Adrian Dang – Run (When You Say Run Remix)
Preferred Name
Adrian Dang
Legal Name
Adrian H Dang
Contact Email
adang7530@gmail.com
Age
17
Gender Expression
Male
Which student are you?
High School Student (US Only)
Name of School
Milpitas Middle College High School
Grade / Year in School
11
Location (City, State/Province, Country)
Milpitas, California, United States
If you identify with an ethnicity or culture(s), which one or ones do you identify with?
Vietnamese, Asian-American
What is the name of your legal guardian/parent (if under 18)?
Tammy Vo
Please provide contact information for your legal guardian/parent (if under 18)
tammyvo9@yahoo.com
What are your social media accounts (TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook)?
Instagram: adxx80
Please select type of project you are entering
Audio/Music
What is the title of your project?
Run (When You Say Run Remix)
Please tell us about your submission (maximum 600 words)
Since childhood, many men were expected to conform to certain gender roles. If they showed failed to do so, they would often be shamed for being "too feminine." Through "Run (When You Say Run Remix)", I wanted to break the toxic stereotypes surrounding masculinity: that men are not allowed to display their emotions and show empathy.
The lyrics of this song were heavily inspired by the stories shared in Stanford’s Project SHINE Family Communication Workshop and Parent-Teen focus groups. In these groups, parents, and teens detailed how their family conflicts would affect their mental health and the difficulties that came with dealing with these conflicts. I wanted to make a song that empathized with the emotions of frustration, angst, and anxiety that were being expressed. These lyrics tell the story of someone feeling they had to “run away” when faced with adversity. However, mid-way through the song, this individual realizes that they must face their challenges head-on and “can’t run anymore.” In other words, I wanted to point out that running away from the situation is not a solution. They need to face it. They need to find the courage within themselves to keep moving forward. No matter how difficult the struggle, the most important thing is taking the first step.
This track was also inspired by the songs “When You Say Run” and “What’s Up Danger”, both of which have themes of overcoming one’s fears. This song was performed, remastered, and remixed by myself.
What is something you learned about patriarchy and what is something you would like to change about what you learned?
Something I learned about patriarchy is how it negatively affects everyone, as it forces people to confine themselves to certain gender expectations and gender roles. It gives others certain privileges and neglects people who don't conform to this standard. We need to set a new standard: one that will allow everyone to have the right to be who they want to be and express themselves they want free from judgment. For people not to feel shame for acting a certain way. That is what I want to change. I want a world where people can live comfortably knowing who they truly are and knowing they don't have to conform to a set of toxic expectations. I want to motivate others to strive for a change as well, to never "run away" from our problems. The time for change is now!
Project File
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