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Amy Folchi

Prof. Hellmers

English 1201

3 April 2022

A Rhetorical Analysis of OneRepublic and SOS’s versions of “I Lived”

“I Lived” is the title and general center of the song originally sung by OneRepublic, and

the same central theme is present in the Sons of Serendip (SOS) band’s cover of the song as well.

Ryan Tedder wrote the original version of “I Lived” and OneRepublic released the song in 2014,

including it in the 2013 album Native (Shelton). SOS, on the other hand, did not release their

version of the song on YouTube until 2017. Despite the similar ideas and use of pathos within

both music videos, each presents its message and rhetorical appeals quite differently, starring

different stories and different characters. OneRepublic’s version involves a boy with Cystic

Fibrosis who wants to live life to the fullest and has a more futuristic tone. The second version

by SOS focuses on the band members themselves and focuses on the past, showing videos of the

things the band has done together previously (“I Lived | OneRepublic Cover by SOS”).

Ultimately, both versions of "I Lived" utilize pathos and focus on the theme of living life to

the fullest. However, they attract audiences with different tastes in music and approach the

theme in different tenses. 

To start with, there is notable background information regarding the bands and the

specific song, “I Lived.” According to tv tropes, although the band’s music style can vary,

OneRepublic is considered a pop-rock band (“OneRepublic (Music)”). Regarding the specific

song, “It’s a song I wrote for my kid,” stated Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic, though he

believes the song can apply to anybody (Tedder and others 0:10 – 0:12; 0:18 – 0:31). On the
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other hand, the SOS “…group has a very refreshing modern sound that is grounded by the

classic instrumentals” (Barbieri). Concerning the song “I Lived,” SOS stated that it “…was a

great song for us to cover because it allowed us to reflect on the fact that we are making a living

doing what we love. We feel so much gratitude” (“I Lived | OneRepublic Cover by SOS”).

Despite similarities, a different heart lies behind each version.

To begin, the use of pathos is evident in both videos. The OneRepublic video includes

a very sick youth who has had his illness for fifteen years and has a short life expectancy.

Despite this, there are many scenes of the boy enjoying living life at various life stages. There

is the obvious emotion of sadness with the sickness of someone so young. However, the

upbeat sound of the music, optimistic tone of the youth, positive lyrics, and scenes of a joyful

boy living life in various ways and stages of life give a feeling of joy and inspiration as well.

The SOS version utilizes pathos by looking back on a variety of memories, such as a marriage

proposal. Recalling the past can produce a variety of emotions. Even good memories can be

bitter-sweet because they have passed, and one cannot relive them. People are designed to feel

emotions together. The viewer can thus feel or sense the excitement and joy in the displayed

memories with the band. Both videos emotionally connect the audience.

Secondly, the main theme of both versions is living life to the fullest. Not only is this

message captured quite well in the lyrics, but in the OneRepublic video, Brian, the main

character, says “I want to make the most out of my life and have as much fun as I possibly

can, and my biggest fear is not being able to do that” (Vandegrift and others 2:49-2:54). This

makes it quite clear that Brian wants to live life to the fullest. This is in perfect relation to the

lyrics, especially the chorus which, among other things, says “I swear I lived.” Ultimately, at

the end of his life, Brian wants to be able to say that he “lived.” The SOS version also agrees
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with this line of the song. The variety of positive clips of past events gives off an aura that

they are pleased with their life so far. The visuals and the lyrics in both versions weave

together nicely to give the message of living life to the fullest.

Third, both versions attract audiences with different musical tastes. SOS’s version has

an audible and visible gentler tone in comparison to the OneRepublic version. Visually, the

video begins by showing the instruments used, such as a harp, none of which create intense

music. While there may be those on the middle ground who enjoy the styles of both bands, the

SOS version likely attracts those who enjoy the gentler, smoother sound of their version while

the OneRepublic version attracts those who like the more upbeat sound. Thus, considering the

versions’ different musical styles, they likely bring in people with different tastes in the styles

of music they enjoy.

Finally, the two versions use different tenses to approach the theme. The OneRepublic

video felt more forward-looking. Note again Brian saying, “I want to make the most out of my

life” (Vandegrift and others 2:49-2:54). The wording of this seems to imply that he has stuff

to do still to fulfill this wish. In the SOS cover, the visuals are focused primarily on memories.

This produces a feeling of the artists looking back on what they have already done with

satisfaction. With the things that they showed they have done previously, they illustrate the

statement “I swear I lived.” Notably, they cause the past tense of this line of the song to stand

out in how they designed their video. Although both videos illustrate the same theme, they use

different tenses to approach it.

In conclusion, OneRepublic and Sons of Serendip’s versions of the song “I Lived”

both use Pathos and the same theme while tackling the theme in different tenses and attracting

different audiences. Overall, either video can give a bitter-sweet atmosphere, whether through
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OneRepublic’s contrast of sadness and inspiration or SOS’s combination of joy and almost

melancholy pleasure of fond memories. Both versions apply the message of living life to the

fullest while presenting different musical styles with OneRepublic’s more upbeat style and

SOS’s gentler, classically based music. Even with the same lyrics, the difference in musical

style attracts different audiences with different musical tastes. While OneRepublic’s version

looks ahead, SOS’s looks behind. Ultimately, the two videos complement each other. While

one reminds you to look back on the fond moments behind you, the other one reminds you to

run the road ahead with everything you have.

Works Cited

Barbieri, Natasha. “Classical Crossover Musical Group Sons of Serendip.” Classical Crossover

Magazine, 29 Jan. 2021, https://classicalcrossovermagazine.us/classical-crossover-musical-

group-sons-of-serendip/.

“I Lived | OneRepublic Cover by SOS.” YouTube, YouTube, 20 Oct. 2017,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEcftSmhd7A. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.

“OneRepublic (Music).” TV Tropes, https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Music/OneRepublic.

Shelton, Jessica. “‘I Lived’ by OneRepublic.” Song Meanings and Facts, 9 June 2019,

https://www.songmeaningsandfacts.com/i-lived-by-onerepublic/.

Tedder, Ryan, and Noel Zancanella. OneRepublic - I Lived. YouTube, YouTube, 25 Mar. 2013,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7TTsBcgV9A. Accessed 3 Apr. 2022.

Vandegrift, Taylor, et al. OneRepublic - I Lived (Official Music Video). YouTube, YouTube, 25 Sept.

2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0rxydSolwU. Accessed 3 Apr. 2022.