Tim Minchin, the talented musician-comedian-artist-educator-philosopher, has recently made a splash with the debut of his newest creation, “Prejudice.” The track playfully revolves around a six-letter word comprised of “a couple of Gs, an R and an E, an I and an N.” Though it nears overt racism, the song’s lyrics always deftly sidestep outright racist language. This fascinating comparison created quite a stir online. It all began with one unsuspecting Black American hearing it for the first time and capturing his unvarnished reaction on camera.
The video recording this reaction has gone completely viral. It has now achieved a six-figure viewership combination on various social media channels. Of course, millions of other viewers have been won over by the witty, acerbic, ultimately life-affirming Minchin magic. As a result, a second wave of content creators has been released, creating their own reactions to “Prejudice,” extending its reach even further. US rapper Black Pegasus recorded his reaction after hearing the song for the first time. His deeply personal and singular perspective opened new connections to the idea of home.
Besides Minchin’s new album, the author mentioned their own recent deep dive into reaction videos on YouTube in all different kinds of music. Midnight Oil’s “Beds are Burning” particularly hits home. Its lyrics tend to result in some of the most curious misinterpretations. Dereck, one of our lucky viewers, had his own amusing take on the classic phrase. He assumed it was “the birds are burning,” illustrating how much lyrics can get misheard. The keening, strident tone of Peter Garrett’s voice in “Beds are Burning” still inspires goosebumps and unique reverberations of Australian admiration 30 years later.
The writer spent hours engrossed in these videos, fueled by an algorithm that seemed intent on suggesting more and more reaction content. This launched us on an exhilarating exploration of discovery. Perhaps the best moment was watching someone react to John Farnham’s classic anthem Help for the first time. The writer would sincerely apologize for having “fundamentally broken” said brain. They felt defeated by the amount of information they had ingested.
The phenomenon around reaction videos has prompted larger conversations about music’s ability to influence culture and personal experiences. The interplay of Minchin’s razor sharp clever lyricism and the emotional honesty of viewers reactions has made for a captivating space to step into. Viewers are not just listening; they are sharing their experiences and interpretations, which adds layers of meaning to the songs.
As more people discover these tracks through reaction content, the potential for songs like “Prejudice” and “Beds are Burning” to resonate with new audiences grows exponentially. Though original to their times, these songs still challenge and inspire conversation in the present moment.