I get it. At the moment your pop incarnation is cool and edgy with some sort of pseudo-lesbian vibe. I mean, who wouldn’t after that dick-head you were with beat the living crap out of you?
But do you know what else you are? A silly bitch. Normally I couldn’t give a shit about what others do, each to their own and all that; as long as you aren’t hurting anyone. Technically you aren’t holding a gun to anyone’s head but when you are a role model for the impressionable young, the criteria of ‘not hurting anyone’ has to be expanded.
The question I ask you is this; Does a woman who has been a victim of domestic abuse have to sing a song with the lyrics ‘I like the way you touch me there/I like the way you pull my hair’? I get that ‘Rude Boy’ is about sexy-time and supposed female empowerment (pfft – by objectifying men and taking on a domineering persona?) but you can’t imagine that people don’t take the knowledge they have of you in ‘real’ life and apply it to what you sing about. ‘Oh ho – that Rihanna, she likes it a bit rough eh?’
Then there’s your latest offering, a collaboration with renowned bad-boy Eminem. Disregarding the words, I like ‘Love the Way You Lie’ but I don’t like that the message it sends is that you are complicit with a song that glorifies physical and emotional abuse.
I just don’t get it. Sing about your experiences – let us know how confused and hurt and scared you were. But to willingly be part of the aforementioned songs? It is insidious.
You need to get a clue cos at the moment you may think you are coming across as hot, strong and confident but to me it is just sad, brittle and distasteful.
Love,
Grumpy
aww poor Rihanna. Something is going weird with her have you SEEN the Rude Boy film clip??!! I actually don’t have a problem with those songs – especially “I Love the Way you Lie”, I think it is sad and beautiful and in my mind doesn’t so much glorify as show the conflict within each person in that kind of situation. My main problem with that song is that it’s Eminem; if it was Jay-Z or someone who doesn’t have a misogynistic streak I would like it more.
I thought I was the only who said, “Whaaaa?” upon hearing her lyrics. NO ONE should be the victim of Chris Brown-esqe hate crime but no one should be subjected to details of how she gets off, either.
I got the shit beat out of me in college by a guy and I didn’t tell anyone what happened until 4 years ago (14 years after the fact). Share your story to help others; don’t do it to sell records.
And that’s the thing…it is not like she is sharing her ’story’ she is just perpetrating the cycle of violence.
That sucks Pam – must have been a horrible thing to have happen…and then to have that secret all those years
Who listens to Rihanna?
I dunno. A few million ppl around the world perhaps? We ain’t all uber cool non-mainstream hipsters like you Beef, lol
1. I don’t like Eminem.
2. I will ALWAYS get up to dance to Rudeboy. Sorry!!
No need to apologise. It is a catchy song – it is just the lyrics that are a bit dodgy!
I was bored one day last week and sat down in Waterstones (book chain). I picked up a book fairly randomly called Living Dolls by Natasha Walter and read the first chapter or so. It explains a lot about the likes of Rihanna: the empowerment of women by ‘taking charge’ of their sexual identity. Needless to say, I think this premise that many young women (particularly in the music industry) go by is a load of crap. I really can’t understand why they can’t see that they’re being exploited; in the end I put it down to having limited intelligence… Women like Rihanna give entirely the wrong message to young women and girls, but let’s not forget it’s unlikely to be her message in the first place.
There’s a review of the book here (if you’re remotely interested!!!!)
Exactly! Thanks Stephie – I will check out the link
She’s a classic example of how women are often complicit in the patriarchal value system that makes sure they are manipulated rather than empowered. It’s insidious, its a human tragedy. For an alternative view that totally rejects the patriarchy, check out twisty faster’s hilarious and powerfully insightful blog
You guys are making me want to go back and revisit my good ol’ Feminist Study uni days
You are being way too hard on the song! To me it looks like a painfully honest look at how abusive relationships work, something which is much harder to do than simply preach. Look at the self-hatred of the male lyric, is he condoning violence against women? Actually these lyrics would be a minefield for a good English lesson, there’s an idea for you….
I am not so fussed about Eminem’s part in the song (because you are right, about the self-hatred etc) but hers, considering her history. He isn’t condoning the violence but just by being who he is, with what he has, it glorifies it for some of the more impressionable out there. They aren’t all as intelligent and self aware as us you know
Do I want a minefield in a good English lesson though?
Dear Grumpy
I’m just putting it out there that I really like your blogging, it’s really quite intelligent
Keep it up <3
Why thank you!