View source for Social:Miracles (Insane Clown Posse song)

"'''Miracles'''" is a song written by Insane Clown Posse and Mike E. Clark for ''Bang! Pow! Boom!'', the duo's 2009 album. A music video was produced for the 2010 reissue of the album, dubbed the "Nuclear Edition". The song's lyrics focus on things experienced in everyday life and displaying an appreciation for them. It has become perhaps the duo's best-known song. The song's music video has gone [[Finance:Viral video|viral]] and sparked a handful of memes,<ref name="mtv">{{cite news| url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/04/27/insane-clown-posse-violent-j-miracles/ | title=Insane Clown Posse's Violent J Weighs In On The Cult Of 'Miracles' | author=Anderson, Kyle | date=April 27, 2010 | accessdate=May 5, 2010}}</ref> and was parodied on ''Saturday Night Live'' and by Lonely Island in the song "Incredible Thoughts".<ref>http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/2016/06/the_lonely_island_s_popstar_reviewed.html</ref>

==Music and lyrics==
Inspiration for the song's lyrics came via the Internet generation and group members Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope raising children.<ref name=AdamCarolla>{{cite podcast |url=http://www.adamcarolla.com/ACPBlog/2011/08/08/insane-clown-posse/ |title=Insane Clown Posse |website=AdamCarolla.com |publisher=The Adam Carolla Show |host=Adam Carolla |date=2011-08-08 |accessdate=2011-08-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915151610/http://www.adamcarolla.com/ACPBlog/2011/08/08/insane-clown-posse/ |archivedate=2011-09-15 }}</ref> In response to both modern jadedness and their children experiencing wonders of the world for the first time, the group wanted to write a song about natural phenomena humans experience in life which often go unacknowledged.<ref name=AdamCarolla/> The closing lyrics encourage listeners to take time to look at the world and "appreciate the things that life has to offer".<ref name="Bruce">{{cite web |last=Bruce |first=Joseph |title=Violent J's Personal Review of Bang Pow Boom! |url=http://www.insaneclownposse.com/music/violent-js-personal-review-of-bang-pow-boom/ |date=September 4, 2009 |publisher=Psychopathic Records |accessdate=September 5, 2009}}</ref><ref name="ReligionDispatches">{{cite journal |last1=Laycock |first1=Joseph |date=May 19, 2010 |title=‘Miracles’ Rejects Disenchantment, Not Science  |journal=Religion Dispatches |url=http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/culture/2638/%E2%80%98miracles%E2%80%99_rejects_disenchantment,_not_science/ |accessdate=22 May 2010 }}</ref> According to Violent J, "What's a shame is how people walk around blind to it all. They lost their spirit about everything. If you can’t even see the miracle in animals, then you must have never truly loved a pet."<ref name="HatchetHerald">{{cite web | title=''The Buzz on "Miracles"'' | url=http://psychopathicrecords.com/hatchetherald/100423/index.html | date=April 23, 2010 | work=The Hatchet Herald, Volume 13, Issue 5 | publisher=Psychopathic Records | accessdate=2010-04-25 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426025115/http://psychopathicrecords.com/hatchetherald/100423/index.html | archivedate=April 26, 2010 }}</ref> He believes that scientific explanations can sometimes kill the intriguing mysteries of the world, such as how ancient pyramids were made.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news|last=Ronson|first=Jon|title=Insane Clown Posse: And god created controversy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/oct/09/insane-clown-posse-christians-god|publisher=The Guardian|location=London|date=2010-10-09}}</ref> Violent J admits that the song's lyrics discuss "things [... that] may not be actual [[Philosophy:Miracle|miracle]]s. They may have scientific facts explaining them [...] But nonetheless, these things are still incredible [...] and they should be appreciated."<ref name="KRBZ">{{Cite episode |title=Interview with Violent J |series=The Church of Lazlo |url=http://blogs.965thebuzz.com/lazlo/ |credits=Lazlo |station=KRBZ |location=Kansas City, Missouri |airdate=2010-04-19 |access-date=2010-04-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131160126/http://blogs.965thebuzz.com/lazlo/ |archivedate=2009-01-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He added that the group's use of the word 'miracle' was intended to mean "something fuckin’ amazing and incredible, [... a] special, awesome event, [...] a great, wonderful thing."<ref name="HatchetHerald"/>

