The following post is a part of a 4 Post series I am doing for one of my classes in university. The title of the class is “Sociology of Sexuality” and naturally the content of the blogs must discuss topics under the umbrella of that title. Therefore, the content will be slightly different to anything I’ve ever blogged about (Not that I really ever blog, so it’s hard to pinpoint whether or not I have a style or common topic). Regardless, if you’re wondering why I’m writing about this, that is why and, of course, I do believe they’re important discussions to bring up.
hello there,
hello there,
It's been a while, a really long while, since I posted a "My Monday Music" blog post, and I figured it was time to bring it back. For many contributing reasons, this week was just one of those weeks where I seemed to spend more time in my car than anywhere else. Yeah, fun times... And this meant that I got to listen to the radio! A LOT! But that's a good thing because there's a lot of really intelligent and empowering songs that are extremely popular in pop culture right now. Also, I may be in an extra sarcastic mood while I'm writing this. Maybe.
Because I spent such an incredible amount of time listening to these chart toppers (yes I know, I could have just turned the radio off, but who wants to drive in silence day after day?) I eventually started analyzing and critiquing them while I drove. I believe this is what they call "Committing Sociology"? There were a few songs in particular that were extra powerful and really stood out to me. There were some common themes in these songs and I began to think about the types of messages they're sending to the people that listen to them. I decided to help us all out and translate a few verses and lines from 6 of the most played songs on the radio right now. For fun of course, 'cause they're really great lyrics that make us feel good about our self worth and clearly that's why they're so popular. Those are the types of messages we usually get from pop culture... Right?
"All About that Bass" -Meghan Trainor
Lyrics:
"Yeah, it's pretty clear, I ain't no size two
But I can shake it, shake it
Like I'm supposed to do
'Cause I got that boom boom that all the boys chase
All all the right junk in all the right places"
Translation:
Even your curves need to be just right in order for you to be sexy but don't worry! As long as you have the right curves the boys will still like you! And don't forget, size two is the universal body type in which we should all base our ideas of the perfect body around.
Lyrics:
"Yeah, my mama told me don't worry about your size
She says, 'Boys like a little more booty to hold at night."
Translation:
Don't worry ladies, as long as you sleep with them, guys will still like you even if you're fat. And it's obviously true because her mom said so.
And I can't finalize a short critique on this song without at least addressing the title... Let's not kid ourselves into thinking "bass" is referring to the musical beat and not a girl's buttocks. "because you know I'm all about that bass". Really? That's what you're all about? What a fulfilling life you must be leading. Butts are everything to you? How proud your parent's must be of you. Oh.. Wait... You're mom probably is, as long as some guy is holding that bass at night.
What frustrates me most with this song is that it's actually trying to portray a good message. Girls come in all shapes and sizes - good true message. There's nothing wrong with being bigger - Yes, we need to hear that more. But if someone is going to write a song that's empowering women to love their bodies regardless of shape and size, then it needs to be about them feeling good about themselves for themselves. NOT because any shaped girl can still satisfy a guy. We like to think that when our culture promotes a healthy body image, it's to empower the individual. But we're still just telling girls they need a man (but now you can get one if you're fat).
And I can't finalize a short critique on this song without at least addressing the title... Let's not kid ourselves into thinking "bass" is referring to the musical beat and not a girl's buttocks. "because you know I'm all about that bass". Really? That's what you're all about? What a fulfilling life you must be leading. Butts are everything to you? How proud your parent's must be of you. Oh.. Wait... You're mom probably is, as long as some guy is holding that bass at night.
What frustrates me most with this song is that it's actually trying to portray a good message. Girls come in all shapes and sizes - good true message. There's nothing wrong with being bigger - Yes, we need to hear that more. But if someone is going to write a song that's empowering women to love their bodies regardless of shape and size, then it needs to be about them feeling good about themselves for themselves. NOT because any shaped girl can still satisfy a guy. We like to think that when our culture promotes a healthy body image, it's to empower the individual. But we're still just telling girls they need a man (but now you can get one if you're fat).
"Bang Bang" - Jessie J (feat. Ariana Grande & Nikki Manaj)
Lyrics:
"She got a body like an hourglass, but I can give it to you all the time
She got a booty like a Cadillac, but I can send you into overdrive"
Translation:
Excuuuuuuuse me boys! I know I don't have those sexy curves like her but I can still have sex with you as much as you want!! And I know my butt isn't as big as hers but I'm still actually really good in bed!
Lyrics:
"No I don't need to hear you talk the talk,
just come and show me what your mamma gave (oh ya)"
Translation:
I don't really care what you have to say, I just want to know whether or not you're good in bed. Also, talking about moms is apparently a super sexy topic of seduction...
"Black Widow" - Iggy Azalea (feat. Rita Ora)
Lyrics:
"I'm gonna l-l-l-love you until it hurts
Just to get you I'm doing whatever works
You've never met nobody
That'll do you how I do ya
That will bring you to your knees
Praise Jesus hallelujah
I'm-a make you beg for it, plead for it
Till you feel like you breathe for it
Till you do any and everything for it"
Translation:
We broke up so now I'm going to have sex with you until you realize what you lost and want me back because I'll do anything you want me to do in bed because I know that's all that matters to you and I'm okay with that because I'm in love with you.
I think that the purpose of this song may have been to show women in a more dominate role within a heterosexual relationship with the man being more submissive, but I really feel like that is not what's actually going on here. Nice try, Iggy. But even if you're bossing a guy around in the bedroom, you're still using sex to make him like you. Don't waste your time girl! There's more to you than sex.
