Blurred Lines!

jaffacakesyum

What does everybody think of then new song from Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell and T.I.?

It's called "Blurred Lines" and has caused a bit of a controversy for its "rapey" lyrics. See article.

I'm in two minds about this one. On the other hand, I think it's a fantastic tune, very catchy, and, while I haven't seen the banned version of the video, I think the video as it is now on youtube is fine. Yes there are naked women, yes it's objectifying women, but along with the million other hip hop videos out there. It's a bit of fun.

On the other hand, the lyrics are very borderline rapey...

I don't know. The artists maintain they wanted to be controversial but it's not about being "rapey" and afterall they are three married men.

What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU

lilmissprincess

Not a comment on its inappropriate lyrics, but more the fact that its been stuck in my head since waking up at like 2am with it in my head the other day...

Princess Peach

I love the song! We do our warm up to it in my dance class

About the article, I think the author is being very sensational and reading way too much into the lyrics.

Ice Storm

+1 on it being annoyingly catchy!

It bothers me a little, mainly because it reminds me of older men saying "good girl" to me in an (unintentionally?) condescending manner.

Legs.Eleven

My honest answer: Musically I don't like the song as it's simply not my cup of tea. The lyrics - I'd take them with a pinch of salt. It really depends on the delivery and who's delivering them and I don't get the creepy vibe from this personally. I know nothing about this Thickie fella so I don't feel I can comment as I don't know his track record but it's not the vibe I'm getting.

Good-looking women dancing around naked - well I don't have a problem with nakedness in and of itself but when a naked/half-naked image is stuck in to sell any auld tat or to cause a stir and gain popularity for an average-sounding song or one hit wonder, it gets tiresome and it's been done to death in modern times. Does absolutely every single little thing have to be sexualised in order to sell it? Most people will only look at this video to see naked women and it doesn't say a huge amount about your music if you have to resort to such hackneyed marketing tactics.

Overall though, I doesn't stir any kind of emotion in me except boredom tbh. It's been done to absolute death.

cantdecide

The whole package is, in every sense over-produced disposable rubbish, in my humble and not unconsidered opinion. Don't fall for the hype- it's formulaic beyond belief.

seosamh1980

I love the song and think the video is pretty funny, totally done to get attention so can't fault their planning there! Things like spelling out the words with the balloons, it's so in your face it's just funny.

--Kaiser--

What is the 'rapey' lyric? 'I know you want it?'
Is that it?

username123

Dont know who any of the singers are, not my kind of music, found it boring and turned it down it within a minute or so. At first I thought the tallest chap was Simon Cowell when he was wearing the sunglasses - wouldnt be into Mr Cowell personally. The women are kinda bland, and no one has a singing voice Id be drawn to.

What are the rapey lyrics? She's a good girl.....I know you want it?

Edit - I just watched the more explicit version of the video - its far more interesting tbh, and I really like that the women are not wearing fake tan - makes a change.

Legs.Eleven

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

What is the 'rapey' lyric? 'I know you want it?'
Is that it?

I suppose the title as well.

Mysteriouschic

I strangely love it because of the video and the song is so catchy its always makes me want to dance. It's just a fun video really don't need to read too much into it. There are many other videos that are worse.

jaffacakesyum

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

What is the 'rapey' lyric? 'I know you want it?'
Is that it?

The fact that the song is called "Blurred Lines" - it's talking about the blurred lines between consent basically. That "no" sometimes means "yes" - that sometimes a girl really wants hardcore sex but is too much of a "good girl" to let on. Hence the "I know you want it" and "But you're a good girl" sung repeatedly throughout the song.

I can see why it makes some women uncomfortable.

But I actually like the song :pac: Just wanted a discussion on this - I'm sure there's plenty of other songs, mainly hip hop, that have this kind of undertone...nothing new I suppose.

Legs.Eleven

This bit is gas:

Thicke has insisted, a bit guilelessly, that by having the women naked, he was pushing the boundaries. “We pretty much wanted to take all the taboos of what you’re not supposed to do—bestiality, you know, injecting a girl in her bum with a five-foot syringe—I just wanted to break every rule of things you’re not supposed to do and make people realize how silly some of these rules are.”

Pushing boundaries? Ah would ye go away outta da!

Rules against bestiality are silly? I'm baffled...

jaffacakesyum

username123 wrote: »

Dont know who any of the singers are, not my kind of music, found it boring and turned it down it within a minute or so. At first I thought the tallest chap was Simon Cowell when he was wearing the sunglasses - wouldnt be into Mr Cowell personally. The women are kinda bland, and no one has a singing voice Id be drawn to.

What are the rapey lyrics? She's a good girl.....I know you want it?

Get out :mad:

I think the women are gorgeous.

Mysteriouschic wrote: »

I strangely love it because of the video and the song is so catchy its always makes me want to dance. It's just a fun video really don't need to read too much into it. There are many other videos that are worse.

