'Hey Ya!' is a Magnum Opus of 21st Century Pop Music

My first memory of really hearing this song is playing Just Dance 2; my friend and I had the dance to 'Hey Ya!'  memorized and we would do it at school dances and other adolescent events we attended. Now that I am invested in music in such a different way as a producer, songwriter, and artist, every time I hear this song I am in awe and slight envy of its genius. 

Released in 2003 by duo OutKast featuring André 3000 (who wrote, produced, and performed the song) and Big Boi, 'Hey Ya!' was a hit at the time reaching number one in multiple countries, being the first song to reach one million downloads on iTunes, and had a slew of accolades thrown at it including a Grammy win for Best Urban/Alternative performance and a nomination for Record of The Year.

I think 'Hey Ya!'  is a song that everyone should listen to as a casual music listener, a non-casual music listener, a writer, a producer, an artist, really anyone with ears and any kind of care for music. It is a cultural relic and a lesson in rich and layered pop music in a way you don't often find.

Let us begin.

I believe that the root of the magic of this song lies in the fact that upon first, second, third, or more listens, you can easily miss what's being said. 'Hey Ya!' is a song that begs to be danced and shook ass to while the lyrics are a devastating plea to understand and eulogize lasting love and commentate on relationships in modern times; this collectively flew over the heads of everyone. I am very much someone who dials into and notices lyrics first thing when I hear a song, but this is one of the few songs where it absolutely cleared my head for the first I don't know how many times I listened to the song. I only realized how devastating it was when I heard a cover with devastating production to match. My realization somehow felt like life-changing information, this feeling of archeological discovery where I'd found something that had been missed by everyone prior, though I was not the first nor fastest to put two and two together.  I have to assume people must relate in some way because the song is widely acknowledged to be one of, if not the best song of the era.

Now, the GENIUS of the song lies in the premature awareness that André seemed to have had during the creation of the song of the fact that the woeful lyrics would fly over the heads of absolutely everyone at first. There is almost this breaking of the fourth wall after the second verse, André 3000 says "Y'all don't wanna hear me, you just wanna dance", which is almost eerie in a playful sort of way in its foreshadowing and plays with this reverse dramatic irony where he knows something that we as the audience don't know. The song then gives in to this thought and to its audience, prompting everyone to shake it like a Polaroid picture along to this song of deep confusion, heartbreak, and hopelessness.

The production, so sonically full and sprinkled with delicious ear candy, acts as this sort of distraction or deflection from the true nature of the song at its core.  This contrast acts as the perfect blanket to throw over this deeply depressing thing at the center of it, but once you hear it, you realize the blanket is a sheer veil. I imagine this character trying to genuinely express this dismal feeling, trying to understand why love can be so painful, empty, and temporary; genuinely wanting an answer but still hiding behind this shield of play, fun, and humor like many of us do in times of vulnerability.

If 'Hey Ya!' was released as this slow and mournful song, lamenting loss of love and the belief in it through lyric and production choices, it would make a point, but not the point. In turn, it wouldn't have the same power, genius, and longevity that the song possesses. So much of what is being communicated can only be told through the totally opposite lyrics and production giving the listener this extended and intimate experience with the song. 

You can listen to this song for the first time, multiple times, and I think that's pure magic and deeply rare.