More often than we’d love to admit, we’ve come across words like ‘animal’, ‘primal’, ‘beast’, and so on, used to describe some human emotions, instincts, and behaviours, though not always in a positive light. As humans, we’re ‘built’ to be rational. Through our upbringing, society, formal education, and other influences, we’re taught how to behave, and before we know it, we’re adults with responsibilities, expected to be mature and logical. But who or what answers our primal instincts, ranging from emotions to lustful desires? The desire to get lost in the moment, run wild, get blackout drunk, feel someone’s hands on our bodies, live without worries, and simply listen to our bodies and hearts. These are desires we’ve learnt to keep under wraps, often because the people around us, who might also be battling against theirs, expect us to do so. Contradictory, right?
What is said to set us apart from animals is our ability to reason rationally, and without it, we’re considered beasts. But who made it wrong? Or better still, why is it wrong? We get so lost in our pursuit of the composure that most of us don’t possess that we begin to call our desires guilty pleasures, fetishes, and fantasies. What stops us from being the ‘animals’ we are? What stops us from pursuing our desires and wants? The answers to these questions would probably lie in our logical side, or better still, the rational and supposedly more human side of us.
As animals, we can be free, authentic, instinctual, addicted, obsessed, lustful, and in love without holding back. We can give it our all without looking back, live and love without following the world’s rules, and live our lives, right or wrong, without constantly worrying about what others think. We can get lost in the moment, savour that tingly emotion, pursue and hunt, be wild, and be untameable. Life loses some of its meaning when everyone becomes logical, rational, and guarded. A rational person, as we often imagine one, might find it rather difficult to be completely invested in love without holding back, become entirely consumed and engulfed by desires, or break rules without worrying about the consequences. At least, that’s what we’re often led to believe.
Being an ‘animal’ in this context is not about being a goat, a dog, or an ostrich. It’s about being instinctual, following our hearts and bodies, and being authentic, as the case may be. It can also be associated with the desire to pursue thrilling experiences, spontaneity, and the YOLO (You Only Live Once) feeling. It is about being able to find fun and excitement in little things, especially the ones that matter. It does not necessarily mean abandoning responsibility or disregarding the consequences of our actions. Rather, it raises the questions about the extent to which our desires for control can stop us from fully experiencing certain parts of life.
This discussion examines the different interpretations of animality through the musical works of different contemporary artists. This will be done by evaluating the songs of 11 artists with similar titles: ‘Animal’, ‘Animals’, and ‘Like Animals’. The songs that will serve as our case studies are: Animal by KATSEYE, Animal by BOYNEXTDOOR, Like Animals by BTS, Animals by Maroon 5, Animal by Neon Trees, Animal by Troye Sivan, Animal by Miike Snow, Animal by Benee, Animal by AURORA, Animal by Kesha, and Animal by R3HAB and Jason Derulo.
Though these songs portray different dimensions of what being an animal really means, they share some similarities. For instance, Animal by KATSEYE and Animal by BOYNEXTDOOR connote liberation and the embracing of one’s instincts and nature, while Animal by R3HAB and Jason Derulo and Animals by Maroon 5 describe being an animal as a form of primal sexual intimacy that can be consuming. Some focus on the societal pressure that comes with being sophisticated and associate being an animal with being free, while others describe it as the feeling of being in love, being free and being oneself in love, or simply following our instinctual pleasure drive. Collectively, these interpretations demonstrate that animality is not restricted to one particular behaviour or emotion. Rather, it represents different aspects of human nature that emerge depending on individual experiences and circumstances.
