Chris Brown's ‘Residuals’, Understanding Interpersonal Communication Through Music by Enyjé Sandoz

In the song Residuals by Chris Brown, it reads, “Tryna put a muzzle on my crazy feelings. One minute I'm cool and then the next, I'm tripping, no.” The singer denotes the fluctuations in his feelings as “cool” and “tripping” which could mean he is upset, confused, or acting out of the norm of his character.

Feelings “are experienced differently because they do not generate the same physiological response as emotions do” (p. 76).” The singer is experiencing these feelings as a result of heartbreak which is an emotion. Heartbreak is an emotion because it is triggered by a stimulus. It can also cause someone to have physiological symptoms such as chest pain, tears, etc. In this example, the stimulus is the end of a relationship. His feelings are not triggered by a specific stimulus but as a result of the stimulus.

Additionally, the song states, “I was lying when I said the feeling's mutual, oh.” This is an example of emotional sharing. Emotional sharing is, “communicating the circumstances, thoughts, and feelings surrounding an emotional event” (p. 72).

The artist confesses that he was not truthful when he and the other party agreed (communicating their thoughts) to end the relationship (emotional event). His dishonesty regarding the matter emphasizes the importance of expressing one’s true feelings. Ending a relationship is a grand decision (whether for better or worse); it requires great deliberation to ensure the appropriate decision is made. If someone is being dishonest about their feelings, it can result in dissatisfaction and decisions made based on false pretenses.

(Photo Credits: Travis Colbert)