The lyrics focus on introspective themes which critics considered to be uncommon in Insane Clown Posse's music; however, Violent J states that these themes are important in the duo's work, and reveal their depth.<ref name="Bruce"/> In response to accusations that the group has changed its style and gone soft,<ref name="KRBZ"/> Violent J calls the song "classic ICP," noting that the group has always included one or two deep and meaningful songs on every album, and that this is just the first time that they've created a video for one of those songs.<ref name="HatchetHerald"/><ref name="KRBZ"/> Several reviewers have suggested that the song contains an anti-science message.<ref name="tribune">{{cite news|last=Keilman|first=John|title=Rappers' ode to 'miracles' taps into anti-science angst|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-11-30/news/ct-talk-keilman-miracles-1130-20101130_1_pomegranate-juice-science-rappers|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=9 December 2010|date=2010-11-30}}</ref><ref name="secularnewsdaily">{{cite web |url=http://www.secularnewsdaily.com/2010/10/12/insane-clown-posse-comes-out-as-evangelical-christian/ |title=Insane Clown Posse comes out . . . as evangelical Christians |author=Mike Daniels |date=2010-10-12 |work=Culture Wars |publisher=Secular News Daily |accessdate=2011-08-18}}</ref><ref name="guardianblog">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2010/aug/18/insane-clown-posse |title=Insane Clown Posse: a magnet for ignorance |author=Louis Pattison |date=2010-08-18 |work=Music |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |accessdate=2011-08-18 |location=London}}</ref> Violent J disputes the claim, asserting that "the [song's] concept is about appreciating everything in this world. It's not about God; [...] religion; [.. or] science."<ref name=AdamCarolla/><ref name="NYMag">{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/04/violent_j_of_insane_clown_poss.html |title=Violent J of Insane Clown Posse Explains the Remarkable Song ‘Miracles’ |author=Jason Richards |date=2010-04-27 |work=Entertainment |publisher=New York Media LLC |accessdate=2011-08-16}}</ref> Joseph Laycock of ''Religion Dispatches'' suggests that rather than rejecting science, the song disapproves of disenchantment.<ref name="ReligionDispatches"/>

The song's music is built around an ascending synthesizer melody, and climaxes with an electric guitar solo performed by Mike E. Clark, and beatboxing by Shaggy 2 Dope.<ref name="Bruce"/><ref name="Weiner">{{cite journal |last1=Weiner |first1=Jonah |date=April 13, 2010 |title=Do You Believe in Miracles? The wild, weird world of Insane Clown Posse. |journal=Slate  |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2250217/pagenum/all/ |doi= }}</ref>

==Music video==
[[File:ICP Miracles.jpg|thumb|A special effect from the music video, which has become [[viral video|viral]].]]
The music video for the song debuted on April 6, 2010, as part of the "Nuclear Edition" reissue of ''Bang! Pow! Boom!''.<ref name="NuclearEdition">{{cite web|url=http://www.insaneclownposse.com/general-news/bang-pow-boom-nuclear-edition-out-now/ |title=Bang! Pow! Boom! Nuclear Edition Out NOW! |publisher=Psychopathic Records |accessdate=7 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410123145/http://www.insaneclownposse.com/general-news/bang-pow-boom-nuclear-edition-out-now/ |archivedate=10 April 2010 }}</ref> The video's [[Engineering:Chroma key|green screen]] sequences were directed by Paul Andresen, with post-production being completed in Michigan.<ref name="Itzkoff">{{cite news |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/26/fools-gold-an-oral-history-of-the-insane-clown-posse-parodies/?src=mv |title=Fools’ Gold: An Oral History of the Insane Clown Posse Parodies |first=Dave |last=Itzkoff |date=April 26, 2010 |publisher=The New York Times |accessdate=26 April 2010}}</ref> The video has received over seventeen million views on YouTube.<ref name="YoutubeVideo">{{cite video |people=Insane Clown Posse (artists) |date=2012-09-25 |title=Insane Clown Posse - Miracles |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-agl0pOQfs |medium=music video |publisher=Psychopathic Video |location=Michigan |accessdate=2011-08-17 }}</ref> It also appeared in the webcomic ''Homestuck''.<ref name="Dave : Answer Gamzee">http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=004718</ref>

