The Strength Of Wealth In Macklemore's Song 'Wings'

Imagine you are in a store about to buy a pair of shoes. No matter how much money
you may have, the ones you want are to most expensive new Nike, Jordan, or Adidas
shoes. Why does everyone yearn to show off how “rich” they are with these false portrayals
of wealth? This question is addressed in the song “Wings”, written by Macklemore and
Ryan Lewis. In this ballad the listener is taken back to when Macklemore, a young and
impressionable child, was seven and purchased a new pair of shoes to show off at school.
Then he reflects on how he was sucked in by the modern consumer world. This song is
about how people are more than what they wear and one’s worth should be based on who
they are as a person. Also one should avoid falling in the trap of

buying unneeded
materialistic goods.
One may believe that the only way to fit in with everyone is to have the best new
clothes or shoes. Young Macklemore thought the same thing. In his song he says, “My
friends couldn't afford ‘em, four stripes on their Adidas.” He is referencing the off brand of
Adidas because they have four stripes instead of three. Also, he feels like he is better than
all of his friends because he has the most expensive Jordan basketball shoes.

Even name
brands can cause children not to be happy with who that are. Macklemore mentions,
“Wanted to be him, I wanted to be that guy, I wanted to touch the rim, I wanted to be cool,
and I wanted to fit in, I wanted what he had…” Here he is rapping about wanting to be
Michael Jordan instead of himself. People, and children especially, may start to believe
that having the most expensive pair of shoes will transform them into a better basketball
player. Although, one can only become a better basketball player through hard work and
dedication, and not just having the most expensive shoes on or off the court.
Towards the end of “Wings” Macklemore realizes how caught up he was in the
materialistic world and calls for others to try and not make the same mistake as him. Even
an inanimate brand can control one's brain and ruin their life. The rapper states, “Look at
what that swoosh did. See it consumed my thoughts. Are you stupid, don’t crease ‘em, just
leave ‘em in that box. Strangled by these laces, laces I can barely talk…” Here, he is saying
how the shoes had taken over his life. One should not ruin their self health for any

fashion
trend. It’s not worth the time, money, or heartache, and he even states that a consumer who
purchases shoes like this should not even take them out of the box. Also, that one should
certainly not wear them. Finally, Macklemore has come to a conclusion that changes his life
for the better. He says, “For a hundred dollars and some change, consumption is in the
veins, and now I see it’s just another pair of shoes” and the song fades to an end, leaving
the listener with chills down their back and goosebumps on their forearms. This quote
shows that Macklemore has realized how ridiculous it is to measure one’s self worth by the
shoes they walk in. Instead, one should be measured on how they act while they walk, how
they carry themselves, and how they touch other people’s lives on their journey through this
world.
In conclusion, people paralyzed by the material word need to step back in their life
and take time to count their blessings. One doesn't need the next new product to fit in. The
people who have good souls will accept others for who they are, and not what they wear or
own. One should never be worried whether the shoes on their feet are nice enough to help
them achieve their dreams, because it is about the steps one takes toward their dreams,
not what their steps are taken in.