Notes

The album Confessions, released by Usher in 2004, delves deep into the artist's innermost thoughts and struggles, providing a raw and intimate look into his mind. Through the lyrics of the album, Usher openly discusses his guilt over cheating on his lover, his feelings of depression, and his struggles with fame and fortune. While these themes may be familiar to many, what makes this album stand out is the way in which Usher uses these themes to provide a deeper understanding of his own psychology. In order to fully understand and interpret a person's behavior, Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory emphasizes the importance of understanding the unconscious mind. Usher's Confessions album can be viewed through this lens, as the artist uses the lyrics to give insight into his own unconscious mind. By openly discussing his inner battles and struggles, Usher is attempting to provide listeners with an understanding of his psychology and help them identify with his experiences. The album can be seen as a form of self-analysis and self-therapy, as the artist uses the lyrics to gain a better understanding of himself and his own behavior. This essay will explore the themes and lyrics of the Confessions album through the lens of Freud's psychoanalytic theory, and will examine how Usher uses the album to provide insight into his own psychology.