Bo is so so so talented. You’re definitely not the first reactor to get emotional about this one. I think the chicken could definitely be read as an abused woman, but I think it resonates with anyone who didn’t end up exactly where they thought they would or feels pigeonholed by their circumstances. It’s the most beautifully written and performed chicken joke ever made.
Exactly what's great about this song; he "normally turns serious stuff into jokes, here, has turned a joke into a serious thing" and I love that. There are jokes in there still--like when you first realize it's the "why did the chicken cross the road?" moment is funny, and "the chicken is little" or even the first line, the chicken wakes up like she does every morning to the sound of her husband's screams (he's a rooster! haha). But yes, a very somber song about a chicken, one of my favorite songs just, in general honestly.
He did say “I think we aught to believe that she got to the other side” I always took that as women trapped in those situations believe they can’t make it alone. But Bo is saying he believes they can. And that’s why the chicken crossed the road - to get to the other side
this is actually from an outtake of the album. he didnt put it in the final cut. probably because it didnt fit the albums vibe but still the fact something this good isnt on the main album is crazy.
I'm a little tipsy so maybe I'm just in my emotions but Bo is so good at writing a melody that just reaches into you man, I was straight up thinking about my life during this reaction lmao. I'm glad you got the vibe right away and were paying attention, some reactors just laugh this off but this is such a commentary on trying to complete yourself and especially when the odds are against you. Great reaction 💜
Haha! I was so impressed that she got it at the end. “Normally he turns a serious matters into a joke and now he’s turned a joke into a serious matter”. Spot on 😂
Took me a bunch of views to connect that "The Chicken" is a person without the courage to take a leap of faith. They're dreaming of a different life because before the song, they were too Chicken to chase their dreams
Hence the idea of the show it comes from, Inside Out. Normally making jokes out of serious stuff, but the reverse is making something serious out of a joke. Which, to me, was perfect. But it also showed Bo's range as an artist. The man is a genius who has been trapped in the corner of comedy songs his whole life, without an outlet for his other thoughts. This was a good way to show the world he can do anything.
Somebody pointed this out before me, but he said "the road is gigantic/ the chicken is little", and that's the point of the song. You can reach for your dreams, but the world is cruel, and you probably won't make it to the other side. Why did the chicken cross the road? It most likely didn't.
I thought it was funny honestly. The way the whole song was an anti-joke like you said and i thought the absurdity of it was hilarious. Even though it is sad if you interpret the song as a metaphor, its funny if you imagine a literal chicken throughout the song.
Leave it to this guy to take the oldest joke in the book and turn it into an existential crisiss about the fear of siezing your dreams. We all have issues with how our lives turned out, things we would have changed given the time and option. But the fear of 'the road' is what keeps us confined. Because we see the headlights, and we know that might be the outcome. And if we step off, and don't make it... Let alone the recontextualising of 'to get to the other side' now having a double meaning of both getting to the other side of the road and 'I wanna die'...
The walk to Memphis….Martin Luther King Jr, his bravery….and dreaming of becoming a dentist….she doesn’t have teeth….dreaming the impossible….and Martin Luther King Jr was a man who had an impossible dream, that we judge each other by the content of our character, not the color of our skin…..this song is deep
This one can break me down in tears every time! It's such a beautiful metaphore. The end is so sad but also hopeful. Sometimes, maybe an end can be a new beginning? You should listen to "Goodbye" next. It is also from the Inside Special.
"Normally he turns serious matters into jokes but here hes turning a joke into a serious matter"
Thats a great observation!
It is, although I would say that he always turns jokes into a serious matter, though varying in subtlety.
Bo is so so so talented. You’re definitely not the first reactor to get emotional about this one. I think the chicken could definitely be read as an abused woman, but I think it resonates with anyone who didn’t end up exactly where they thought they would or feels pigeonholed by their circumstances. It’s the most beautifully written and performed chicken joke ever made.
Insane how such a simple joke "why did the chicken cross the road" can have SO MANY different meanings!
Exactly what's great about this song; he "normally turns serious stuff into jokes, here, has turned a joke into a serious thing" and I love that. There are jokes in there still--like when you first realize it's the "why did the chicken cross the road?" moment is funny, and "the chicken is little" or even the first line, the chicken wakes up like she does every morning to the sound of her husband's screams (he's a rooster! haha). But yes, a very somber song about a chicken, one of my favorite songs just, in general honestly.
