{"id":28782,"date":"2020-03-29T15:03:26","date_gmt":"2020-03-29T20:03:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/?p=28782"},"modified":"2020-03-29T15:03:30","modified_gmt":"2020-03-29T20:03:30","slug":"donald-glover-presents-3-15-20-a-3-15-20-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/03\/29\/donald-glover-presents-3-15-20-a-3-15-20-review\/","title":{"rendered":"DONALD GLOVER PRESENTS&#8230;3.15.20 (A 3.15.20 Review)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph\">On March 22, Donald Glover officially released the mysterious project that briefly appeared on the internet on March 15. The album\u2019s title is not, \u201cDonald Glover Presents\u201d as it was formerly believed. Instead, it is \u201c3.15.20\u201d &#8211; referencing the day it was suddenly posted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, its release still remains unconventional as the tracks are only labeled by their start time. In addition to this, the album concept art that was once seen on the site is not included with its release. Instead, listeners are treated to the sight of a blank album cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tNot all is mysterious though, as DJ Dahi, who worked on this album alongside Glover for more than two years, had an interview with Rolling Stone. There, he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/music\/music-features\/childish-gambino-album-dj-dahi-interview-970222\/\">provided more information on the unexpected project<\/a>. One of the notable things that stood out in the interview was the following statement: \u201cThere are a few songs on there we have had for a long time. We\u2019ve been living with those: \u2018This feels like it can last a while, it can be something that you can\u2019t timestamp.\u2019 That\u2019s something we were chasing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/opinion\/2020\/03\/15\/donald-glover-a-successful-distraction-during-a-pandemic\/\">Having previously speculated on the album<\/a> when it emerged, I ultimately concluded that I would enjoy the content when it was better accessible. Thus, it only feels right to come forward with an actual review of the content in \u201c3.15.20.\u201d<br><br> The album begins with \u201c0.00,\u201d an initially blank introduction that comes to display Glover\u2019s distorted voice on autotune repeating the same, almost ominous line, \u201cwe are, we are, we are.\u201d Lasting for nearly three minutes, the bombastic track gradually mellows and creeps into one of two titled songs on the album, \u201cAlgorhythm.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Transitions are a recurring theme throughout, showing a connective thread between all the songs &#8212; even if said songs feel like they should not be on the same album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rwVGJZdLNBs?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Childish Gambino)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This second track, \u201cAlgorhythm,\u201d is a play on the words <em>algorithm <\/em>and, of course, <em>rhythm<\/em>. Algorithm refers to a set of rules defining a sequence of operations, not only in math but computers as well. In this case, it is referring to the repetitive, digital nature of this dance song which calls for a show of individual rhythmic movement. The hook features lines from the chorus of the 90s R&amp;B hit, \u201cHey Mr. DJ\u201d by Zhan\u00e9, reworked in an interesting way. <br><strong><br><\/strong>\u201cTime,\u201d is the third track and the only other titled song on \u201c3.15.20.\u201d It features additional vocals by Ariana Grande and it was originally featured in Glover\u2019s short film, \u201cGuava Island.\u201d While keeping its electronic sound, the slower-paced song describes Glover and Grande finding themselves in an uncertain state about the matter of reality as well as wondering about the directions for their personal ambitions.<br><strong><br><\/strong>\u201c12.38\u201d is a far more carefree track aiming for an experimental R&amp;B feeling. It has been widely recognized the song shares similarities with Andre 3000\u2019s tracks on his 2003 album, \u201cThe Love Below,\u201d due to Glover\u2019s choice of rapping being reminiscent of the fellow Atlanta artist. Midway, 21 Savage is featured with a rap verse. By the end of the song, it is consumed with the voices of two other artists, Kadhja Bonet and Ink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4_yRYscHLWc?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Donald Glover)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c19.10\u201d next comes in with a bouncy, almost disco sounding beat, that seems as though it could have been handled by Prince at one point. \u201cTo be beautiful,\u201d Glover sings in the catchy chorus, \u201cis to be hunted.\u201d It is clear Glover is singing of the price of having confidence in yourself with bitter people trying to hold you down. <br><br>However, these lyrics seem to simultaneously be reflective of the experience of being black in America as the song opens with Glover reflecting on a statement his father gave him during his adolescence:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI remember, uh, back when I was\u2005six\u2005years old, uh \/ Daddy\u2005said, \u2018The world&#8217;s so cold \/ There is\u2005something that you should know\u2019 \/ Uh \/ \u2018You&#8217;re so gorgeous,\u2019 thank you, daddy \/  \u2018Nothing&#8217;s really worth your time \/ But someday soon you just might find \/ The truth about the world&#8217;s design. \u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many black readers will find these specific lyrics familiar, as they are clearly referencing the talk parents give when preparing their children for facing prejudice and discrimination. Furthermore, \u201chunted\u201d is an interesting choice of word to describe hateful attitudes towards one\u2019s beauty, and it could easily refer to black lives that are lost due to hate crimes.