By Saul Myhre, Alliance Intern from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities
When Childish Gambino (AKA Donald Glover) sings Feels Like Summer, he’s not just talking about feel-good, warm, relaxing days — he’s actually calling out the global challenges we’re facing. As a member of Gen Z who has grown up amidst a looming eco-anxiety permeating our culture, Glover provides a great perspective regarding our society.
In his music video, Glover features both beloved and controversial Hip-Hop artists such as Beyonce and Kanye West over the backdrop of his topical beat and melancholy lyrics. He critiques the focus of American media on celebrities amidst climate catastrophes, such as our honeybee population collapse (see verse 2). He then powerfully summarizes the internalized fear of a generation with the weight of a burning world on their shoulders: “Seven billion souls that move around the sun, Rolling faster, fast and not a chance to slow down.”
[Chorus]
You can feel it in the streets
On a day like this, the heat
It feel like summer
I feel like summer
I feel like summer
You can feel it in the streets
On a day like this, the heat
I feel like summer
She feel like summer
This feel like summer
I feel like summer
[Verse 1]
Seven billion souls that move around the sun
Rolling faster, fast and not a chance to slow down
Slow down
Men who made machines that want what they decide
Parents tryna tell their children please slow down
Slow down
[Refrain]
I know
Oh, I know you know that pain
I’m hopin’ that this world will change
But it just seems the same
(It feels like the same)
[Chorus]
You can feel it in the streets
On a day like this, the heat
It feels like summer
(I feel like summer)
I feel like summer
(I feel like summer)
I feel like summer
[Verse 2]
Every day gets hotter than the one before
Running out of water, it’s about to go down
Go down
Air that kill the bees that we depend upon
Birds were made for singing
Waking up to no sound
No sound
[Refrain]
I know
Oh, I know you know my pain
I’m hopin’ that this world will change
But it just seems the same
I know
Oh, I hope we change
I really thought this world could change
But it seems like the same
[Outro]
I know
Oh, my mind is still the same
I’m hoping that this world will change
But it just seems the same
I know
Oh, I hope we change