One of Bo’s best songs! Absurd premise, with a heartbreakingly beautiful execution. Always end up crying by the end of it lol
"I thought this was going to be funny. This isn't funny." I'm pretty sure is the elevator pitch for "Inside" lol.
He did say “I think we aught to believe that she got to the other side” I always took that as women trapped in those situations believe they can’t make it alone. But Bo is saying he believes they can. And that’s why the chicken crossed the road - to get to the other side
Or she'd rather die and get to the "other side"
(After life) than live like that
It's such a beautiful yet heartbreaking song. It gets me every time.
this is actually from an outtake of the album. he didnt put it in the final cut. probably because it didnt fit the albums vibe but still the fact something this good isnt on the main album is crazy.
I'm a little tipsy so maybe I'm just in my emotions but Bo is so good at writing a melody that just reaches into you man, I was straight up thinking about my life during this reaction lmao. I'm glad you got the vibe right away and were paying attention, some reactors just laugh this off but this is such a commentary on trying to complete yourself and especially when the odds are against you. Great reaction 💜
Haha! I was so impressed that she got it at the end. “Normally he turns a serious matters into a joke and now he’s turned a joke into a serious matter”. Spot on 😂
Took me a bunch of views to connect that "The Chicken" is a person without the courage to take a leap of faith. They're dreaming of a different life because before the song, they were too Chicken to chase their dreams
Love your reaction videos! Please do “unpaid intern” next!
Bo Burnham - Words, Words, Words
Bo Burnham - How The World Works 🌎
This song is set up like a joke but with the punchline being dramatic instead of something to laugh at, and I think that is beautiful
Chicken is the mother the road is life as you live they also grow old and then passes thats the meaning of the song
Thank you and a hello from The Netherlands, keep it with Bo Burnham,
The ability to take such a corny old joke and build such a touching story and beautiful song centred on it is something else. 9 thumbs up 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Hence the idea of the show it comes from, Inside Out. Normally making jokes out of serious stuff, but the reverse is making something serious out of a joke. Which, to me, was perfect. But it also showed Bo's range as an artist. The man is a genius who has been trapped in the corner of comedy songs his whole life, without an outlet for his other thoughts. This was a good way to show the world he can do anything.
Beautiful and smart, and he sounds like James Taylor.
Arguably the greatest joke ever "written"
Somebody pointed this out before me, but he said "the road is gigantic/ the chicken is little", and that's the point of the song. You can reach for your dreams, but the world is cruel, and you probably won't make it to the other side.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
It most likely didn't.
you neeeed to react to more bo burnham!!!
I thought it was funny honestly. The way the whole song was an anti-joke like you said and i thought the absurdity of it was hilarious. Even though it is sad if you interpret the song as a metaphor, its funny if you imagine a literal chicken throughout the song.
Leave it to this guy to take the oldest joke in the book and turn it into an existential crisiss about the fear of siezing your dreams. We all have issues with how our lives turned out, things we would have changed given the time and option. But the fear of 'the road' is what keeps us confined. Because we see the headlights, and we know that might be the outcome. And if we step off, and don't make it...
Let alone the recontextualising of 'to get to the other side' now having a double meaning of both getting to the other side of the road and 'I wanna die'...
The walk to Memphis….Martin Luther King Jr, his bravery….and dreaming of becoming a dentist….she doesn’t have teeth….dreaming the impossible….and Martin Luther King Jr was a man who had an impossible dream, that we judge each other by the content of our character, not the color of our skin…..this song is deep
Your face when he said “she wakes up to her husbands screams.”
Get it? Like a rooster crows. Hahah
You really should stop saying "never fails to disappoint" because it means he disappoints. Say he never fails to amaze you or he never disappoints.
how gorgeous looking are you girl 💛
I bet something that after that you went straight into watching kittens on tiktok!
HARRY MACKKKKKKKKK
This one can break me down in tears every time! It's such a beautiful metaphore. The end is so sad but also hopeful. Sometimes, maybe an end can be a new beginning? You should listen to "Goodbye" next. It is also from the Inside Special.
I cry every time.
"I didn't like that!"
Welcome to most Bo songs when they surprise you
Well I did not get that I'm confused
This is a song answering why the chicken crossed the road