Berrylicious wrote:
Years ago there used to be songs that revolve around love, joy, whimsical stories, everything but now it's about drugs, sex, and some nonsense.
It's already been pointed out that there have been highly sexual pop songs since at least the 60s, as well as pop songs about drugs. Of course, a major part of Elvis' success was his sex appeal.
However, there's been loads of songs that revolve around "love, joy, whimsical stories and everything" recently. Here are some prominent examples:
- "Here Comes The Night Time" by Arcade Fire is about poor people enjoying dancing despite the struggles they face
- "Step" by Vampire Weekend is, again, about the joy of music
- "That's Love" by Chance The Rapper is about, erm, love... ranging from romance to sharing a family meal (Chance's last album is a mixture of whimsical drug songs, equally whimsical love songs and a few about serious issues)
- The whole of Twin Forks' album is whimsical love songs
- Chvrches' "The Mother We Share"
- Hozier's "Take Me To Church"
- "Mr Tembo" by Damon Albarn is about a baby elephant who loves soul music
- "Left Hand Free" by alt-J is a modern day "Rocky Raccoon"
I'm sure there must have been upbeat songs by the big names in pop, but I'm not too familiar with them. One Direction's "Story of My Life" jumps out at me.
Then there are artists who mostly speak of romantic failure (The National, Frank Turner, Jack White, Cage The Elephant, Haim), politics (Against Me!, Kanye West, Andrew Jackson Jihad - though they've certainly dabbled in upbeat pop, such as "Getting Naked And Playing With Guns"), or darker themes (QOTSA's "...like Clockwork" was inspired by a near death experience). I don't know exactly where to place Arctic Monkeys - great music, but most of their songs have some undertone related to sex or drugs. "I Wanna Be Yours" is the most romantic but it's a cover.
Quote:
Some time ago female singers never engage in strip teasing or dance like a stripper, similar to how Beyoncé, JLO and other singers do it today. Don't get me wrong. I don't hate sex but I hate the pornographic version of sex as seen in most media. I can't understand why it's profitable for the media to present yourself as some sort of like a sex doll for people to gawk at, especially if you're a woman looking to earn a living. For the media to portray women as one way, is that why there have been cases of rape or sexual assault year after year? Is that why girls or women and some cases men have been trafficked for sex? Is that why girls struggle with eating disorders? Is that why there are women who have never been happy with how they look and resort to plastic surgery to make themselves feel better for the man they want to be with? Is that why they risk being slut shamed for daring to express their sexuality? I think the media played a role in why these things happen all the time. It seems so normal for female singers or models today to take on the role of a seductress, stripper or an object of what they call is the male gaze, though I've never heard of that word.
I don't think it's empowering of Beyoncé or other singers to present themselves as strippers, as a way to express their sexuality. I don't subscribe to feminists saying that this is female empowerment when really it's not about their agency. Female empowerment is a bit complicated because they will say one thing or another. How am I supposed to empower myself when I'm exposed to so many mixed messages about what is to be a woman? The world's not telling how to be myself, how to love myself, how to be intimate. It's telling me how to hate myself, how to hate my body, how to love/hate men, how to hate sex, how to hate the way I look, how to hate other women, how to wish to someone I'm not, how to model my lifestyle after a celebrity's. I don't know what to do. I'm never gonna get away with it. At least I didn't have to pay attention to the media trash every day. I'm glad there are organizations that challenge the bad media.
Beyoncé mostly performs for other women, and she personally feels empowered by what she does. If you don't find it empowering, then, without meaning to be flippant, don't do it. Find what works for you and do it instead. Stop looking to pop stars as inspirations. You're not Beyonce, you're Berrylicious!
If you want female role models in music who don't sexualise themselves, look at PJ Harvey or Lauren Mayberry or Danielle Haim or Regine Chassagne or Laura Jane Grace or Hannah Reid or Jenny Lewis or Suzie Zeldin or Jenny Conlee or Alison Mosshart or Ruby Amanfu or Lucy Rose...
11 Nov 2014, 10:35 am
