Price of Fame, has a lot of narrative, obviously giving Michael's circumstances as a phenomenal superstar but It seems to hold a lot a narrative in the song, despite the verses continuously being repeated. I like the way that Michael's backing vocals are used as a subtle beat, the words "Do Ya'" are continuously repeated much like 'Who Is It's beat boxing usage. which very much challenges the titles track of "Price of Fame", Do you pay the price of fame or can you get away without paying it? Sadly, Michael kep't "living to win" but eventually the Price of Fame ultimately killed him.
'Price of Fame' is really interesting in regards to the lyrics and expanding on Michael's relationship with his Father.
"my father always told me you will live a quiet life... if you are reaching for fortunate and fame and i feel the pressure sinkin' in, I'm living just to win, I'm feelin' all this pain... don't you ever complain, It's the price of fame, you pay the price for fame"
"my father never lies... so don't be feeling this way boy!"
I don't know if I'm making this up in my own head but Price of Fame really seems to demonstrate and show a aggressive side of Michael. Michael uses the line "my father always told me you will live a quiet life... if you are reaching for fortune and fame" As if it is once a conversation that he had when he was much younger, Perhaps this was Joseph's bribery to Michael to get him to perform more and encourage his ambition and his exhaustion of talent to make money? Of course, The lyrics are not true to his fathers words and instead 'reaching for fortune and fame' did very much the opposite and put Michael In the spotlight more, in contrast to what Joseph said to Michael when he was a young kid. Michael's aggressive stance enters in when he sings the line "my farther never lies!... my farther never lies... my farther never lies" given that this was the 80's Michael's success had obviously peaked and Michael from this obviously learnt that his father deceived him so therefore using the line in the song becomes sarcastic and almost hindering at his farthers hypocritical and deceitful words back when he was younger. "Don't you ever complain!" also, sounds like another line taken from Joseph which really shows off just how hypocritical and devious he was, considering what he originally said to Michael about "my farther always told me you will live a quiet life... if you are reaching for fortunate and fame" Michael also asks his father, the audience, the listeners to "stand in his shoes", I think, mainly aimed at Joseph this line suggests that after all the years he would like Joseph to come stand in his shoes and see what he has done by persuading Michael to reach for fortune and fame, Fame did not give Michael a quiet life, It destroyed his life and benefited everyone financially and Michael payed the cost.
I could keep going on but ultimately, It's a great song. It's a emotional roller-coaster with a strong narrative expressing and exhausting the stress of fame, angst, upset and naivety of people slandering Michael when they should instead "come stand in his shoes" Plus, it's really insightful to Michael's relationship with his dad which hasn't been used so vocally in many songs.
