Usually I'm one to wait until Sunday for my blog post, but tonight I somehow stumbled upon a song/music video that was so abominable I couldn't wait to vent about it. Due to the extremely offensive nature of the songs I have been previously exposed to, I am not a fan of Tyler, The Creator to begin with. However, this brought my distaste to a whole new level. I came across a mention of the violent connotations of this song, and since we just finished watching the documentary in class about the exploitation of women in the music industry, I figured it might be relevant to watch the video. I first watched a lyric video, and was absolutely appalled.
In short, the song describes stalking a young woman, killing her if she says refuses sex, and then raping her dead body.
Here are the lyrics in their entirety: (Note the bold portion.)
"She"
(Tyler, The Creator feat. Frank Ocean)
Golden rubbers in these denim pockets (denim pockets)
On my waist, there’s a black Glock (black Glock)
New girl moved on the block (on the block)
She been plottin’ on my brown cock (brown cock)
Last night I slept over hers (over hers)
During sex, I overheard (I overheard)
A sword sliced the air, I pulled out the na-na
Rolled off the bed then shot back, pa-pa
Blood on the sheets probably spillin’ from my gash
Looked out the glass, seen you sprintin’ on the grass
A real ninja with the blade and the mask
Got them gold ninja stars and red Supreme nunchuks
Now she tryna patch me up, but
Girl, I was just tryna get a nutbust
If that’s your ex, you should probably own a pistol
But I’m guessin’ it’s wiser to exit with dude
The blinds wide open so he can
See you in the dark when you’re sleepin’
Naked body, fresh out the shower
You touch yourself after hours
Ain’t no man allowed in your bedroom
You’re sleeping alone in your bed
But check your window, (swag) he’s at your window
The night light hits off, turnin’ kisses to bites
I’m a down to earth nigga with intentions that’s right
You’ll be down in earth quicker if you diss me tonight
But I’ll be the happiest if you decide to kick it tonight
We can chill and I can act like I don’t wanna fuck
You can tell me all your problems like I really give one
But I give two for us cause you’re the one that I want
Don’t wanna seem like a punk pussy that sips on the punk pussy
See when I’m with my friends I just put on a front
But in the back of my top I’m writing songs about we
We as including I and yourself, making three
Little ones drums beating pretty hard if you ask me
You’re a pretty broad in the top three
Of things that I’ve been waiting to come, so
Meet me by the lake around 10 and skinny dippin’ and then
We can begin the pretend game, I wanna be Finn from Adventure Time
One, two, you’re the girl that I want
Three, four, five, six, seven, shit
Eight is the bullets if you say no after all this
And I just couldn’t take it, you’re so motherfuckin’ gorgeous
Gorgeous, baby you’re gorgeous
I just wanna drag your lifeless body to the forest
And fornicate with it but that’s because I’m in love with
You… cunt
I just wanna talk, and conversate
Cause I usually just stalk you and masturbate
And I finally got the courage to ask you on a date
So just say yes, let the future fall into place
I just wanna talk, and conversate
Cause I usually just stalk you and masturbate
And I finally got the courage to ask you on a date
So just say yes, let the future fall into place… cunt
Here's the official video:
"She" Music Video Link
Then I watched the actual music video, which is unsurprisingly nasty. First of all, the stalking (especially the final scene) is terrifying. The lyrics and the video suggest that because the man finds the woman to be attractive, his aggression toward her is justified, which is atrocious. Not to mention that videos such as this perpetuate the racist image of the aggressive, uncontrollable African-American male. The woman is portrayed as young, innocent, and naive (but of course the underlying message is that perhaps she still secretly desires to be stalked and abused). Another really disturbing aspect is how the protective figures of the father and the police officers are mocked and shown as foolish and laughable, as though any person who takes sexual assault seriously is a buffoon.
I am absolutely disgusted by this whole thing, and I can't believe that songs and videos such as this one are licensed to be professionally produced. How can we allow this to exist when 1 in 4 college girls is a survivor of rape or attempted rape? Toleration and appreciation of vile forms of media like "She" is what allows rape culture to ferment and grow.
This is terrible! Seriously, how can they publish this and think it's okay?! It would be a total scandal though if a woman posted this about a man. How could anyone think it is okay to make a song about stalking, rape, and harassment? Yea, sounds like a great idea! NOT. The part when he talks about taking her dead body into the woods and having sex with it is wrong on so many levels. I seriously wonder what the person who came up with this song was thinking. I'm sure it was something along the lines of, "Oh yea, this will be a hit!" when instead it should have been, "Wow, this is really repulsing and violates so many morals, we shouldn't go with this!" So many song artists need to wake up and pay attention to what they are portraying in their songs, because this is ridiculous and totally unacceptable.
ReplyDeletePeople in the media industry don't care anymore. it's all brainwash and riches. now since the media has gotten this bad (it was never nearly as bad as it is now "pop a molly"(wtf?)" and now that these songs are being drilled into peoples heads they can't help but comply, thus it gets worse and worse.
Deletehave you seen the banned skittles commercial from the superbowl? this is where our economy is right now
http://youtu.be/sCWyNmv0M3U (disturbingly disgusting.)
I'm seriously on the brink of tears after reading this. I don't understand why this would ever be okay to sing about let alone the multiple people who had to allow this to get published. How could this 'artist' ever think this is music, art, or anything worth being created. This is glorifying the act of murder, necrophilia, stalking, and fear (not to mention racism).
ReplyDeleteI think that another issue to address is not that "Tyler, the Creator" is making these songs, but that people are actually listening to these songs. They are listening and singing and some of them do not even know what these lyrics are saying, they just think the song is catchy and I think that is one of the issues of society. People think that there is an exception for music and there isn't and that is something that needs to change.
ReplyDelete