Animality as Desire, Intimacy, and Surrender
Animal by Troye Sivan focuses on the intense combination of carnal desire, deep devotion, and complete honesty. ‘I’m an animal with you’, as used in this song, can be interpreted as the acknowledgement of the uninhibited self that emerges in the presence of a loved one. Lines like ‘I’ll die to care for you’, ‘No angel can beckon me back’, ‘I want to build a home for two’, and ‘I can’t keep my hands off you’ further emphasise the emotional and sexual dynamics between the two lovers. The connection between the lovers extends beyond mere physical attraction. Animality here is used to describe a feeling of being at home and emotionally unrestrained. The contrast between the imagery of hell and angels in the song is particularly striking, as it suggests a willingness to embrace a love that may be considered unconventional or transgressive rather than retreat into the safety of socially approved behaviour. The relationship is therefore presented as a space where physical desire and emotional commitment coexist, allowing the lovers to experience a version of themselves that is both vulnerable and uninhibited.
A similar interpretation can be found in Animal by Aurora. Animals in AURORA’s song can be interpreted as representing lovers. The line ‘I’m an animal hunting for an animal’ associates animality with the instinctive pursuit of another person, suggesting a form of attraction that is driven by desire rather than deliberate restraint. The imagery of a ‘battleground’ and a ‘concrete jungle’, alongside the description of animals ‘hunting for love, killing for pleasure’ presents romantic and sexual relationships as one involving pursuit, mutual effort, and vulnerability. The line ‘Let me become an animal, cause when you’re an animal you lose control’ further reinforces the idea of surrendering to instinct rather than restraint. The song presents love and pleasure as powerful forces capable of drawing individuals into experiences that challenge their usual sense of control.
Animal by Kesha focuses more explicitly on immediate gratification and the temporary nature of pleasure. It highlights the feeling of going with the flow, without letting uncertainty about the future ruin the experience. ‘So if it’s just tonight. The animal inside, let it live and die.’ The line reflects an acceptance of fleeting pleasure, suggesting that an experience doesn’t have to be permanent to be worthwhile. Animal, as used in this song, represent the instinctive desire to embrace the moment, even when satisfaction might be temporary. Expressions such as ‘Fight’, ‘Magic’, ‘I’m starstruck’, alongside the imagery of a racing night, create a sense of urgency while portraying pleasure and emotions as an intense and otherworldly experience.
Animality as Obsession and Destructive Attraction
Tyler Glenn, the lead singer of Neon Trees, described the core inspiration behind the track as being a ‘masochist in love’ and how humans naturally revert to primal instincts when dealing with attraction. The line ‘I won’t be denied by you, the animal inside of you’ points to a relationship driven by raw physical and emotional consumption rather than gentle affection. Animality in this song refers to an intense, potentially destructive relationship between two lovers, a ‘cannibal’ and the ‘victim’, where desire overrides the instinct for self-preservation. The song employs the imagery of cannibalism, predation, and consumption to portray a relationship in which desire becomes inseparable from vulnerability and the possibility of emotional pain. Expressions like ‘I wanna run and hide’ and ‘You’re killing me now’ suggest an awareness of the emotional consequences of the relationship, yet this awareness does not necessarily diminish the speaker’s desire to remain involved. ‘Take a bite of my heart tonight’ is a voluntary beckoning by the victim to the ‘cannibal’, reinforcing the willingness to surrender emotionally, even at the risk of getting hurt.
Similarly, Animals by Maroon 5 and Animal by R3HAB and Jason Derulo explore the relationship between sexual desire, obsession, and dependency. Animals by Maroon 5 describes actions by employing some animalistic traits like preying, hunting, eating, and following a scent. The song focuses on the physical attraction and desire that remain undeniable between the lovers. ‘Don’t deny the animal that comes alive when I’m inside you’ suggests that the presence of the other person awakens an instinctive dimension of desire that becomes difficult to control. The song communicates an intense, consuming, and potentially toxic relationship driven by primal, animalistic sexual desire rather than emotional depth. However, the song also introduces an element of hostility through the line ‘It’s like we can’t stop, we’re enemies’. Emotionally, they’re enemies, with no understanding of each other, but sexually, they’re addicted to the other person’s touch. Animality in this song represents an obsessive and consuming form of sexual attraction, in which physical gratification becomes intertwined with emotional conflict and dependency. Rather than presenting animalistic desire as an entirely liberating experience, the song highlights how the pursuit of instinctive pleasure can also become destructive.
