Blogocentric Formulations

I could really use a wish right now, wish right now

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DAY 27

Song: "Airplanes"
Artist: B.o.B. featuring Hayley Williams
Album: B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray (2010)

I'll admit that I'm partial to this song because I really, really like the band Paramore and the song features their lead singer Hayley Williams. The other reason this song is so resonant for me is because I found it at a time in my life where I was unemployed, having a hard time finding a job, and wondering if my decision to work in a difficult industry like the entertainment business was worth it. I really identified with the idea of wanting a wish so I could go back to a simpler time when it wasn't always about the glitz and glamour and money.

More importantly, though, is that even B.o.B. is singing about the music - and specifically rap - industry, the lyrics are remarkably relevant to any creative endeavor, including writing. Here are the lyrics courtesy of Azlyrics.com:

[Chorus: Hayley Williams]
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now
Wish right now
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now
Wish right now

[Verse 1: B.o.B]
Yeah, I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this
'Cause after all the partyin' and smashin' and crashin'
And all the glitz and the glam and the fashion
And all the pandemonium and all the madness
There comes a time where you fade to the blackness
And when you starin' at that phone in your lap
And you're hopin' but them people never call you back
But that's just how the story unfolds
You get another hand soon after you fold
And when your plans unravel in the sand
What would you wish for if you had one chance?
So airplane, airplane, sorry I'm late
I'm on my way so don't close that gate
If I don't make that then I'll switch my flight
And I'll be right back at it by the end of the night

[Chorus: Hayley Williams (B.o.B)]
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky are like shooting stars? (Shooting stars)
I could really use a wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars? (Shooting Stars)
I could really use a wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)

[Verse 2: B.o.B]
Yeah, yeah, somebody take me back to the days
Before this was a job, before I got paid
Before it ever mattered what I had in my bank
Yeah, back when I was tryin' to get a tip at Subway
And back when I was rappin' for the hell of it
But nowadays we rappin' to stay relevant
I'm guessin' that if we can make some wishes outta' airplanes
Then maybe yo maybe I'll go back to the days
Before the politics that we call the rap game
And back when ain't nobody listen to my mixtape
And back before I tried to cover up my slang
But this is for the hater, what's up Bobby Ray?
So can I get a wish
To end the politics
And get back to the music
That started this shit?
So here I stand and then again I say
I'm hopin' we can make some wishes outta' airplanes

[Chorus: Hayley Williams (B.o.B)]
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky are like shooting stars? (Shooting stars)
I could really use a wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars? (Shooting stars)
I could really use a wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)

[Outro: B.o.B {Hayley Williams}]
I could really use a wish right now {oh, oh-oh oh}
I-I-I could really use a wish right now
Like, like, like shootin' stars {oh, oh... oh}
I-I-I-I could really use a wish right now
A wish, a wish right now
{A wish right now}

I can't speak for everyone, but there are definitely times in my life where I'm bouncing from project to project, hustling for a paycheck, taking endless meetings, grinding away on one project after another hoping something finally comes together and breaks out... and times where I need to be reminded that writing wasn't always about getting paid for it, or writing something for the largest possible audience. Sometimes I need to write because I love it and write because I have something to say. Sometimes I have to write without a head full of all the logistics and strategies and plans for what to do with it.

Sometimes, I think we have to write just for the sake of the writing itself, and forget all the other background noise.