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Jamar Shackelford

ENG Professor

ENG 1201

25 September 2021

Weak

“Can't explain why your love, it makes me weak”, this is a very important quote for both

videos. It explains the message that whoever is the receiver of love has a hard time explaining

why the abundance of love makes them weak, but the word weak is to be interpreted in a good

way. The two songs have almost identical wording, but their audiences and the songs message is

geared in two different directions, this largely has to do with the difference in the song’s genre.

The slightest word differences between the two versions helped set up each song for their

individual target audiences, while also opening up room for other viewers.

The original song Weak by SWV was released in the early 90s. This era is the heart of

the R&B and Hip-Hop merge. There were many love songs released at this time and they are still

listened to by the generations after. Weak was one of the many major hits at the time and has

been covered by many different artists. The rendition Kayne West’s Sunday Service did was a

gospel version.

In the beginning of the original music video one of the singers approach a group of guys

in a warehouse to set up a boxing match between two female fighters. The conversation was very

hostile, but you could tell they had a love/hate rivalry. The video is a bit confusing at first but as

it continues, the story begins to align with the lyrics. The group of girls and the group of guys
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seem to be on separate sides, almost enemy like but somehow, they catch feeling for each other.

The lyrics, “I try hard to fight it” shows how the girls know they shouldn’t be in love with them,

but their feeling are to over powering. Throughout the video clips of two girls (one chosen from

each group) are boxing. These clips help symbolize the two groups fighting each other but also

trying to fight back the love they feel. These clips, along with the other given examples from the

music video helps give reason and supports the claim.

This videos appeal is pathos. The videos message is about love and the tug a war battles

the characters are having with their feelings. Since the video was released in the 90s, the main

audience is for people of that generation. With the song being R&B and sang by an all-girl group

mainly females will gravitate towards this song. The message of the song is about love so the

groups intended audience would be people who has experienced love, more specifically the type

of love described in the song.

The music video by Sunday Service Choir has a more intimate performance feel. The

message of the song is still about love but instead of being about another human, it is about the

love god has for them. The Choir is saying that they cannot explain God’s undying love and how

it makes them surrender to him. This is what the choir means when they sing, “Can't explain why

Your love, it makes us weak” The songs slight lyric changes like from “me” to “we” causes a

major shift in the message of the song and who is telling the story. The Choir is singing on behalf

of themselves and everyone else who believes in the lord. The lyrics are more telling of the

claim made for this video. Unlike the original, the characters do not provide as much context, it

is more about the lyrics.

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This videos appeal is also pathos, the deep feelings behind the words the Choir is singing

appeal to the emotions of the audience. Since this is a gospel song the target audience would be

Christians and people who has love for the lord. This type of gospel music has a HipHop feel and

beat, this type of rendition would target the audience of the original song while also targeting

Hip Hop fans. This song was released over 20 years later so its audience would be a mix of this

generation while also appealing the 90s generation.

“Something 'bout the way You do the things You do, it knocks us right off of our feet”.

These lyrics appear in both versions of the song, yet one is about a man’s actions and the other is

about the Gods. While both music videos have more of the same lyrics, their main message is

meant for different target audiences, this largely has to do with the difference in the song’s genre.

The slightest word differences between the two versions help set up each song for their

individual target audiences, while also opening up room for other viewers.
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Work Cited

“SWV - Weak (Official HD Video)” ,“Youtube.”, uploaded by SWV Official, 4 August 2013,

Date assessed, 25 September 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ddo_y_U__w

“Kanye west sunday service SWV cover” – Weak, “Youtube”, uploaded by kaimitokid, 1 March

2019, Date assessed, 25 September 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=976b8TPPFJU