<br><strong><br> <\/strong>At a slower pace, the 7-minute-long \u201c24.19\u201d is almost like a sequel to Glover\u2019s previous song, \u201cRedbone\u201d in regard to how they share similar funky arrangements. His smooth lyrics provide the listener with intimate details of the relationship between him and his partner, who he constantly refers to as, \u201cSweet Thing.\u201d Despite the pet names, not all is perfect between them as Glover highlights his flaws within the relationship.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the song builds up to go into its second half in which Glover passionately professes his gratitude to his partner for being at his side. Ultimately, the song transitions into something unexpected. The listener abruptly hears a harsher, electronic beat, filled with the sounds of panting, painting a scene of intensity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GN_IOL13QbE?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>Donald Glover performing &#8220;Warlords,&#8221; also known as &#8220;32.22&#8221; at Coachella (Source: Youtube\/Josh West)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This intensity leads to the next song, \u201c32.22.\u201d<strong> <\/strong>The official name is, \u201cWarlords\u201d and it had previously been performed live at Coachella. The track doesn\u2019t actually provide lyrical content, as there is more of a heavy focus on the music and repeated lines. Still, it\u2019s a bit too extreme and intense to be considered a dance track.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DJ Dahi is responsible for being one of the co-writers and describes the song best in his interview with Rolling Stone: \u201cif you went into some village, a tribal community of people you had never seen or heard of but were observing. That song is supposed to be an insight into a spiritual celebration of some sort.\u201d&nbsp; <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c35.31\u201d<strong> <\/strong>is another unlikely track following soon after, signaling its entrance through the usage of bells and cows mooing at the end of \u201c32.22.\u201d Like that, the listener is placed out of a foreign environment and thrust into the country where Glover seems to be instructing a dance. However, the upbeat chorus is actually him boasting on his drug-dealing prowess. Essentially stating that he is more elusive and untraceable than the American cryptid Big Foot. Recurrently, slang and phrases referring to cocaine are scattered throughout the verses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Near the end, the beat makes a shift in modernity. Causing the chorus to sound more like a modern-day rap song and less like a country song. Interestingly, the outro features lyrics skewed in reverse, out of reverse they say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen you\u2019re not invited, you take what you\u2019re given \/ Some wait every day for the call \/ Grief is a standing ocean, I never swam unless you did \/ So I don\u2019t know why I\u2019m here without you \/ I miss you.\u201d<br><br> These lyrics come from the second verse of the following song, \u201c39.28.\u201d<strong><br> <\/strong>\u201c39.28\u201d begins sung in acapella and describes the grief that follows the death of an unspecified loved one as Glover asks himself, \u201cwhy go to the party?\u201d Eventually, it is backed by the sounds of a piano, increasing its somber and reflective feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F1B9Fk_SgI0?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>The music video for &#8220;Feels Like Summer&#8221; additionally manages to conceal its message by featuring animated cameos of relevant Hip Hop celebrities. (Source: Youtube\/Donald Glover)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c42.26\u201d<strong> <\/strong>is better known as, \u201cFeels Like Summer\u201d which was released as a single in July 2018. Despite its chill melody, \u201cFeels Like Summer\u201d is not a feel-good song. The lyrics have Glover reflecting on alarming real-world issues with its title itself referencing global warming.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEvery day gets hotter than the one before \/ Running out of water, it&#8217;s about to go down. \/ Go down \/ Air that kill the bees that we depend upon \/ Birds were made for singing \/ Waking up to no sound. \/ No sound.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The chorus is no better, for even as Glover states that he hopes the world will change, he soon after admits &#8211; \u201cit just seems the same.\u201d <br><strong><br><\/strong>\u201c47.48\u201d comes in, maintaining the funky arrangement Glover is fond of using. Somber, he sings of violence in the world, specifically injustices that occurred with young children who lost their lives. Yet, he makes time to note one important thing: don\u2019t worry about tomorrow. There is always going to be beauty in the world, despite it all. Something that many in this current state of living need to hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The end of the song features Glover sharing a conversation with his young son. Glover is notoriously private in regards to his family life, so this came as a surprise. \u201cWhat do you love?