Similar to Maroon 5’s song, Animal by R3HAB and Jason Derulo captures the intense body-to-body chemistry between two lovers, portraying their encounter as spontaneous, uninhibited, and largely driven by instinct. I’ll interpret animality in this song simply as being crazy and spontaneous: the uninhibited expression of sexual pleasure characterized by intensity, and a disregard for the presence and judgement of others. ‘Every time you put love on me, we don’t speak. We go animal’ shows the relationship between the two parties as one that needs little communication and probably no emotional connection to thrive. The phrase ‘we go animal’ communicates a willingness to surrender to desire, temporarily setting aside the social restraints and expectations that ordinarily govern behaviour. The relationship, as presented in the song, appears to thrive on physical attraction and the excitement of spontaneous encounters rather than an explicitly established emotional connection.
Animality as Social Conformity and Vulnerability
Animality in Animal by Miike Snow and Animal by Benee holds different meanings from those explored in the previously discussed songs.
Animal by Miike Snow touches on the pressure humans face to hide their desires and wants when dealing with society, the tension between individuals’ instinctive nature and the expectations imposed by the society. The line ‘I change shapes just to hide in this place, but I’m still, I’m still an animal. Nobody knows it but me when I slip, yeah, I slip. I’m still an animal’ suggests that individuals often modify their behavior and disposition to suit society’s expectations. Humans tend to put up a mask and behave in certain ways to conform to society’s expectations, but deep down, their animalistic instincts persist, though now tamed and without fangs. Faced with responsibilities, adulthood, and expectations, individuals live within constraints while actively watering down their desires and instincts. There is the desire to love wildly, dream and live freely, and feel intensely, but it seems unattainable when the world dictates what should be felt and how. So, they adopt different personas, suppress certain impulses, and learn to present themselves in ways that conform to societal expectations. However, beneath these adaptations, the instinctive nature remains. The expression ‘I’m still an animal’ therefore represents the persistence of the self beneath the identities constructed through social conditioning. As individuals assume the responsibilities associated with adulthood, they become increasingly conscious of the need to exercise restraint and maintain a particular image. Therefore, the song seeks to explore the conflict between outward conformity and inward authenticity. The animal is not necessarily an inferior or uncivilized version of an individual; rather, it represents the instinctive self that persists despite the demands of social adaptation.
Animal by Benee explores animality through the themes of vulnerability, insignificance, and survival in a competitive environment. The line ‘In this tunnel, I get lost cause I’m tiny like a dog’ presents an animal as a vulnerable being attempting to navigate and survive in an environment that appears overwhelming. The tunnel, as used in the song, can be interpreted as a highly competitive environment filled with individuals with different capabilities and social standing, constantly negotiating their positions and struggling for survival. In such a place, self-preservation becomes important.
The lines ‘And you can’t stay mad at me, I’m just an animal, a micro-celebrity, but I mean nothing at all’ and ‘Too much pressure, might get squashed, think I’m special but I’m not’ capture the self-awareness that comes with recognising one’s vulnerability in a competitive and cutthroat society. The reference to being a ‘micro-celebrity’ suggests a limited form of recognition or relevance, especially when considered in relation to other forces present in the environment. The song can therefore be interpreted as an exploration of the insecurity that accompanies navigating a competitive society, where individuals may feel insignificant despite their efforts to establish themselves. Furthermore, the expression ‘Too small, everything’s big to me’ highlights the subjectivity of human experience, as situations that might appear insignificant to others can feel bigger when approached from a place of vulnerability. Animality in this song therefore represents the struggle to survive, the awareness of one’s limits, and a need for understanding in an ever-changing environment where everyone is trying to find their place.
