Running head: RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF “SAME LOVE” 1

Rhetorical Analysis of “Same Love” and Macklemore’s Message

Lesly Gordillo Santoyo

Arizona State University

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF “SAME LOVE” 2

Abstract Commented [LGS(1]: Didn’t include anything about

music video. Is that okay?
Macklemore’s “Same Love” is examined for rhetoric throughout this analysis. The essay breaks Commented [LG2]: Throughout the entire essay, use
present tense to make the essay sound more authoritative,
down specific parts of the lyrics that display the rhetorical appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos. confident, and strong.
Commented [LG3]: Delete this.
Kairos is also identified as the message of the song is an intense subject spoken at the time that

Macklemore released it. Instrumentally, the musical sounds that the song introduces are key

details that enhance the songs message. “Same Love” was composed by Ben Haggarty, Mary

Lambert, and Ryan Lewis, creating a masterpiece that was significant for its time. Macklemore,

being the leader and rapper of the song, generated the idea of forming this song to communicate

directly to the LGBT community. He clearly states that he is pro-gay marriage. The essay sums

up the fact that the song was well produced for its audience and time period, impacting a

nationwide issue demanding for equality and freedom. Commented [LGS(4]: Does it properly summarize the
essay?
Keywords: gay marriage, Macklemore, “Same Love,” LGBT community, message, ethos,

pathos, logos
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF “SAME LOVE” 3

All 50 states of the United States of America permitted same-sex marriage in the summer Commented [LGS5]: Legalized instead of permit? During
the summer instead?
of 2015, a change that has shaped the society as it is today (Gates and Brown, 2015). The LGBT,

or lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, community had been subordinated to the point where

a majority of the members would stay in the “closet,” until around the 21st century. The year

2011 was a year of dramatic change when the closet doors were opened, and the LGBT

community finally made their voices heard, wanting their freedom to marry a person of the same

gender. However, this issue became a controversial topic that had strong opposing sides. The Commented [LG6]: Careful with the chronology. Look at
the dates, 2011 before 2015. Seems confusing.
debate to allow same-sex marriage lasted four years, with many opposers having attempted to

cease same-sex marriage from being legalized. Advocates for same-sex marriage were louder

than the opposers and successfully contributed to the legalization. Ben Haggerty, commonly

known by his stage name Macklemore, was one of those advocates. Commented [LGS(7]: Thesis?
Commented [LG8]: Combine these two sentences.
The song, “Same Love,” was written by Macklemore, Mary Lambert, and Ryan Lewis,

but this was the most emotive to Macklemore. Having gay uncles and a gay godfather, this song

was personal to Macklemore (Corner, 2013). Macklemore displayed his ethos to show that even

though he himself is not gay, he supports gay marriage especially since some of the closest

people he knows are gay. This type of information could have been kept private if he wanted to,

but Macklemore exposed his reality to show that he could be trusted as a well-known singer that

his intentions for writing the song are authentic, and that he was on the LGBT community’s side. Commented [LGS9]: Necessary?

Macklemore clearly declared that his uncles and godfather “are a big reason why [he is] so

passionate about this issue” (Corner, 2013).

Moreover, Macklemore proclaimed that he strives to be a unique artist. He wants to touch

on subjects that many other singers will not usually discuss about since certain topics can be

edgy. Gay marriage was an issue at the time, and Macklemore wanted to present his viewpoint
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF “SAME LOVE” 4

on this matter through a song. Through ethos, Macklemore raps “Same Love” in first-person to

exhibit that he is moved by this issue. According to Casey McNerthney (2013), Macklemore

“wrote the song out of frustration with hip hop's position on homosexuality” and wanted to make

a change simply for that.

In the music industry, hip hop interpreted the term “gay” to indicate cowardice and

inferiority. Macklemore inserted two stanzas that argued how this genre is using “gay” blindly.