\u201d he asks him. As his son gives his answers, he then asks Glover a deep question: \u201cdo you love yourself?\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI do love myself,\u201d he answers with no hesitation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is Glover\u2019s display of self-love that gives way to the final song, \u201c53.49.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C5COZJ-y7Vs?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Childish Gambino)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c53.49\u201d concludes the album on a high energy note as Glover switches between aggressive rapping and powerful singing. As a whole, the track exposes how far Glover has come as a person, not simply due to loudly reaffirming that he <em>loves <\/em>himself in the chorus, but acknowledging that he, \u201cdid what [he] wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;Immediately, I knew he was referencing his career path. Glover has been in the media for a long time and is recognized by many for his role on Dan Harmon\u2019s series, \u201cCommunity.\u201d During the series\u2019 fifth season, Glover announced that he would be leaving the show because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.polygon.com\/tv\/2016\/8\/9\/12415520\/donald-glover-community-atlanta-childish-gambino\">he wanted to work on other projects, such as his series \u201cAtlanta.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Later in 2013, Glover posted a series of handwritten notes on his Instagram where he shed light on things that had been on his mind. Such issues included worrying about Harmon\u2019s perception of him after leaving \u201cCommunity,\u201d loneliness, and his general anxiety about life. It has since been deleted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notably, Glover\u2019s second album \u201cBecause the Internet,\u201d was also released in 2013. It concluded on a disheartening note with the song \u201cLife: The Biggest Troll.\u201d There Glover repeatedly begged for help in the outro, but in \u201c53.49\u201d there is no display of desperation. Only a sense of satisfaction that Glover did all that he wanted to without fading into irrelevance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What additionally causes this final song to stand out with its themes is the fact that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/articles\/columns\/hip-hop\/8096875\/donald-glover-confirms-final-childish-gambino-album-grammys-interview\">this is likely his final album<\/a>. As a farewell, he is telling us loud and proud, that he did what he wanted, he loves himself, and he is once more moving onto a new chapter in his life. Furthermore, through the other songs on this album Glover is essentially telling us not to worry about tomorrow and to embrace life, even if we may feel frightened by horrifying the world can be or if we have felt we have lost direction with our ambitions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While I would refrain from calling this album timeless, \u201c3.15.20\u201d does maintain a unique sound. Ultimately, what it does is showcase how versatile Glover can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although there are some songs I wish could have been included, such as \u201cSaturday,\u201d which was featured in Guava Island, and \u201cHuman Sacrifice\u201d which was featured on an advertisement for Google Pixel 3, it is a great album and definitely worth listening to.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-spotify wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: 3.15.20\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/600ClrWRsAr7jZ0qjaBLHz?utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ayzha Middlebrooks<br><\/strong>Associate Editor&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On March 22, Donald Glover officially released the mysterious project that briefly appeared on the internet on March 15. The album\u2019s title is not, \u201cDonald Glover Presents\u201d as it was formerly believed. Instead, it is \u201c3.15.20\u201d &#8211; referencing the day it was suddenly posted. However, its release still remains unconventional as the tracks are only [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10416,"featured_media":28783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2104,2616,3935,3523,2144],"tags":[1059,3726,4082,4081,113],"class_list":["post-28782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","category-featured","category-media","category-media-reviews","category-music-entertainment","tag-album-review","tag-ayzha-middlebrooks","tag-childish-gambino","tag-donald-glover","tag-hip-hop"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"cc_featured_image_caption":{"caption_text":false,"source_text":false,"source_url":false},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/48613096747_0f3b815c39_k.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5s3vR-7ue","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10416"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28782"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28792,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28782\/revisions\/28792"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}