I think that the purpose of this song may have been to show women in a more dominate role within a heterosexual relationship with the man being more submissive, but I really feel like that is not what's actually going on here. Nice try, Iggy. But even if you're bossing a guy around in the bedroom, you're still using sex to make him like you. Don't waste your time girl! There's more to you than sex.
"Boom Clap" - Charli XCX
Lyrics:
"You are the light and I will follow
You let me lose my shadow
You are the sun, the glowing halo
And you keep burning me up with all your love, uh"
Translation:
Don't worry babe, you give my life purpose, I'll do whatever you want.
Also, if he's the light and the sun, is she dating God? What's that like? But then, when she says "you keep me burning up with all your love" I start thinking this is more of a Jacob Black and Bella Swan / Twilight kind of relationship. Either way, I don't think loving a guy is where you should find your purpose in life.
Also, if he's the light and the sun, is she dating God? What's that like? But then, when she says "you keep me burning up with all your love" I start thinking this is more of a Jacob Black and Bella Swan / Twilight kind of relationship. Either way, I don't think loving a guy is where you should find your purpose in life.
"Steal My Girl" -One Direction
Lyrics:
"Kisses like cream,
Her walk is so mean
And every jaw drop
When she's in those jeans,
Alright (alright)
I don't exist
If I don't have her
The sun doesn't shine,
The world doesn't turn,
Alright (alright)"
Translation:
Attention all men! I see you staring at my girlfriend's butt when she walks by, doesn't she look hot? My world revolves around her, I would die without her because I'm a multimillionaire at 20 and have nothing else to do with my time and have no reason to find any purpose in my life other than to have a girlfriend with a nice bum. Also, I realize that the tighter her pants are, the sexier she is.
Superb boys. Glad you're 15 year old fans ask for this to be on repeat all the time. Hypothetically speaking, if I was a guy, I don't think I would actually appreciate guys sexualizing my girlfriend publicly because of her body. Heck, as a woman I don't like it if guys see me only as a sexual object. It's not flattering...
Superb boys. Glad you're 15 year old fans ask for this to be on repeat all the time. Hypothetically speaking, if I was a guy, I don't think I would actually appreciate guys sexualizing my girlfriend publicly because of her body. Heck, as a woman I don't like it if guys see me only as a sexual object. It's not flattering...
"Fancy" - Iggy Azalea
Lyrics:
"I could hold you down, like I'm givin' lessons in physics (right, right)
You should want a bad b**** like this (right right)"
Translation:
Hey boys! I know you think your girlfriend is the good girl next door, but what you should have, what you really actually want, is a girl that's willing to get freaky in the sack with you and likes to degrade herself by referring to herself in derogatory terms. That's the girl you need to bring home to your mom!
GIRLS! STOP! You're sexual prowess in the bedroom DOES NOT determine your worth as a partner.
GIRLS! STOP! You're sexual prowess in the bedroom DOES NOT determine your worth as a partner.
So,
What I've learned from pop culture:
1. Anyone can have sex and you can be good at it whether you're curvy or skinny. (Who knew!)
2. We're nobodies if we don't have someone to sleep with.
3. A girl's value is in how crazy they are in bed and how often they're willing to do it.
It's a great time to be alive people!
On a completely unrelated note, I'm joining the Amish.
I hope by now you've realized this blog post was fused with sarcasm. As catchy as these songs are, they're degrading towards women. They're further proof that our society attaches self worth with sex appeal. The purpose of this blog post wasn't to rip apart the Top 40 tracks (although I guess I sort of did). The purpose was to draw attention to the fact that we become incredibly deaf to the messages sent to us through pop culture. Of course I don't mean deaf in the physical sense, I mean it metaphorically. We don't even always notice when the things we listen to have potential to be offensive. We are immune to messages that tell women that they're only worth as much as their body. I will be the first to admit that I'm guilty of this. I'd listened to each of these songs dozens of times before really considering their messages. And I also admit that I find these songs terribly catchy and can sing along from start to finish with most of them...
So, I'm not saying that we should boycott the pop tunes we love to jam in our cars to. I hope, however, that this post will make you more open minded to the potentially negative things we accept in our popular culture world. And I hope that one day maybe one of these pop icons could write a song that doesn't correlate a girl's worth to their sexual activity.
-m.o
I hope by now you've realized this blog post was fused with sarcasm. As catchy as these songs are, they're degrading towards women. They're further proof that our society attaches self worth with sex appeal. The purpose of this blog post wasn't to rip apart the Top 40 tracks (although I guess I sort of did). The purpose was to draw attention to the fact that we become incredibly deaf to the messages sent to us through pop culture. Of course I don't mean deaf in the physical sense, I mean it metaphorically. We don't even always notice when the things we listen to have potential to be offensive. We are immune to messages that tell women that they're only worth as much as their body. I will be the first to admit that I'm guilty of this. I'd listened to each of these songs dozens of times before really considering their messages. And I also admit that I find these songs terribly catchy and can sing along from start to finish with most of them...
So, I'm not saying that we should boycott the pop tunes we love to jam in our cars to. I hope, however, that this post will make you more open minded to the potentially negative things we accept in our popular culture world. And I hope that one day maybe one of these pop icons could write a song that doesn't correlate a girl's worth to their sexual activity.
-m.o