Handelbars by Flobots: Song Analysis by Tori Watkins - Grade 11 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb A rhetorical analysis of the song "Handelbars" by Flobots. This explains the pathos, ethos, and logos of the lyrics and music video. en-us 2018-12-14 15:05:27 UTC 2025-11-01 21:00:45 UTC hello@padlet.com https://image.freepik.com/free-icon/black-music-icon_318-9277.jpg LYRICS 3302431 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/314828956 Link to lyrics]]> 2018-12-14 21:03:41 UTC https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/314828956 Getting Logical: Logos Analysis (Lyrics) 3302431 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/314930554 Some lyrics didn't get me too emotional or help me establish character, they seemed like leftover lyrics. Some of these "leftover lyrics" had a greater purpose in the song, by supporting evidence or making claims. The speaker makes claim saying "I'm proud to be an American." This claims give logical support for the fact that the speaker is from America, and the song could potentially be pointing a finger at American attitude. The speaker also appears to be making logical reasoning throughout the song. An example of this is when the speaker says "Me and my friend made a comic book. And guess how long it took, I can do anything that I want." It appears that the speaker wants to prove his power to the listener, by giving examples and stories from his life (Flobots-Handelbars). ]]> 2018-12-16 01:29:33 UTC https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/314930554 An Authentic Analysis of Ethos: by a credible high school student (Lyrics) 3302431 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/314930560 Since Jamie Laurie isn't the speaker is this song, he has to build the character of who he is speaking for. In this song, Laurie builds the character of a power-hungry person by using an ethos appeal. Ethos can show credibility of speaker, but in this song ethos are used to display personality. Jamie Laurie shows that the character egocentric in the first verse's lyrics: "Look at me, look at me Hands in the air like it's good to be Alive! And I'm a famous rapper Even when the paths are all crookedy." The character is very prideful in themselves and their random feats as shown in the lyrics: "I can show you how to do-si-do, I can show you how to scratch a record, I can take apart the remote control, and I can almost put it back together." The character shows they feel that they are superior and entitled to do whatever he wishes in when he says: "I can do anything that I want cause, look I can keep rhythm with no metronome." Later, Laurie shows that he is speaking for a greedy person when the lyrics say: "I can make money open up a thrift store I can make a living off a magazine." After displaying characteristics of greediness, Laurie also shows that the character has a crave for power when he says "Movers shakers and producers me and my friends understand the future I see the strings that control the systems I can do anything with no assistance cause I can lead a nation with a microphone." The character further describes their obsession with domination in these lyrics: "Look at me driving and I won't stop and it feels so good to be alive and on top/my cause is noble my power is pure." After Laurie builds this highly egotistical power hungry profile, he moves on to show the corrupt side of this person in these lyrics: "I can hand out a million vaccinations, have'em all healed of their lacerations, have'em all killed by assassination/I can make anybody go to prison just because I don't like'em." Finally, Laurie shows that the speaker is a a dangerous threat to society in the lyrics of the last chorus: "I can end the planet in a holocaust" (Flobots-Handelbars).