He used pathos and logos throughout this section of the song to advise the audience that it is

common for people to quickly type “gay” without even paying attention to what it truly signifies,

though this is not morally correct. Referring to the irrational use of the term, Macklemore

criticized hip hop for carelessly spreading more hate and feeding on the perspective of the

offensive meaning. Commented [LG10]: Add evidence why hip hop has to do
with pathos and logos. Put in lyrics.
Immediately, on the first line of the song, Macklemore points out that “[w]hen [he] was

in the 3rd grade, [he] thought that [he] was gay” (Haggerty, Lambert, & Lewis, 2012). As if

trying to connect to the LGBT community, Macklemore asserts that he once thought he liked

males. He shows his credibility by describing his past experiences with what he used to think

about his sexual orientation and the confusion one might go through when confronting a moment

like his. He had believed that generalizations such as able to draw and maintaining his room

clean were not the common ways for a young boy to possess. Macklemore also implied that

since his uncles were gay, that this would influence him as a child and make him gay as well.

At the national level, Macklemore, plays with words to display that America is not

exactly living up to its motto. The rapper sprinkles religion throughout the song, saying that the

United States of America played God during such a critical time. Yet, America forgot that “God

loves all of his children” including lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender, as Macklemore
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF “SAME LOVE” 5

metaphorically put it (Haggerty, Lambert, & Lewis, 2012). Although, this country was acting the

way it was because “America the brave still fears what we don’t know,” meaning that the

unexpected does not receive welcoming reactions.

Mary Lambert’s chorus was a crucial part of the song that revealed ethos, pathos, and

logos simultaneously. If this segment of the song was sung by a male, it would not have the same

meaning as Lambert gave it. Lambert is a lesbian singer, and as she sings this portion of the

song, one can imagine that a woman feels affection and comfort towards another woman when

she says “[m]y love, [s]he keeps me warm” (Haggerty, Lambert, & Lewis, 2012). This gives

credibility that “Same Love” was speaking and connecting to the LGBT community. Jointly,

Lambert’s chorus conveyed the thoughts of an LGBT member through logic and emotion, stating

that they “can’t change, even if [they] tried, even if [they] wanted to” (Haggerty, Lambert, &

Lewis, 2012). A gay person can think about wanting and trying to change, but many find it

difficult to do so as it is a mental effect. Lambert’s 10 lines can especially become sentimental

for a gay person to relate.

Overall, the song maintains a calm tone, releasing Lambert’s melodic chorus.

Macklemore did not intend to dispute with anyone. He did use passive aggressive lyrics to talk to

the common people, but Macklemore’s audience was more targeted toward the LGBT

community to display his support for their freedom to choose whomever they would like to

marry. Macklemore rapped to peacefully discuss gay marriage. The more obvious instruments

supplemented the tranquil tone of “Same Love.” The piano was the major tool used to enhance

the composed message of a delicate issue. While the drums were more constant, the piano did no

have a specific pattern to the rhythm. Rather, it maintained steady and mostly added emotion to

the song. The trombone also augmented the jazzy feeling presented when at a café, though this
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF “SAME LOVE” 6

instrument was played for small, specific parts of the song. All instruments contributed to the

calm tone that the lyrics presented. It matched perfectly. Commented [LGS11]: No opinions?

Kairos is well distributed around this song. “Same Love” was composed during a time

where gay rights were of great concern, and Macklemore took advantage of this opportune

moment. Since this issue was the highlight for several months, it would be the content that would

present itself on the news and throughout people’s conversations. Society would need to listen to

Macklemore’s “Same Love” as it was relevant to the pressing matter of gay marriage. Commented [LG12]: Same with the hip hop paragraph,
insert evidence and examples of the lyrics to prove Kairos.
This will help with the following paragraph.
“Same Love” not only captured peoples’ attention because of the composition and the

time period that it was released, but also about the main singer behind the song’s creation.

Macklemore released “Thrift Shop” before “Same Love”, and he became popular through this

song. During the Grammy Awards of 2013, “Thrift Shop” won the Best Rap Performance. This

exhibits that Macklemore is a credible rapper, influencing his later productions. “Thrift Shop,” as

Macklemore’s first hit single, helped him to attract his listeners into appeal to “Same Love”

through ethos.

