Let’s Talk About… Blurred Lines
I don’t often engage in social commentary on my blog and I feel like I should do this more. I always love having an open discussion and see how other people react – makes life just a little bit more interesting.
How many of you have heard the song Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell? No? View the video above and let me know your thoughts on the song. Let me know what was the first thing that came to into your head when you viewed it.
Today, at work, I was reading this article on the Guardian. It basically spoke about how a whole of people are in outrage over the songs lyrics/video. According to the article, around 20 student unions in the UK have already banned the songs playing at their clubs. One blogger called it a rape song and another referred to the song as ‘rapey’. This term quickly spread throughout media outlets.
Robin Thicke states that the whole premise of the song is how overconfident men get when trying to get with a girl in the club. This is often indicated by the multitude of references to the size of his penis throughout the song – because we all know guys boast about that sort of thing to try and impress a girl. It’s only recently that Robin Thicke has had to defend his song, for when it first came out it was just this catchy little pop tune.
Personally, I think the whole thing is ludicrous and blown way out of proportion. Sure, the video makes you feel a tad bit uncomfortable because of the semi-naked women parading around (there is an uncensored version) but personally, I don’t find it offensive because the women are looking straight at the camera and don’t seem at all ashamed of their body. Thicke has said that to portray the machoness men think they have, him, T.I. & Pharrell started goofing around acting like old men sitting on a porch, calling for the pretty girls walking by, “Hey, pretty lady! Whatchu saying?”.
If we take a look at the lyrics (which frankly shouldn’t really be over-analysed because it takes the fun out of what’s meant to be a catchy pop tune) in one verse he says, “I know you want it.” This to me doesn’t sound ‘rapey’ at all – more like the sort of things you hear a man who has a big ego say. It’s not exactly like the line is, “I know you want it… even if you don’t consent.” In another verse he says, “Go ahead, get at me.” Well, that seems to me like he’s giving the girl a choice of whether she wants to get with the guy or not. No?
Frankly, if you’re going to ban a song like this you might as well ban every other song as of late. All recent songs talk about sex, drugs and alcohol. This is nothing new, however, so I do not understand the large outcry to this song. I feel like other universities will be pressured into banning the song not because they find it inappropriate but because of the large widespread news.
Can I also point out that the song Don’t Cha by the Pussycat Dolls also has the line “I know you want it”? So, because a man said it it’s assumed rapey but when a woman says it it’s sexy? Is that it?
What are your thoughts?
19 Comments
Ches
I personally love the song. I went giddy when it was covered in Glee.
http://chestervizconde.wordpress.com/
chynnashley
Ah, I love the song too. Glee’s version was pretty good 🙂
Ches
Yes!
Katy Long
I’d never heard it before but after listening, I agree, if a woman was saying these things it wouldn’t have caused half as much uproar. The video is a bit awkward but most videos are! Personally it’s not my kind of song, and maybe it is a bit inappropriate, but there are much more pressing issues in regards to how women are viewed than this song! It certainly doesn’t deserve all the bad press!
chynnashley
Ah, so glad you agree! Yes, I agree that the video is inappropriate but there many videos featuring naked women.
Thanks for commenting 🙂
Sakura
Hi Chynna, I love your new blog design. Do you know Korean too?
chynnashley
Hi! Thank you 😀 I don’t unfortunately, but I would love to learn.
Sammy
I actually don’t mind the beat of the song, it’s VERY catchy and anything that has a catchy beat and tune to it, I tend to like it! I’m not even sure why people are making a HUGE deal out of this video… I’ve seen worse. Much worse. The video is a bit inappropriate, but like I said – I’ve seen worse.
chynnashley
Agreed!
rezinap
This is really interesting because I always see the same outcry, like on Tumblr about how it’s very rapey. I can sort of see it but like you said, people are making a bigger deal than what is really necessary but that’s what people do, I guess. Over analyze things (I’ve been guilty of the same thing). People are just paying more attention to this song because it’s so popular and hyped up.
I love your layout, btw! (✿ ♥‿♥)
– http://fairymice.ofblue.org
chynnashley
I think the title ‘Blurred Lines’ can be viewed as rapey, but the actual song itself doesn’t seem like it at all. I bet sales have gone waaaaay up because of all the hype – so, Robin Thicke is having the last laugh.
Thank you! 😀
Derrell Jamison
I heard a few people talk about this song being rapey. When I first heard it, I didn’t have any sort of feelings that this was the case. It’s just a catchy song and he is spot on with his portrayal of the over confidence that most guys have in the club. You hit the nail on the head with this post! Good read, awesome layout!!
“Go ahead, get at me” –> http://www.DerrellJamison.com *shameless plug*
chynnashley
People overreact. Thank you and glad you liked the post! 😀
Kate B
How ironic that a song titled “Blurred Lines” has so many people trying to figure out the meaning behind the song. I just think it was meant to be a random song. “What rhymes with hung me” honestly.
chynnashley
Haha, people these days, eh? Can’t just sit down and listen to a song – gotta analyse it over and over again. Sigh.
Thanks for commenting!
Erica
hi! found your blog though One Chocolate Box link up
as far as the song goes, how is it any different then all the others out there? If you make noise about this one you should be making noise about all the others as well. just my thoughts any ways.
Erica @ http://thevissercan.blogspot.com
chynnashley
Preach! All songs pretty much sing about the same topics nowadays… where’s the originality at?!
Thanks for commenting 😀
Erica
agreed.
Angelica
I watched a minute and 30 seconds of the video and then turned it off. I didn’t hear all the lyrics and I can’t be bothered to look them up at the moment. My thoughts is that the video is the same crap objectifying women seen everywhere. Women with very little clothes parading around men with a lot more clothes. I’m sick of the whole concept. I’m sick of the whole industry. This isn’t worse or better than any other music videos these days. This IS the music industry today. Male musicians using women as accessories and female musicians undressing to succeed.