A Look into the Mind of Mr. Wang

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

December 14, 2009

Kristina Ngo, advertising manager Angelia Tran, budgeting manager  

Filed under Features

The Voice is back with an­other addition to the special fea­ture, “Psychoanalysis by iPod.” This time, the Voice has a new subject, a Mr. Jordan Wang. He is one of the science department teachers, and has taught chem­istry to a majority of the student population. As Mr. Wang moves from his chemistry classes to the Jenvy House for Robotics, he can be caught in the halls with his long, black coats, imposing backpack and breakfast burrito. Does Russell from Up, his secret alias, ring a bell? For those who still don’t know who Mr. Wang is, maybe reading about the songs he listens to will give you a new in­sight on him as a hip person.

“I am a Soldier” – Bishop Lamont

Mr. Wang is a fighter who lives life to its fullest, like the song on his iPod, “I am a sol­dier.” Music artist Bishop Lamont sang this song for the True Crime: Streets of LA videogame soundtrack. This upbeat rap song actually has meaning compared to the ones that are put on replay on radio stations today. “Got one life to live, gotta live it to the full­est…” This verse focuses on the optimistic view of life. As Mr. Wang walks around the halls with his long black coat, chin up and chest out, it shows students that he doesn’t give up: “I can’t quit, I’ve come too far now.” Mr. Wang is not a quitter; he won’t give up on what he started, which is obvi­ous in the way he continues to ar­gue against the senior final privi­lege, even though he’s so clearly wrong about that.

“Alone” – Lisa Loeb:

“Alone” by Lisa Loeb is an acoustic song. “You do not cheat me of my childhood. You bring me blankets for the walls of my forts.” The singer of this song is thank­ing someone for supporting her and mak­ing her feel safe. “Fort” can be a meta­phor for her heart. Some­one might’ve helped her build those walls in her heart that make her feel alone. Perhaps Mr. Wang feels alone when he’s at his desk in room 4.

The second song is, surpris­ingly, much more mellow after the first pumped and fast-paced song. The singer’s voice, combined with the guitar chords, is sooth­ing; the song is suitable to play after an exhausting, perhaps un­satisfactory day of losing a Nerf gun war with Mr. Cozort. Maybe after a long week, Mr. Wang sim­ply wants to be left alone with his Guitar Hero or the nuts and bolts of the Robotics team’s next proj­ect.

“Baby Blue” – Dave Mat­thews Band

“Baby Blue” is a cute, sweet song that expresses the love of the artist, Dave Matthews Band, for his sweetheart. “Confess, your kiss still knocks me off my legs.” This line can be described as “HOW CUTE!” by Pres girls. Hmm … some may wonder why Mr. Wang, a hardcore manly man, would listen to a song like this. Well, the truth is, deep, deep down, there is a romantic side in everyone. “The first time I saw you was like a punch right through my chest,” can describe love at first sight. Is it possible that Mr. Wang—a logical, struc­tured, scientific man — believes in such a notion? It’s a mystery.

It is another mellow song filled with guitar chords. It seems Mr. Wang, despite his fierce per­sonality, actually has a serene center of zen within himself at the end of the day. With so many songs centered around the gui­tar as the main instrument, Pres students can possibly look forward to a surprise musi­cal talent in the spring Men of Pres Concert, which will ben­efit the Mission Drive.

“Quickly” – John Legend

John Legend asks for an unknown figure to love him while the “Sky is falling, the globe is warming, my country’s warring, leaders are lying, time is running” in his song “Quickly.” This song has a double meaning. It exposes the problems of humanity yet maintains a romantic aura. From the great amount of science that he knows, maybe Mr. Wang knows that there are problems that are quickly going to get worse. Perhaps he listens to this in his chill zone and contemplates about love, the sky falling down, and how much time is left until he gets to go buy food.

This last song from Mr. Wang’s iPod is another surprise. While the main focus of “Quickly” is love, many of verses touch upon modern day social issues such global warming and corrupt government officials. Perhaps Mr. Wang is a man of change and, as he works to be the “change he wishes to see in the world” as Gandhi wisely advised, he needs a quick answer from his sweetheart. Is it a yes? A no? Mr. Wang needs his answer, quickly, please. Or maybe, on a more everyday level, Mr. Wang is too concerned with his problematic videogame quests and needs a quick solution to grade his 50 Bioethics tests. Quickly, quickly, please! 

“Let’s Get it On” – Marvin Gaye

“Let’s Get It On” is a funky, romantic song written by Marvin Gaye after his writer’s block in the 1970s. This song has an R&B feel to it, creating a romantic ballad for listeners. “We’re all sensitive people with so much to give. Understand me, sugar. Since we’ve to be here, let’s live” has a deeper meaning to it than the other parts of the song. This verse can reveal a lot about a person. Mr. Wang, for example, may be appealing he just wants to live his own life with no regrets. Maybe Mr. Wang sees the good in everyone and believes in love. This song shows an optimistic side of Mr. Wang. He sees that everyone has potential to reach out and give to the world, but their sensitivity might hold them back. Commons

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