If you care at all about hip-hop, you probably know that Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was released on Monday. Being the unabashed fan that I am, I grabbed the album as soon as it came out and immediately began listening to it. It was an important moment for me as 2010 comes to a close.
As I played the album on repeat over the next few days, a thought occurred to me: “I can make a column out of this!”
Now, I’m no music writer, nor will I pretend to be. But the more I thought about it, the more I began to realize that this album serves as a perfect symbol of the Oregon football season so far.
Wait, wait. Don’t turn away in disgust just yet. It sounds crazy, but hear me out. I’m going to break this down track by track, and by the end it will all make perfect sense. (Some tracks, like “Monster,” had to be omitted for practical reasons. When Jay-Z is rapping about “goblins” and “ghouls,” it’s a little hard to connect back to Oregon football).
Dark Fantasy: “I fantasized ‘bout this back in Chicago.”
Being that I share a hometown with Kanye, I had a sudden flashback while listening to this song. I remembered watching Cubs games in the summer, desperately hoping for a World Series title. I remembered approaching every Bulls season hoping they would finally shake off the Jordan rust. I dreamt of championship glory, and now here we are, two games away from a national championship bid (knocking on wood). In a few weeks, fantasy could be a reality.
Gorgeous: “I need a happy ending and a new beginning.”
That about sums up how LaMichael James felt going into this season, no? After that tumultuous offseason and one-game suspension, James certainly needed a new beginning. 18 touchdowns and one Pacific-10 all-academic honor later, James has made the best of that clean slate. Two more wins, and that happy ending could come in the form of a national championship. Plus, how else can you describe that 72-yard run against Tennessee besides, well, “gorgeous”?
All of the Lights: “If you want it, you can get it for the rest of your life.”
Not to be overly dramatic, but this team has a chance to do something this year that people will never forget. Personal accolades and gaudy offensive statistics eventually fade away, but championships live on forever (unless, of course, you attend USC). It’s a little corny, but completely true. We could be witnessing history with this team.
So Appalled: “How should I begin this? I’m just so offended.”
This song is awarded to the defense, which has been repeatedly cast aside as the “weak link” of Oregon’s team. To that, I reply, “In what regard, exactly?” The unit ranks first in the Pac-10 in scoring defense (17.2 points per game), while also leading in total defense and pass defense efficiency. Not to mention that, had the defense not stepped up, Oregon’s national championship hopes could have been dashed at California two weeks ago. If you don’t believe in these players yet, they have a song to play you.
Hell of a Life: “Grab my hand / Baby we’ll live a hell of a life.”
Because this song is about marrying a porn star, we’re treading dangerous waters here. But you can grab enough meaning from the song’s title alone. Watching this team week in and week out, I’ve often thought about how lucky I am to cover them. There have been some struggles recently, but the Ducks are still immensely fun to watch, and provide a writer’s dream in terms of entertaining content. Specifically, I recall standing on the sidelines while James dashed by me for his nail-in-the-coffin touchdown against Stanford. Hell of a life, indeed.
See Me Now (Bonus Track): “I know you see me now, right now.”
The final spot in this breakdown is reserved for none other than Cliff Harris. Given his observation that he is the “cheese” on the nachos that are the Oregon football team, it only makes sense that he finds himself as a bonus track. Watching him has, indeed, been like an extra addition to an already fantastic season. Whether he’s returning an interception, chucking the ball across the field to a teammate on a punt return, or dancing around would-be tacklers en route to a touchdown, he’s always fun to watch.
We see you, Cliff.
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