On April 17, ''Saturday Night Live'' aired a sketch which parodied the "Miracles" music video.<ref name="Anderson">{{cite web |url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/04/18/saturday-night-live-miracles-parody/ |title='Saturday Night Live' Takes Down Insane Clown Posse With 'Miracles' Parody |author=Anderson, Kyle |date=April 18, 2010 |publisher=MTV News |accessdate=20 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.is/20100420090005/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/04/18/saturday-night-live-miracles-parody/ |archivedate=20 April 2010 }}</ref> In the sketch, fictional personalities DJ Supersoak (played by Jason Sudeikis) and Lil' Blaster (played by Nasim Pedrad) debuted a fictional music video by the Thrilla Killa Klownz called "Magical Mysteries" as part of the Under Underground Records' "Underground Rock Minute".<ref name="SNL">{{cite web |url=http://www.insaneclownposse.com/general-news/saturday-night-live-parodies-the-miracles-music-video/ |title=Saturday Night Live Parodies the "Miracles" Music Video! |publisher=Psychopathic Records |accessdate=20 April 2010}}</ref> In the fictional video, Ryan Phillippe and Bobby Moynihan rap about things such as "where the sun hides at night" and how blankets work.<ref name="Anderson"/><ref name="SNL"/> ''Saturday Night Live'' had previously parodied Psychopathic Records in 2009.<ref name="Itzkoff"/>

Insane Clown Posse called the "Miracles" parody "a huge honor".<ref name="SNL"/> Violent J called the parody "off the hook hilarious".<ref name="HatchetHerald"/> Shaggy noted that Coolio had reacted unfavorably towards "Amish Paradise", "Weird Al" Yankovic's parody of the rapper's song "Gangsta's Paradise", and stated "If Weird Al wanted to do one of our songs, I’d be like, 'Hell yeah.' To me, it's the same thing with ''Saturday Night Live''."<ref name="Itzkoff"/>

==Reception==
''The Detroit News'' music critic Adam Graham disliked the song, writing that "hearing this song makes you wish ICP would stick to serial killing".<ref name="Graham-review">{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Graham |title=''Pow! ICP revisits the Dark Carnival'' |newspaper=The Detroit News |date=September 1, 2009 }}</ref> ''Slate'' writer Jonah Weiner praised the song's music, but panned its lyrics.<ref name="Weiner"/> The A.V. Club writer Nathan Rabin described the song as "fucking insane".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/great-job-internet-insane-clown-posse-rainbows-fuc,39928/ |title=Great job, Internet! Insane Clown Posse, rainbows, fucking magnets and the miracle of existence |last=Rabin |first=Nathan |date=April 8, 2010 |publisher=The A.V. Club |accessdate=2010-04-13}}</ref> A ''Chicago Tribune'' critic mocked the song's lyrics saying, "I'm glad that when my kids get strep throat, their doctor doesn't say, '(Bleeping) antibiotics, how do they work?'"<ref name="tribune"/> James Montgomery described the music video as "a psychedelic special effects extravaganza that is sometimes really literal... and sometimes just confusing."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/04/08/insane-clown-posse-miracles/ |title=Insane Clown Posse's 'Miracles' Video Explained  |last=Montgomery |first=James |date=2010-04-08 |publisher=MTV Networks |accessdate=2010-04-13}}</ref> Pitchfork Media included "Miracles" on their list of The Top Music Videos of 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/8729-the-top-music-videos-of-2010/3/ |title=The Top Music Videos of 2010 |author= |date=1 December 2010 |work= |publisher=Pitchfork Media |accessdate=8 December 2010}}</ref><ref name="Itzkoff" />

==Magnets meme==
The song's line "Fucking magnets, how do they work?" became an internet meme. The following line, "and I don’t want to talk to a scientist, y’all motherfuckers lyin', and gettin' me pissed” also riled scientifically minded people on the internet.  Scientists created blog entries<ref name="magnets_blog_entry">{{cite web|last1=O'Brien|first1=Daniel|title=Learn Your Motherf#@kin' Science: A Textbook for Juggalos|url=http://www.cracked.com/blog/learn-your-motherfuckin-science-with-the-icp/|website=Cracked}}</ref> to teach Juggalos and even did so in person.<ref>{{cite web|title=Noisebridge Attempts to Teach Science To Juggalos at Insane Clown Posse Show In San Francisco|url=http://laughingsquid.com/noisebridge-attempts-to-teach-science-to-juggalos-at-insane-clown-posse-show-in-san-francisco/|website=Laughing Squid}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{YouTube|id = _-agl0pOQfs|title = "Miracles"}}
* {{MetroLyrics song|insane-clown-posse|miracles}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
*[https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/04/insane-clown-posses-miracles-video-is-ten-years-old.html Decade-long retrospective on the song] from ''New York''

{{Insane Clown Posse}}

[[Category:Internet memes]]

{{Sourceattribution|Miracles (Insane Clown Posse song)}}