Emily+M+Gatsby

Price Tag by Jessie J.

[] [] The song Price Tag, by Jessie J, best represents Gatsby because of the way she explains that she has to please everyone, and all people care about is money. The first official line of the song is, “Seems like everybody’s got a price.” This shows Gatsby’s need to please people, like Daisy, by making a profit so she will even agree to talk to him. Because Gatsby wants to have a chance with her, he knows he must make a lot of money just to sustain her acceptance. In the book, Nick describes Daisy as being unrealistic and consumed in her own wealth. “For Daisy was young and her artificial world was redolent of orchids and pleasant, cheerful snobbery and orchestras which set the rhythm of the year, summing up the sadness and suggestiveness of life in new tunes,” (Gatsby 158). This relates to the section of the song where it explains that the person they take an interest to in this song can not have a good time at a party because they are too “good” for everyone there. “Got your shades on your eyes and your heels so high that you can’t even have a good time.” This would be Gatsby talking to Daisy at his party because she felt that she was too good for everyone and that they were too low class for her. “She vanished into her rich house, into her rich, full life…,” (Gatsby 157). Another important line is “We need to take it back in time…” Gatsby believes that you can turn back time, and fix everything to be just the way it was before. “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!” (Gatsby 116). He sincerely thinks that Daisy is going to leave Tom for him because of the love they had for each other five years ago was so strong. Unfortunately, Gatsby is living in his “artificial world” and needs to find an escape, which could be his death.

Last Cigarette by Bon Jovi

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The song Last Cigarette, by Bon Jovi, represents the yearning Gatsby has for Daisy, and how much he physically and psychologically needs her. He needs her as much as daily smokers need nicotine. “…got your taste still on my lips.” This line symbolizes that Gatsby will never get over Daisy because she still remains the Daisy he fell in love with five years ago. “He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips’ touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete,” (Gatsby 117). Then Bon Jovi goes on to sing that, “Your love’s like one last cigarette….I will savor it.” Gatsby is explaining, throughout the novel, that he can not take losing her again, and that his love for her still burns like a never ending cigarette. Gatsby likes to prolong everything, making sure he does not lose it, like he almost did Daisy. “‘I’m going to drain the pool today, Mr. Gatsby…….’ ‘Don’t do it today,’ Gatsby answered,” (Gatsby 161). Gatsby delaying the closure of the pool only furthers the argument that he has issues of ending things, especially relationships. In his mind, Daisy is still attainable, like the good weather for the pool. What he fails to realize is that he lost her, and she can not be separated from Tom and his wealth. A Bon Jovi says, “You’re still gone, gone, gone.”

Fly By Nicki Minaj

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The song Fly, by Nicki Minaj, represents Daisy’s quest for the American Dream. Daisy’s quest begins by marrying Tom Buchanan to start her journey for money. Tom came from a wealthy family, assuring Daisy the right support Gatsby could not provide for her at the time. “I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise.” Daisy went toNew York to stay married with Tom; to have someone she knows will take care of her, and to make riches of her own. She knows how to financially take care of herself, but she did not take into account her happiness. “I wish today it will rain all day, Maybe that will kinda make the pain go away, Trying to forget you for abandoning me.” Nicki Minaj states that the rain will numb all pain. “…surprising me by opening up again in a flower-like way…” (Gatsby 24). Because the daisy is obviously symbolizing Mrs. Buchanan, the line tells us that rain makes flowers grow and bloom to be more beautiful than ever. The rain will help her become less depressed from her husband, Tom, abusing her, and cheating on her. She is being abandoned by Tom, psychologically. When Tom leaves forNew York every weekend, Daisy is left with no one, except the child, that loves her, causing her to ignore and resent her child. Also Nicki Minaj goes on to say, “I am not a girl that could ever be defined.” Throughout the book, Daisy is hard to define because her personality changes. In the beginning she is seen as weak, like a withering flower, but towards the end we tend to have no sympathy for her because she does not go Gatsby’s funeral, nor does she even send a flower. “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together…..” (Gatsby 187-188). It shows that she would do anything for the American Dream, even abandon a friend who was too nice to her.