The Boy, with no other contacts in the city, is left to wonder what there is to do in Oakland. She tells him, you don't want me, you just want someone, and closes her door. Then he arrives and his ex reminds him how treated her - he was selfish, reclusive and constantly distracted.
The journey to Oakland builds a romantic suspense - we're cheering for The Boy, we want him to find happiness. While Lloyd's "Oakland" is a tale of two lovers who can't get enough of each other, "Telegraph Ave" is a sad story of The Boy arriving in Oakland unannounced to profess his love for an ex-girlfriend. The Boy sings along with the track, strongly connecting with its story of love in the Bay area, until the track engulfs him, and The Boy is no longer just a character in the story, but the singer of a new song: "Telegraph Ave", which is a street in Oakland. The song starts with The Boy getting into the car and turning on the radio, which plays a new song by real life R&B singer Lloyd: "Oakland", a snippet written by Glover and Lloyd for this album. "Telegraph Ave" is the third song of the second act, and tells the story of The Boy driving from LA to Oakland, where he makes a desperate and ill-advised attempt to reconcile with his past girlfriend. The album (like the screenplay) is split into four acts, each song telling one story that contributes to the larger narrative. Each come together to tell the story of "The Boy", who spends his time trolling online and throwing parties at his mansion, but is increasingly lonely and desperately searching for companionship. The Childish Gambino name itself is from the online Wu-Tang Name Generator, which nobody is supposed to seriously use, right?īecause The Internet isn't a standalone album, it's the soundtrack for a larger, multi-platform project that includes a screenplay, short film, and art installation in NYC. If you've never heard of the track, you might be thinking "What the fuck kind of name is this?" Glover has made a career out of defying convention. Telegraph Ave ("Oakland" by Lloyd)" off his 2013 album Because The Internet. This has me digging through the discography of Glover's musical persona, Childish Gambino, and brings us to this week's track: "III.
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TV show "Atlanta" is back one air for its second season, and with it, Donald Glover is on the front page of every culture and entertainment publication (at least in North America).