Well I had one crazy weekend at home, but
the plane ride allowed me to sit and brainstorm for an hour an thirty minutes
about how this song relates/supports/refutes the American Dream.
Marina's song mocks the dream in a sense exposing the ridiculous nature of dreamers and the manufactured dream. The song begins with the story of a polish girl "Anya" who blends in with Californians and is in search of a "golden light." One aspect associated with the California Dream is taking a short cut around the American Dream and finding success much more easily. Anya dreams of fame and fortune, and instead of earning it on her own she wants to become a "Hollywood wife." The "golden light" she is searching for could be a trophy wife as she isn't searching for happiness but money. Anya says she wants to become a "Hollywood wife" so she doesn't have to "end up living in a dive on Vine," which seems justified as Vine is infamous for prostitutes lurking on corners. Despite her rationality for wanting to marry into money, the idea refutes the classic California Dream of obtaining succes through your own hard work.
The rest of the song resembles this first part as it tears apart the dream. Marina compares Hollywood to an infection as they are responsible for the desire to live romantic, compelling, interesting lives. People see movies to escape from their own realities, but sometimes the adjustment back to life is so difficult that people refuse to leave their dreamland. The 84th Academy Awards' theme this year is "Celebrate the Movies." Their advertisements consist of memorable movie posters with the phrase "We showed you how to..." suggesting that people learn how to live through movies.
"Hollywood" mocks the California Dream by bringing dreamers back to reality. It supports the dream of wanting to move out here to become rich and famous, but refutes it by exposing the way in which people do so. People believe Los Angeles holds their dreams, but once you get here it is just like any other place.
American dream is the American queen
American queen is the American dreamShe is a polish girl in America
Tall, tanned hot blonde called Anya
I asked her “Why would you want to be a Hollywood wife?”
“Because I don’t wanna end up living in a dive on Vine”
Do anything for a dime
Looking for the golden light
Hollywood infected your brain
You wanted kissing in the rain
Living in a movie scene
Puking American dreams
I’m obsessed with the mess that’s America
I’m obsessed with the mess that’s America
A fat security making plays for me
soon as I touch down in old L.A.
He says “OH MY GOD, YOU LOOK JUST LIKE SHAKIRA
NO, NO! YOU’RE CATHERINE ZETA!”
“Actually, my name’s Marina”
Hollywood infected your brain
You wanted kissing in the rain
Living in a movie scene
Puking American dreams
I’m obsessed with the mess that’s America
I’m obsessed with the mess that’s America
Your mind is just like mine
All filled up with things benign
You’re looking for the golden light
Hollywood infected your brain
You wanted kissing in the rain
Living in a movie scene
Puking American dreams
I’m obsessed with the mess that’s America
I’m obsessed with the mess that’s America
American dream is the American queen
American dream is the American queen
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