Coolio's song "Gangsta's Paradise" and Rodney Atkins song "If You're Going Through Hell" are both ballad style songs that express the struggles, the artists faced in their lives. Coolio, having grown up in the very poor and often violent community of Compton, California. Rodney Atkins grown up as an orphan and had many medical issues he had as a child.   The similar themes make it so these two songs from different eras and genres can be compared. Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" was released in 1995 and is a commentary about the environment and community he grew up in and how he overcame it as well as calling for change. Along with the challenges that are presented to any others that are also growing up in a similar situation. By contrast, Rodney Atkins' 2006 song, "If You're Going Through Hell" is about the struggles and failures present in life and to keep persevering. By comparing these two songs, insight can be gained into the common themes that are used in modern music.

Both "Gangsta's Paradise" and "If You're Going Through Hell" have many different elements that can be compared. Firstly, both songs are written in a balladic style. In that both Coolio and Rodney Atkins are telling a story with their lyrics while presenting the theme of their song in the refrain. This similar lyrical style leads to both songs musically being constructed in a very similar way. Both songs have a similar beat, in "Gangsta's Paradise" the electronic noise that provides a steady repetitive beat beneath the lyrics and in "If You're Going Through Hell" the guitar and drums provides a very similar but slightly fast paced beat throughout the song. Also these songs are similar in that both are very simple musically, which serves to put a greater focus on the lyrics. Both consist of a pattern of music that is repeated over and over again throughout the song and that has another layer of music added during the refrain to provide some differentiation to the parts of the song. The two songs can also be seen to have a very similar message. In "If You're Going Through Hell" it is clear the song is about perseverance and how despite all the struggle and difficulties one has along the way things will eventually turn out ok. "Gangsta's Paradise" is more complex in that it could be seen as having multiple meaning but one of which would seem to be that looking at all the trials and difficulties in the artists life and where he has made it to where he was despite the difficulties he faced in his life these things can be overcome.  Both artists also make allusions to religion although in different ways. Coolio says, "I'm the kinda G the little homies wanna be like. On my knees in the night saying prayers in the streetlight," (Coolio).While the title, "If You're Going Through Hell," is repeated several times is the song as well as the mentioning several times of both the devil and angels. Both of the artists have a very similar framework to their songs and because of this there are many similarities between the two songs. 

   Coolio's and Rodney Atkins' songs do have their differences, however. The most apparent being the musical genre that both are placed in. "Gangsta's Paradise," being a rap song, and "If You're Going Through Hell" a country song, two well defined and different kinds of music. Another difference is that although the songs are similar in musical construction the actual music used in the songs is very different. Also it could be argued that "Gangsta's Paradise" is a more complex song it that it also expresses other ideas such as the desire to change the systems that keep his community, and others like it, in poverty and not just about overcoming struggles. "Gangsta's Paradise" uses electronic music from either a keyboard or computer to form its music. While "If You're Going Through Hell" uses guitars, a banjo, and drums to construct its music. Another difference is in the two singers, both who they are and how they sing. Rodney Atkins is from Knoxville, Tennessee and Coolio being from Compton, California. This clearly differentiates the singers in they would have had very different experiences in that lives that led them to write their songs. Stylistically it would be apparent to someone who has listened to both types of music that a rap song and a country song are sung in a different manor. The two songs still have many differences despite the many different things that they do have in common.  

The comparison of this two songs after realizing they have similar meanings brings to mind other songs that have a similar meaning to these two, as well as other groups of songs that share a similar meaning and certain different elements. This raises the question that if music can be essentially about anything why are there a few different ideas that have so many different songs about them? The comparison of these two songs provides some insight into this dilemma.

The first element of these two song that helps to answer this question is the audience being reached by the different artists. Coolio and Rodney Atkins are, for the most part, writing for different audiences. Many of the people that listened to these songs when they were released were only going to listen to the one in their preferred genre and may never hear the other one. So even though the message in the songs is similar, the people who hear only one of the songs would see it as unique. Another part of this explanation can be derived from comparing the songs that involves the audience is that the artists are telling different stories in the songs  to get across their message which effects people in different ways. Some people connect with different stories, not everyone is going to be able to have a common experience with ever story, but the words that one artist uses to express the message may connect with someone more than another.  Something about the way they chose to present their message is what makes people like the songs and listen to the songs not the message itself. This leads to the conclusion that what really drives people to like a song is mostly the things these songs don't have in common as opposed to the things they do have in common. 

When the differences are boiled down to what they are on a basic level it is saying that the songs have different words and sounds. The sound of both is made in a completely different way. One with guitars and the other with a computer, resulting in a totally different sound even if the pattern that the sounds follow is the same. The word chose as well is totally different and although both artists are using slang words it is an entirely different set of words that are commonly used by different sets of people. Rodney Atkins uses words such as "prayin," "sayin," and "goin," while Coolio uses a different set of words such as, "homies," "croak," and "G." Those are the most basic elements of a song. A song is sound or music with words and these two songs are different in those most basic elements. Even with all the other similarities this is what makes songs individual and unique. This differentiation, despite all the similarities, is what makes it so that even though the songs are so similar in many other aspects, they are totally different songs. 

The one other thing these similar themes do that is mostly over looked is show the unity of people. The fact that these two artists from totally different backgrounds writing to totally different audiences would chose to right a song about a similar idea is an interesting concept to think about. It really shows how similar people really are that they would want to hear about the same thing despite being in totally different circumstances. The songs express ideas differently but ultimate those ideas are almost the same and there are most likely other songs written with this same meaning by other artists to other audiences. All these people wanting the reinforcement from a song that the struggles that they are facing can be overcome. This being such a common human desire to overcome obstacles and struggles. That although Coolio and Rodney Atkins are seemingly totally different, they both chose to write to this common idea is perhaps more insightful than anything else that could be gained from this comparison.     

Coolio's song "Gangsta's Paradise" and Rodney Atkins song "If You're Going Through Hell" are things that would seemingly be totally different and yet have a lot of similarities. Whether that be through the style they are written, the construction of the music, or mostly the message the artist is trying to convey. The popularity of these songs can be seen in that "If You're Going Through Hell" spent weeks at the top of the country music charts and the album "Gangsta's Paradise" went double platinum, meaning it sold 2 million copies. The popularity of these songs further shows how much people wanted to hear what both artists had to say despite the message of the songs being the same. The comparison of these two songs can help provide insight to a number of things about both modern music as well as society. The message of perseverance is something that all track of society want to hear. No one want to give up or be defeated and through their songs this concept is expressed. The wide spread listening to this message reviles things about how unified everyone is in society really is. However it also raises question about the lack of originality in modern music and how rehashing ideas in a different package often sells songs. That is a problem that does not plague these songs however, as the difference are there for a reason, to expand the accessibility of the ideas. The vast majority of the questions cannot be answered fully. Why do artist make songs about overcoming the obstacles in the way? Is it because of the difficult artist face before they make it big, it is they just want to make money and that concept worked in the past? These questions might not be able to be answered but through comparing songs new idea and thought emerge that proved insight in the both music and the world as a whole. 

