Song Meaning

Sananda Maitreya's "What Would You Like?" is a deceptively simple tune that excavates the hollow core of manufactured happiness in Hollywood. The song's lyrics cleverly recast Dorothy and Toto, not as innocent travelers on the yellow brick road, but as jaded inhabitants of Beverly Hills, grappling with the surreal realities of fame. Dorothy's transformation from Kansas girl to a denizen of cosmetic surgery and financial squabbles paints a stark picture of the entertainment industry's corrosive effects. The repeated line, "She wishes they could all be happy," becomes increasingly ironic, a mantra masking a deeper disillusionment. It's a wish so pervasive it sounds less like hope and more like a corporate slogan, a demand even. The central question, "What would you like from the people today?" framed as the title of Dorothy's new play, exposes the transactional nature of celebrity. It's not about genuine connection or artistic expression, but about extracting something – attention, validation, wealth – from the masses. The "Do Re Mi Fa, Sol La Ti Da" interludes, seemingly innocuous, might represent the building blocks of manufactured pop, the basic elements used to construct a narrative designed to elicit a specific emotional response. Maitreya suggests that even these fundamentals are now commodified, tools in the machine. Ultimately, "What Would You Like?" isn't just a commentary on Hollywood; it's a broader critique of our collective obsession with fame and the pursuit of happiness as a commodity. Dorothy's story serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the potential for corruption and the loss of authenticity when dreams are manufactured and sold. The song invites us to question what we truly desire from the 'people today' – and whether that desire is being manipulated by the forces of entertainment and consumerism.