Connection #2

After reading about the Cynics and how they believed that happiness can be achieved by everyone I felt really uplifted. They believed that happiness doesn’t depend on material things such as money, clothes, or power. They believed you found true happiness in the realization of the fact that you don’t need “external advantages”, but that it is within everyone reach to be happy. Stoics believed that you only needed the necessities in order to be happy and nothing more.

This reminded me of a song “price tag” by Jessie J who repeatedly states “ it ain’t about the money”. Her song describes how people have become so reliant on material things like nice clothes, shoes and cars to make them “happy” , but she says that life’s not about the money and people need to remember that. Jessie’s lyrics make it clear that she like the cynics doesn’t believe that happiness can be bought, but that in order to be happy you should live simplistically.  She sings about how all she needs is a place to stay and music in order to be happy, she’s not worried about having a luxurious house or anything else that’s over the top. Jessie’s lyrics also say that people need to just start enjoying life for what it is and slow down and appreciate the simple things instead of being preoccupied with what they have and don’t have. Also she talks about how she wants to make everyone happy and “dance” which to me means that she also thinks that everyone has the ability to attain happiness just like the cynics. Jessie J incorporates many of the ideals of cynicism into her song.Watch the video here.