listening to a really awesome song.. then pausing to listen to the lyrics and finding that they're.. um.. well, a bit rapey.
I know, I know. Everyone and their grandma goes through bit of cognitive dissonance this at Christmas time when they listen to 'Baby it's cold outside' and find themselves singing along with Dean Martin (or possibly Will Ferrell) as he alludes to spiking his date's drink (in Ferrell's case, the adorable Zooey Deschanel) during what is possibly the rapiest christmas carol going. Possibly? No, definitely.
I've run into it other times as well. Outside of the Hair Metal and Gangsta Rap genres, even.
Example?
Bruce Springsteen's "Fire" (mistakenly attributed to Jeff Buckley on my Grooveshark playlist) Honestly, I don't know who performs the version I have. all I know is that although I still dig the melody I get a little squicked out when I take a close listen to the lyrics:
I’m driving in my car, I turn on the radio
I’m pulling you close, you just say no
You say you don’t like it, but girl I know you’re a liar
`Cause when we kiss, Fire
Late at night I’m takin’ you home
I say I wanna stay, you say you wanna be alone
You say you don’t love me, girl you can’t hide your desire
`Cause when we kiss, Fire
There's something off here. Bruce as the narrator doesn't seem to quite grasp enthusiastic consent, and seems a little co-ercive in his efforts to woo his date. Accusing one of lying is definitely romantic as well, don'tcha think?
I betcha 'But... Your Honor... When we kissed.... FIRE!!' would be an awesome defence in a date rape trial.
This is why I can't have nice things.
LOL @ you not being able to have nice things ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat's not even including the rampant statutory rape. There are way too many songs about seducing underage girls. Musicians are gross.
ReplyDeleteHoly hell, you're right! Happy Birthday, Sweet 16 anyone??
ReplyDeleteUgh, SO annoying. I don't listen to much rap but one rap artist whose sound and beats I really enjoy is Eminem - but I don't really listen to him because of all his woman-hating. Such a shame.
ReplyDeleteAnd this is why I listen to classical and instrumental jazz. Actually, it's really because I get distracted by words and it's easier to write with just music.
ReplyDelete"She shouldn't have worn such a provacative dress!" OKay.. but seriously, reminded me of this thing that happened to me a couple years ago...
ReplyDeleteSo, I work at a bar. It was a Sunday afternoon and I was waitressing over brunch. Some freshly turned 21 yr. old guys/gals came in. *woohoo* Anyway, they are ordering drinks and at the very end of it, the guys calls me "Sugar Tits." I was not amused. I responded with, "Excuse me? What did you just say? That is completely disrespectful. I'm your waitress, not some stripper on a pole." He responds with, "What do you expect? This is a bar." A BAR ON A SUNDAY MORNING YOU DIP STICK. Kicked those sexist POS's out and seriously evil-eyed the girls they were with. Nice choice ladies!
A) I WILL judge a guy based on how he treats servers in a restaurant or bar.
ReplyDeleteB)That line reminds me of another song that I'm often conflicted about liking - Stone Temple Pilot's 'Sex Type Thing'. I always really want to believe that it's a critique of rape culture and not just really really blatant macho posturing.
Now, I'm not commenting any "16/17" song, if any, that's come out in the last 20 years or so, but for the most part, a lot of these songs were made when the age of consent (depending on where one is, of course) was NOT 18. Of course, depending on the age of the singer/band, it could be downright creepy anyway (especially when performing it years after the fact).
ReplyDeleteThis is true... Happy Birthday Sweet 16 weirds me out because it always comes across to me like the singer (is it Paul Anka? Neil Sedaka?) sounds as though he's been waiting with baited breath for this girl to get all legal. And it creeps me out.
ReplyDelete(on the flip side, there's always 'I'm so young and you're so old' Diana)
Yeah, I was thinking about this a few weeks back when I was listening to the Beatles Rubber Soul. Jammin' and beeboppin along in the car, singing
ReplyDelete- "You better run for your life if you can little girl. Hide your head in the sand little girl, if I catch you with another man, little girl. That's the end. Little girl."
umm... not cool John. Not cool. I hope Yoko kicked his ass over that one.
Now for some happy thoughts!
ReplyDeleteSing along with Fugazi's Suggestion.
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/sexist/2010/03/18/date-rape-anthem-fugazis-suggestion/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XZnqkUq-J8&feature=related
Damn, I miss those guys.
Sting's I'll be watching you always gave me the "squicked out" feeling. Love that word btw.
ReplyDeleteIt's like the stalker's prelude song before they reach the rapey stage.
So true.
ReplyDeleteI was listening to a song with my teenage son in the car and was all 'Did he just say he was going to tie her to the bed and light the house on fire?'
What the hell are we listening too?!
'But, your honor, the music made me do it.'
It sounds so different coming from Anita Pointer.
ReplyDelete