]]> 2018-12-16 01:29:41 UTC https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/314930560 Powerful Pathos: Pathos Analysis (Lyrics) 3302431 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/314930906 If a person were to turn on the radio and hear the words "I can ride my bike with no handlebars", they will probably laugh. The song sounds kind of silly at first listen, but there is actually deep emotion within the lyrics. This emotional appeal is known as pathos. The author uses pathos by using highly emotional words and imagery. An example of this is found in verse 3 of the lyrics: "I can hand out a million vaccinations Or let 'em all die in exasperation
Have 'em all healed of their lacerations Have 'em all killed by assassination". This part of the song uses vivid language by using the words: die, exasperation, lacerations, killed, and assassination. This language will surely make the listener feel fearful emotions. The emotional appeal isn't heavy in the lyrics, but it is found in the tone. Over the course of the song, Laurie increases his vocal volume and attitude. In the beginning the song is mellow, with a relaxing guitar plucking introduction. The song fairly quiet, but by verse 3, Laurie is loud, angry, and guitarist is strumming with string breaking power. This growth of volume and power will certainly build up emotions in the listener until the end of the song. The emotions are released at the end of the song when the introduction reoccurs as the last line of the song (Flobots-Handelbars). 
]]> 2018-12-16 01:37:50 UTC https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/314930906 INTRODUCTION 3302431 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/314931011 In the song Handelbars by Flobots, the speaker doesn't appear to be the lead singer Jamie Laurie. Instead, Jamie Laurie speaks from the perspective of a corrupt person. He steps into the shoes of a crooked, power hungry individual. Laurie describes his behavior, mindset, and actions as he plays the role of a corrupt person. corrupt speaker displays a boastful tone throughout the song by bragging about achievements and taking pride in power. There is no specific occasion that inspired this song, but after researching the band, it is safe to say that the Flobots are passionate about peace and politics. The article "Flobots' lead singer talks how arts, politics and activism intertwine ahead of Bottleneck show", by Courtney Bierman, explains several political projects in which the Flobots have participated. One major project the group has taken on is the "No Enemies project". This project focuses on gathering communities together to sing protest songs as a way of peacefully protesting different issues (Bierman 1).  The band's targeted audience for this piece is primarily the political activist community as well as fellow protesters. However, Flobots reached out to a larger audience than expected with this song. According to Billboard music charts, Handelbars peaked as the number thirty seven song in August of 2008 (Billboard 1). Because of the song's great commercial success, it has been able to influence a larger audience. The song's purpose is to convince listeners that they should use their power and leadership for good instead of corruption. This message is evident in the video when two friends walk down separate paths. One friend walks down the path of corruption and becomes increasingly obsessive over power, money, and having control over people. ]]> 2018-12-16 01:40:18 UTC https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/314931011 SOAPS DESCRIPTION 3302431 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/314932563 SUBJECT: Handelbars is about the capabilities of mankind. The song addresses the negative and positive ways people can use their powers and capabilities. Some examples of positive ways people can use their powers are found in the lyrics including: "I can show you how to do si do", "I can keep rhythm with no metronome", and "I know how to run a business". There are also negative examples found in the lyrics including: "I can end the planet in a holocaust" (

AUDIENCE: In this song, Flobots targets people who enjoy music with a political meaning. Listeners of this song value democracy and peace. The band want this song to reach people struggling under powerful corporate power and those who protest or strike for their rights.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this piece is to show that people can choose an evil, corrupt path in life; or people can live a peaceful, wholesome life.

SPEAKER: The speaker of the song Handelbars is not Jamie Laurie. Laurie twists his mindset by putting himself into the mind of a power obsessed individual. He refers to himself in the first person in the song, but he is not referring to himself in real life. The speaker is obsessed with power and becomes for evil and intense as the song progresses.

TONE: The tone of this piece is boastful and satisfied (with a dash of humor). Flobots displays a boastful tone in the first line of verse 1 when Laurie says: "Look at me, look at me hands in the air like its good to be alive, and I'm a famous rapper even when the paths are all crooked-y." This is boastful because he is asking for attention while labeling himself as a "famous rapper" (Handelbars Genius).   ]]> 2018-12-16 02:20:12 UTC https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/314932563 Works Cited 3302431 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/315200338 Bierman, Courtney. “Flobots' Lead Singer Talks How Arts
      Politics and Activism Intertwine Ahead of Bottleneck
      Show.” The University Daily Kansan, 7 June 2017,
      www.kansan.com/arts_and_culture/flobots-lead-singer-
      talks-how-arts-politics-and-activism-
      intertwine/article_de93cd9c-4bcb-11e7-9a6f-
      a7947872b5b4.html.

“Flobots Handlebars Chart History.” Billboard, Billboard,         www.billboard.com/music/flobots/chart-history/hot-           100/song/561193.