Animality as Liberation and Acceptance
Unlike the two songs just discussed, Like Animals by BTS explores personal liberation, raw instinct, and the acceptance of the less polished aspects of humans nature, particularly within romantic relationships. ‘If you wanna be animals, we can be animals’ is a line that suggests the desire to accept the uninhibited aspects of oneself and one’s partner. It captures the acceptance of human flaws, messiness, and desire rather than sanitising the human experience that comes with giving one’s heart to another. With expressions like ‘eat this life till your heart is full’, ‘claws’, ‘fangs’, and ‘got you in the wild’, the song touches on the recognition and embrace of a significant other’s primal and untamed self, suggesting that these qualities do not necessarily diminish an individual’s worth and desirability. Animality in this song therefore represents liberation from the pressure to maintain an idealized version of oneself and the willingness to embrace the imperfections that accompany genuine human experiences.
Animal by KATSEYE similarly explores animality through liberation and uninhibited self-expression, particularly in relation to dancing, personal identity, and intimacy. ‘You move like an animal’ associates animality with the spontaneous physical movement and freedom that comes from dancing without restraints. It shows the contrast between the sophisticated and composed identities individuals may maintain in public and the more uninhibited version of themselves that emerges when they’re in private or in spaces where they can express themselves freely. The song also explores the intimacy that comes from knowing someone outside their public persona. Being familiar with a person’s less composed side creates a form of closeness that is not necessarily accessible to everyone. Animal as used in the song therefore represents the spontaneous, expressive, and less restrained side of a person that emerges when they feel comfortable enough to not be guarded and abandon the expectations that come with their public identity.
Finally, Animal by BOYNEXTDOOR presents animality through the feeling of chasing ambition, trusting one’s instincts, and breaking past one’s own limits. The song employs the metaphor to communicate relentless movement and the instinctive drive to achieve more. Lines like ‘Hey, limit, come and catch me’ and ‘Blew past yesterday me like a red light’ symbolise breaking past one’s limits and pushing forward at full speed. When chasing ambitions that appear impossible, the expressions ‘Go with your instincts’ and ‘Move like an animal’ encourage individuals to trust their instincts and push beyond their perceived limits. Rather than overthinking every step along the way, moving like an animal encourages pure, unfiltered drive and hard work. In the song, animality represents an unrelenting drive to move forward, challenge existing boundaries, and exceed one’s previous capabilities. The animal becomes a symbol of momentum and determination, encouraging individuals to trust their instincts and pursue their ambitions with an almost limitless sense of possibility.
Conclusion
The eleven songs examined demonstrate that animality is a multifaceted metaphor through which different aspects of human existence can be explored. Although they share similar titles, their interpretations differ from each other. For some artists, it represents liberation from societal expectations and the freedom to express one’s authentic self. For others, it communicates the intensity of sexual attraction, romantic devotion, obsession, and the willingness to surrender to pleasure. It can also represent vulnerability in a competitive environment or the determination to overcome personal limitations.
While it can represent freedom, authenticity, and emotional fulfilment, it can equally communicate obsession, destructiveness, and vulnerability. This ambiguity between the positive and negative aspects associated with animality reflects the complexity of human instincts themselves. The same impulses that encourage individuals to pursue love, pleasure, and excitement can sometimes lead to experiences that challenge their judgement and threaten their well-being.
Ultimately, the songs invite us to reconsider the relationship between rationality and instinct, as well as the assumptions that inform our understanding of acceptable human behaviour. There is a distinction between acknowledging one’s desires and allowing them to dictate every action.
Being an animal, therefore, is not simply about abandoning the qualities that make us human. It is about recognising that rationality is only one dimension of human existence and that our emotions, desires, vulnerabilities, and instincts are equally significant. Perhaps the challenge is not to choose between being human and being an animal, but to acknowledge that both dimensions coexist within us. After all, what would be the point of possessing the ability to reason if we never allowed ourselves to feel, desire, explore, and experience life beyond the boundaries of what is considered sensible?
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