Being the rapper that he aspired to be, Macklemore exposed reality through some

powerful songs. Macklemore examined topics that no other artist had attempted to. The year

2013 was a successful year for the LGBT community, with the aid of the well-known singer,

Macklemore. Gay rights was a subject that Macklemore felt empowered to rap about. His song

spoke about pro-gay marriage and he felt the need to be by the LGBT community’s side. With

his encouragement, people became more accepting. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender

people were able to celebrate the freedom that they had been fighting for. Macklemore’s
message spread equality and peace, succeeding in a change that has helped this world evolve into
a better place.
Commented [LGS(13]: Is flow of paper nice? Does it look
all over the place?
Commented [LGS(14]: Vague, all over the place.
Intent was to describe the message of macklemore’s song
and its success to contributing to the gay-marriage law, but
more like the acceptance as society has evolved into.insert
something about his use of rhetoric being creative and wise.
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF “SAME LOVE” 7

References

Corner, L. (2013, May 15). “Macklemore talks about his gay anthem 'Same Love': 'It's

personal'.” Retrieved February 4, 2018 from

http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a481751/macklemore-talks-about-his-gay-anthem-

same-love-its-personal/

Gates, G. J., & Brown, T. N. T. (2015). Abstract in Marriage and Same-sex Couples after

Obergefell. Retrieved February 4, 2018 from http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-

content/uploads/Marriage-and-Same-sex-Couples-after-Obergefell-November-2015.pdf

Macklemore Ryan Lewis (2018). Grammy Awards. Retrieved February 4, 2018 from

https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/macklemore-ryan-lewis Commented [LGS(15]: How to cite?

McNerthney, C. (2013, April 10). “Mary Lambert: The voice behind Macklemore's 'Same

Love'.” Retrieved February 4, 2018 from http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Mary-

Lambert-The-voice-behind-Macklemore-s-Same-4422552.php

https://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/politics/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling/index.html

[didnt use but should?]

https://www.deltacollege.edu/emp/pwall/documents/SameLove.pdf [lyrics to the song in case of

citation]

Wikipedia for release date of thrift shop

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF “SAME LOVE” 8

“Same Love”

When I was in the 3rd grade

I thought that I was gay
Cause I could draw, my uncle was
And I kept my room straight
I told my mom, tears rushing down my face
She's like, "Ben, you've loved girls since before Pre-K!"
Tripping, yeah, I guess she had a point, didn't she?
A bunch of stereotypes all in my head
I remember doing the math, like
"Yeah, I'm good at little league"
A pre-conceived idea of what it all meant
For those that like the same sex had the characteristics
The right-wing conservatives think it's a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man-made, rewiring of a pre-disposition, playing God
Ahh, nah, here we go
America the brave still fears what we don't know
And "God loves all his children" is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written thirty-five hundred years ago
I don't know
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
If I was gay I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the YouTube comments lately?
"Man, that's gay" gets dropped on the daily
We've become so numb to what we're saying
Our culture founded from oppression
Yet we don't have acceptance for 'em
Call each other faggots
Behind the keys of a message board
A word rooted in hate
Yet our genre still ignores it
"Gay" is synonymous with the lesser
It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion
Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF “SAME LOVE” 9

The same fight that led people to walk-outs and sit-ins

It's human rights for everybody, there is no difference
Live on! And be yourself!
When I was in church they taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service, those words aren't anointed
That Holy Water that you soak in has been poisoned
When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same but that's not important
No freedom til we're equal
Damn right I support it
I don't know
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
We press play, don't press pause
Progress, march on!
With a veil over our eyes, we turn our back on the cause
'Til the day that my uncles can be united by law
Kids are walking around the hallway
Plagued by pain in their heart
A world so hateful
Some would rather die
Than be who they are
And a certificate on paper
Isn't gonna solve it all
But it's a damn good place to start
No law's gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever god you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear, underneath, it's all the same love
About time that we raised up!
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
 RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF “SAME LOVE”
10

Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
Love is patient, love is kind
Love is patient (not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind (not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient (not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind (not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient (not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind (not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient (not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind (not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient (not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind (not crying on Sundays)