the case for most people today. He reflects this lack of understanding in one of the lines soon following. "The right wing conservatives think it's a decision." Most straight people don't understand what it's like, and that particular line also stresses the idea that being homosexual and feeling attraction towards people of the same gender is not a choice. This is further emphasised in the chorus, sung three times within the song. "I can't change, even if I tried, even if I wanted to." It reflects that people of that particular nature do not necessarily want to be the way they are, yet they cannot change.
After the first chorus, he talks about the associations we now make with the word gay. "A word rooted in hate, yet our genre still ignores it." He addresses how changes have not been made. There is still hatred behind a word that used to mean the complete opposite decades before. Macklemore also mentions the common yet negative use of the word on social media. "Have you read the YouTube comments lately." He then argues that similar hatred has sparked wars and acts of racism. "It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion, gender to skin colour..." After this build up of the second verse, and the video continuing underneath depicting the difficulties of a man, now grown up, trying to find acceptance in humanity, the verse goes on and says "Live on and be yourself." Towards the end of the verse, Macklemore says the words "No freedom till we're equal, damn right I support klit." To help put these words into clearer perspective, the video at this point shows Macklemore himself raising the gay pride flag, showing the audience that he is in true support of same-sex marriage, and leaves the thinking to the viewers.
The problems have been stated, and after the chorus is repeated a second time, he comes to the punch line. He gives encouragement for homosexual to "progress" and "march on." At this point in the video, the man proposes, and the scene of the wedding day is the main focus. He then also encourages the rest, with no one excluded, as he signifies through the line "whatever god you believe in," to rise up and make a change. "A certificate on paper isn't gonna solve it all, but it's a damn good place to start." Later in the video, as the final repetition of the chorus is heard, the wedding ceremony is shown, where Macklemore is seen within the crowd of people, further portraying his support of same-sex marriage.
Macklemore States the problems, the mistakes that we make by judging homosexuals, and effectively describes the struggles that gay people may go through. He uses these as persuasive devices to help encourage the target audience (everyone) to support same-sex marriage, and support the people who are trying to stand up for their rights.
