In order to be a compelling lyricist, one must not only rhyme, but one must read. I often draw inspiration from two of the most brilliant thinkers ever there were.
That’s right – Martin Buber and Justin Bieber!
I know what you’re thinking – how can you even compare those two? Buber was *so* not cute, and let’s not even talk about his singing.
OK, just calm down. It’s not just their last names that are similar. Their first names are too! Both have six letters, and both end in “tin”. The list goes on and on – you’d be surprised how similar their philosophies really are!
To demonstrate, how ‘bout a quick game of “Buber or Bieber?”
Read each of the quotes below, and try to guess whether it comes from Buber’s writings or Bieber’s lyrics. The answers just may surprise you!
Oh, and just to mix things up a little, I’ve thrown in one quote from the autobiography of Babur and another from one of the Babar books. So it’s really a game of “Buber, Babur, Babar or Bieber?”
Let’s play! (Answers at the bottom – no cheating!)
QUOTE 1
All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.
QUOTE 2
Are we an item? Girl quit playin’
We’re just friends. What are you sayin’
Take another look right in my eyes
My first love, broke my heart for the first time
QUOTE 3
Play is the exultation of the possible.
QUOTE 4
Everybody’s laughin’ in my mind
Rumors spreadin’ ’bout this other guy
Do you do what you did when you did with me
Does he love you the way i can
Did you forget all the plans that you made with me
Cause baby I didn’t.
QUOTE 5
You can rake the muck this way,
rake the muck that way
it will always be muck
QUOTE 6
An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.
QUOTE 7
A few broken trees!
Is that all that is left of the great forest?
There are no more flowers, no more birds.
QUOTE 8
Feeling one “has”; love occurs.
QUOTE 9
When I met you girl my heart went knock knock
Now them butterflies in my stomach won’t stop stop
And even though it’s a struggle love is all we got
And we gon’ keep keep climbing to the mountain top
QUOTE 10
All real living is meeting.
QUOTE 11
The sword works from point to hilt.
QUOTE 12
I’ve always known you were the best, the coolest girl I know
So prettier than all the rest, the star of all the show
So many times I wish you could be the one for me
I never knew you’d be like this girl, what you do to me
QUOTE 13
Love is responsibility of an I for a You
QUOTE 14
I don’t wanna go back to just being one half of the equation
Do you understand what I’m sayin’?
Girl, without you I’m lost
Can’t fix this compass at heart
Between me and love
You’re the common denominator
Oh, oh , oh, oh
Common denominator
Oh, yeah, whoa
QUOTE 15
Make room at your table for your friends and family
Take the time to share your day, just laugh talk and eat
QUOTE 16
I’d wait on you forever and a day
Hand and foot
Your world is my world
Yeah
Ain’t no way you’re ever gon’ get
Any less than you should
Cause baby
You smile I smile (oh)
Cause whenever
You smile, I smile
Hey hey hey
Answers: 1) Buber, 2) Bieber, 3) Buber, 4) Bieber, 5) Buber, 6) Buber, 7) Babar, 8) Buber, 9) Bieber, 10) Buber, 11) Babur 12) Bieber 13) Buber, 14) Bieber, 15) Bieber, 16) Bieber
