One of the biggest representations of an artist's music is how they want their lyrics and meaning of the music to be represented in their music video. When I was looking for a topic to write about regarding women and music, I found myself spending hours on YouTube looking at different music videos. What I really found to be interesting was the way certain female artists portrayed themselves in their music videos. For example I will focus on 2 female singers that I have been a fan of and I think are pretty popular in today's society: Rihanna and Chrisina Aguilera.
So in my middle school years it was always the battle between Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, and of course I always chose Christina because I wanted to be different from everyone else in my class who were choosing Britney. I think at this age I wasn't concerned about the lyrics but more about what song I thought was "in" or popular at the time. Now, as a college junior and definitely after this class, I really listen to the lyrics and find it interesting to see how and what their music videos are like. Christina Aguilera was very popular when I was younger and then she kinda faded out. But she is now making a comeback!! The ironic thing is that she is no longer this innocent teenage appealing artist anymore. She is more sexualized and her videos display that. Lets look at one of her old videos vs one of her newest ones. The old video I chose specifically because people feel that it is a very empowering song, especially from a female perspective.
Christina Aguilera "Fighter"
In this song Christina talks about taking negativity and turning into positive affirmations. I find this song to be very empowering, relateable, and not just for women. She talks about becoming stronger: "Thanks for making me a fighter!" This kind of song was one I listened to when I was younger and used to sing around the house. I even at one point think I put it on my Myspace after a boyfriend broke up with me in like 7th grade. Like I said it was very relateable for all ages! Now lets look at one of her newest songs that just came out.
Christina Aguilera " Not Myself Tonight"
Ok, what is your first opinion on how she represents herself in this video? What about the lyrics? She talks about how "she is not the same girl tonight". Seems to me that she is talking about how how she is going to act while having sex, about how she is going to act like someone other than what she thinks of herself to be like. Is it because the script of these "dirty girls" or how women who display their sexuality more are more attractive? Maybe its this idea that women who are dress and dance sexy are more attractive to men. I think what most shocked me was how I feel that media has sexualized her more because they know that sex sells. The idea is that she is making a comeback now in music, so how do we get her noticed? I know just from keeping up celebrity news that during this time where she faded out of the high celebrity status for a bit, she had gotten married and had a child. I think this is why it surprises me that in this new song, she is displaying her self in a raunchy, sexualized way. I mean I am sure that many people could argue and say well she is just showing everyone that just because she is a mom, that doesnt mean she cant be sexy But c'mon, do you really think that she is gonna want her child to grow up and watch this video? I guess the whole point I am trying to make is that the media is going to extremes to make women become more noticed and to boost their celebrity status. And how are they doing this? By really emphasizing sex. The fact is that sex does selll, and this is probably why this song is becoming increasingly more popular.
Rihanna
Here is another artist whose newest music video I think really is a good example of how sex sells.
Rihanna "S&M"
First of all, I have no idea what S&M stands for and still don't after watching this video. But, to focus on this video and the lyrics, what is obvious is what Rihanna's message. One of her main lyrics are " sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me". She is trying to portray herself as bad girl, in a positive way. Again it is this whole idea that being a "bad girl" is attractive. One part of the video that I found to be really interesting was where she is tied up and it has on a poka dotted outfit with a lot of bright colors. This immediately got me thinking if she was trying to go along with this idea of there being a fantasy men being with younger girls, or school girls etc. This tied into the whole the discussion we had about porn and how women are displayed in it. What men are attracted to and what they find to be sexy. There is no doubt that this song emphasizes the whole sexual script of a "bad girl". That "bad girls" are hot and experienced. Now lately I really have looked at the type of music that Rihanna has come out with after the whole incident of physical abuse that she experienced with her ex Chris Brown. Since that incident, her music has been talking about the physical abuse in a sexual way. She has focused on talking about getting abused but liking it because she refers to it in a sexual way. Its this whole idea of a dominatrix, or about being forceful with a partner in a sexual way. Is this how the media is wanting her to represent herself as a powerful symbol against physical sexual abuse? This is what I think. I think that Rihanna has chosen to take what happened to her and through her music, express that she is a fighter and stronger woman now for having experienced what she did. This I think is wonderful because I feel that music and lyrics can be very powerful. But I think that the entertainment world has helped her express this in the wrong way. They have taken it and sexualized it. For the sake of being recognized and being sucessful in the music world, Rihanna has been drowned into this world that focues on the importance of sex. It seems that the music industry will do anything to promote a female singer. Women are being seen as sexual objects. I think that is sad that sex is becoming so important in order to become noticed in the entertainment business. Think about some female artisits that you listen to, is the focus on her voice or her body?
Finally, I want to end this blog with a song from a singer that I think truly empowers women. I have always loved India Arie's music because of the lyrics and because her messages are always very clear. This is an extremely talented artist that I think has not received as much recognition as she should.I think a big reason why is because she doesn't put herself out there in a sexual way. She doesn't let herself become a sexual object. She doesnt let the entertainment world impact her in this kind of way. What is wonderful is that some of her songs even talk about this.She is singer that I have much respect for because she doesn't allow her audience to focus on her body, or the way she dresses. She forces us to focus on her voice and in fact, she represents her femininity through her music and lyrics. I absolutely fell in love with this song, and for any woman I hope it is as inspiring for you as it was for me!!
India Arie "Because I am a Queen"
Erica
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