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Jon Bellion: "Stupid Deep" Analysis

  • Writer: Madison Morris
    Madison Morris
  • Sep 15, 2019
  • 4 min read

Updated: Nov 25, 2019


@jonbellion

Jon Bellion is an American singer, songwriter, producer and rapper that was born and raised in Long Island, NY. He first began making music by creating beats on his brother’s beat pad when he was a kid. He is best known for his single, “All Time Low”, which peaked at #16 on the Hot 100 and has collected over 300 million streams on Spotify. He wrote the hook for Eminem’s “The Monster”, was featured on Zedd’s song, “Beautiful Now”, received credits for writing and producing “Trumpets” by Jason Derulo, and has opened concerts for Twenty One Pilots’ Emotional Roadshow World Tour.


Bellion’s unique and integrative sound incorporates musical styles from many influential producers and artists, including Kanye West, Timbaland, Eminem, Pharrell Williams, Coldplay, and J. Dilla. He has also stated before in interviews that he does not actually know how to read music.



“Stupid Deep” is the fourth song on his latest album, Glory Sound Prep, which was released on November 9, 2018 and debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. This song includes Bellion’s reflection upon his life and purpose. He questions the reason behind his pursuit and believes it to be the “stupid deep” hole in his heart he is attempting to fill with fame, but he also wonders if he already has all that he is searching for. His aspirations and accomplishments have brought him to where he currently stands in the musical industry, but he also wonders if he has been working and producing in vain. He acknowledges that, ultimately, he is searching for something that cannot be bought: love. He realizes that he has been trying to fill a void by searching for himself and by attempting to earn validation and love from others along the way.


Bellion begins his song, which is one of his most deep and loved songs, by opening with the chorus:


“What if who I hoped to be was always me?”


He wonders if he is finally who he aspired to become or if he was himself all along. His next line:


“And the love I fought to feel was always free?”


This could be a reference to his relationship with God and his attempts to fill a God-sized hole in his heart with fame and fans. This is an unconditional, satisfactory, and free love that is not dependent upon his success and fortune. He continues to ponder and admit that he is pursuing love and approval to fulfill the piece of his heart that is missing.


He has alluded to this void in his other songs, like “Fashion”, saying:


“There’s an aching, there’s a hole in my chest. It’s amazing that the crown of a king doesn’t change me."


In his song “Paper Planes” Bellion says:


“Publishing checks and fake smiles as I see my dad. My pockets getting filled, but really, emptiness is all I have."


In “New York Soul, Pt. ii”, Bellion makes a reference to Jesus, saying:


“My joy lies in the Son.”


He also says:


“I need a family that loves me right. Don’t need a chain, don’t need a club at night.”


He then ends the song by saying:


“Where God's way is the hardest way. Told myself I'm keeping my faith. If it costs me my reputation, then take it, I'll give it all away.”


In the next verse, Bellion questions his path and destination, saying:


“What if where I’ve tried to go was always here? And the path I’ve tried to cut was always clear?”


He wonders if he has made the right decisions that have led him to this point. He also reflects upon the idea that he may never have had to leave, had he been content where he was. He continues speaking about his desire for fame and fortune and his confusion as to why that has been his goal:

“Why has life become a plan, yeah, to put some money in my hand, when the love I really need is stupid cheap, stupid cheap?”


This could be another reference to his relationship with God and receiving his priceless gift of love in Ephesians 2:8:


“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God”


"Stupid Deep" is simply Bellion's repentance and apology. He realizes that he lives one way, but feels another way. He knows what is right, but chooses wrong. He leans on himself and not God. All of these contradictory emotions and feelings within him stir up conflict and confusion as he pursues his career while also pursuing God.



On an episode of ‘For The Record,’ Bellion sat down with Genius’ Head of Artist Relations, Rob Markman, to discuss his aspirations for his audience: “When you dive deeper, you have to tune into what's being said, tune into what I'm talking about, or whatever. And I want that to take a second, like, I'm okay with that patience.”


I encourage you to take Jon Bellion's words to heart as you begin to dig deeper into the truth behind the lyrics and search for the meaning artists, like Jon, want you to find and resonate with. I highly recommend that you listen to Jon Bellion because of his creative genius and raw musical talent that is evident in his intricately clever lyrics and in the cinematic production of his music videos.




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