“Flobots – Handlebars.” Genius, Genius Media Group Inc.,         11 Apr. 2008, genius.com/Flobots-handlebars-lyrics.

Flobots. “Flobots - Handlebars.” YouTube, YouTube, 29 Nov. 
     2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLUX0y4EptA.]]> 2018-12-17 15:24:55 UTC https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/315200338 Video Link 3302431 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/315340109 2018-12-17 20:14:11 UTC https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/315340109 PATHOS (Video) 3302431 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/316180187 A-The two friends hug at 0:23, this could make the viewer feel emotional because they are saying goodbye.
- The video has drab, dark colors that give the video a depressing appeal. The video is animated because the event is not real, but is a theoretical event that could occur as a result of corruption.
- The video shows several homeless people at 2:11. This is pathos because the viewer will have sympathy for those people. This could potentially impact the viewer, by motivating them to help a person in need. 
- The video first shows the peaceful man enjoying the path he took (0:27), even though he isn't rich or powerful. The video shows the rich and unhappy life of the corrupt man (1:10), to show that having money and power isn't as great as it appears.
- At 2:31, the sky becomes black which show that there is impending danger and violence. 
- At the end, there is intense warfare and a lot of blood. This is where the song peaks in intensity of tone and emotion. 
- The former friend of the corrupt man gets shot and killed. At this moment the corrupt man realizes that he has done something extremely wrong and all his power and money cannot replace the life of his lost friend (Flobots).  ]]> 2018-12-20 15:05:53 UTC https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/316180187 ETHOS (Video) 3302431 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/316180391 Ethos can be seen in in several examples...                  1) When the peaceful man with red hair puts an apple back in its bin  and waves at some people, it is evident that he is a caring character. 
3) Later in the video at 2:13, the peaceful man helps another man up. Again, this displays the charismatic character of the man.
4) In contrast to the man with red hair, the other guy in the video builds his character as he is goes down the street in a fancy car throwing his cigarette out the window. This shows that the man is rich and entitled. The corrupt man appears to be anxious and unhappy as he continues to strive for more power. He appears very stiff and serious showing no signs of joy (Flobots). ]]> 2018-12-20 15:06:19 UTC https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/316180391 LOGOS (Video) 3302431 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/316180552 Logo can be seen in the video because the audience can use logic and reasoning to make conclusions the characters and events in the video there are several examples...
1) In the beginning of the video the viewer can guess that the two guys on the bikes are friends.                     2) Another example of logos is when the man is speaking on a microphone with American flags on both sides. The viewer can guess that the man may be a political figure or president.
3) Several well-known symbols are seen in the video including a dove, crow, and corporate symbol. The dove represents peace, the crow represents death, and the corporate logo represents corruption (Flobots). ]]> 2018-12-20 15:06:44 UTC https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/316180552 MY VIDEO ANALYSIS 3302431 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/316334403 YouTube link to video]]> 2018-12-21 03:15:38 UTC https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/316334403 CONCLUSION 3302431 https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/316438286 In conclusion, the song Handelbars by Flobots effectively delivers a message about human capability and corruption. The song is from a first person perspective, which gives the song a deep, personal meaning for the listener and speaker. The song uses pathos to upset the listener, causing them to concern over the issue of corruption. The song effectively stirs the listeners emotions because of the drastic change in tone throughout the song. The music video also taps into the viewer's emotions by showing by showing intense and emotional images of war, death, and friendship. The song successfully uses ethos to show the dangerous characteristics of a power hungry individual by having the speaker talk from a first person perspective. Lastly, logos in the song are present when the speaker wants to prove his power. The logos appeals are less effective when delivering the message of the song, because they don't have a strong emotional effect. Overall, the lyrics and video fulfill the purpose of the song by building a corrupt character and showing how dangerous he is, using imagery and emotion. ]]> 2018-12-21 17:04:30 UTC https://padlet.com/3302431/k3x49u491kbb/wish/316438286