Diction

There is no doubt in my mind, that No Doubt is one of the more unique success stories of the '90s. They were a punk band from California, and to this day, their corky style and fresh lyrics always catch attention. No Doubt's lyrical talents, show a great deal of diction, or use of words. Songs like "Ex-girlfriend", "Trapped in a box", and "brand new day" are all examples of how their music intertwines and relates to diction.

"Trapped in a box", was a single released on their self titled album, No Doubt, on March 17, 1992 on the Interscope Records, record label. Diction is widely used throughout this song. In the second verse, Gwen Stefani sings, "Oh trapped in a box I'm not alone, I know of others with a box as their home, Light only enters from a crack or a hole, Oh this is not enough for a human to grow, Trapped in a box." This diction expressed in these lyrics says to me that they are trying to get across the point that not all people have the best lives. "Oh this is not enough for a human to grow," These lyrics make me think about a miserable surrounding, and the urge to escape from this surrounding. This song is an example of the diction No Doubt uses in their lyrics.

"Ex-Girlfriend," off of the same album as trapped in a box, was a big turn out. It was one of the many videos featured on the hit show, Trl, and the radio broadcast called, American Top 40. The lyrics in "Ex-girlfriend" tells the story of a girl who "kinda always knew" she'd end up his ex girlfriend. It talks about how she and he both knew how different the two were and how they never should have ended up dating in the first place. She goes on to say,"I'm another ex-girlfriend on your listBut I should have thought of that before we kissed." Here they are insterting their corky, funny, sarcastic way of getting the point across to the listener. The diction in this song is expressed through the lyrics.

Diction is everywhere around us. It can be in music, poetry, or even the equivalent to language. The band No doubt is famous for their diction in many songs. Ex girlfriend, and trapped in a box, are off of the same album, but have little connection between the two songs. Trapped in a box is kind of a sad, melonchaoly song with a lot of different connections to being stuck somewhere with no way of getting free. The song has many connections to literaly being trapped. Ex girlfriend is more described by a mistake waiting to happen. It is said that the boy and the girl both know that the relationship is not going to work, but then they just end up dating and breaking up and wasting all that time.

Diction in No Doubt"Brand new day"

At the end of the day you are worn out, you are
worn out, and too tired to sleep
But then you do dream of wonderful things
That you might do, right on through to the next
day

And then you wake up
The sun's on your face
You're stretchin' while you're sayin
'It's a Brand New Day!


It's a brand new day and the sky is clear
So let's come together, everybody cheer
Come out people from everywhere
Let's see your faces, the day we'll share
Come on and celebrate a Brand New Day
Everyday!


Call out to the workers and the children in the
schools
It's a day of celebration so put down your tool
sand
Celebrate a Brand New Day Everyday!
Come see the mountains and come see the
shores

Mother nature is calling so come climb aboard
andCelebrate a Brand New Day Everyday!
Let's go
At the end of the day there is no doubt you are
worn out

Ooh but then you do dream of wonderful things
Wonderful things you might do
And then you wake up
The sun's on your face You're stretchin' while you're sayin
'It's a Brand New Day!

Celebrate a Brand New Day, Everyday!
Celebrate a Brand New Day, Everyday!


"Trapped in a box"

Trapped in a box of tremendous size
It distorts my vision, it closes my eyes
Attracts filthy flies and pollutes in the skies
It sucks up our lives and proliferates lies
Trapped in a box

Trapped in a box, four walls as sky
Got a screen for a window about two feet wide
My mind rides and slides as my circuits are
fried
No room for thought, use the box as my guide
Trapped in a box

Ooh trapped in a box
Watch the world as it flocks
To life's paradox
And we're all trapped in a box

Oh trapped in a box I'm not alone
I know of others with a box as their home
Light only enters from a crack or a hole
Oh this is not enough for a human to grow
Trapped in a box

Ooh trapped in a box
Watch the world as it flocks To life's paradox
And we're all trapped in a box


Always wanting a different view
Instant gratification for you
Reality gone with a single click
Just hope that that switch won't stick
Ah trapped in a box my life becomes void
And all of the thought for myself's now
destroyed
Controlling my mind, what to eat, what to buy
Subliminal rules: how to live, how to die
Trapped in a box

Ooh trapped in a box
Watch the, the world as it flocks
To life's paradox
And we're all, we're trapped in a box


Ooh trapped in a box
Watch the world as it flocks
To life's paradox
We're all trapped in a box


Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
We're all trapped in a box