I agree it's quite a fun video. Despite the lyrics and the whole "it's objectifying!! grrr" thing, if you watch the video the guys are actually dancing around and having fun in the video, not just sitting ogling them or slapping their asses :pac:

Gilbert Grape

This is a better video...<snip>

username123

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

Get out :mad:

I think the women are gorgeous.

I liked them better after I watched the explicit version. I think I found the outfits kind of bland more than the individuals. Although - I really only thought the caucasian brunette was gorgeous - the others less so.

But the whole thing is a bit bland, uninteresting and will be forgotten in no time. It doesnt strike me as music that will last iykwim.

seosamh1980

I think the brown haired girl is gorgeous, my boyfriend was shown the video by his brother and immediately called me to get a look at her because she's "my" type

Dolbert

username123 wrote: »

What are the rapey lyrics? She's a good girl.....I know you want it?

'I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two' springs to mind!

username123

Dolbert wrote: »

'I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two' springs to mind!

I must have stopped listening by the time it got to that bit.

--Kaiser--

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

The fact that the song is called "Blurred Lines" - it's talking about the blurred lines between consent basically.

That's a pretty liberal interpretation of the title and probably says more about you than the writers of the lyrics. Here's a more rational interpretation, in my opinion

Dolbert

Rapey is probably too strong a word, but it's 'pushy bloke in a nightclub who won't back the fcuk off' in song form (IMO). Mildly annoying but I won't be getting bent out of shape about it.

tommyboy2222

i think the author of the article was annoyed by the nudity and tried to make an issue that wasn't an issue about the lyrics.

I reckon you could find offense in any pop song if you were that way inclined eg
in Daft Punks Get Lucky Pharrell sings "Shes up all night for good fun, I'm up all night to get some".

Also i'm sure she's not too worried about Rhiannas lyrics wondering if a bloke can get it up and if he's well hung!

seosamh1980

I just couldn't ever be bothered getting offended by a song. If it has a good beat and I don't get sick of hearing it then it's fine by me...unless it's Rihanna, "Sex in the air I love the smell of it" or whatever that lyric was.

clairefontaine

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

That's a pretty liberal interpretation of the title and probably says more about you than the writers of the lyrics. Here's a more rational interpretation, in my opinion

I read it as more this woman is given permission to be overtly demanding and to step outside the constraints of prudish femininity. Not to say that femininity is prudish, but there is a prudish side to acceptable femininity in that some or many women can be afraid to tap into their siren for fear of potential negative labels, or because they don't know how to manage it.

I suppose it could also be read as peer pressure, that is not impossible to imagine either.

jaffacakesyum

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

That's a pretty liberal interpretation of the title and probably says more about you than the writers of the lyrics. Here's a more rational interpretation, in my opinion

:rolleyes: There's no need for that. Can you not just have a discussion without snide snipes like that?

I think that article is pretty good up until it explains the "Blurred Lines" bit. I think it goes through the rest of the lyrics pretty well explaining them, but I still can't help but see the intention in the title and lyrics "Blurred Lines". "I hate these blurred lines" between a girl who is a "good girl" but still "i know [she] wants it".

I also think though, something that takes the "rapey-ness" out of it; While T.I's rap is quite "degrading" (for want of a better word - I'm not complaining about objectifying women etc. etc.) the whole "tear your ass in two" lyric etc. etc. I think the very first line of the rap puts the consent back in it :pac:

"One thing I ask of you, Let me be the one you back that ass up to"

username123

Blurred Lines - maybe the songwriter is just some eejit who thinks he knows what women want?

I fail to understand how someone thinks someone else actually wants some kind of raunchy sex but doesnt go for it because they want to be perceived as prudish or some such. And if they they do secretly want it - saying no means they dont want it enough to get over their own issues. Ergo - they dont want it. Dont adults talk to each other about this kind of thing in the bedroom "Do you wanna do it like this", "No, not into it that way" or "Cool, lets do it" etc

Its not really difficult, if someone says no, it means no. It doesnt mean - Im saying no but I really mean yes, unless you are some teenage boy hooked on bad porn.

Maybe Im going off on a tangent.

clairefontaine

username123 wrote: »

Blurred Lines - maybe the songwriter is just some eejit who thinks he knows what women want?

I fail to understand how someone thinks someone else actually wants some kind of raunchy sex but doesnt go for it because they want to be perceived as prudish or some such. And if they they do secretly want it - saying no means they dont want it enough to get over their own issues. Ergo - they dont want it. Dont adults talk to each other about this kind of thing in the bedroom "Do you wanna do it like this", "No, not into it that way" or "Cool, lets do it" etc

Its not really difficult, if someone says no, it means no. It doesnt mean - Im saying no but I really mean yes, unless you are some teenage boy hooked on bad porn.

Maybe Im going off on a tangent.

I can see that too.

Its not someone else's call to script your desire.

If there was something in the song that indicates he was touching her, I would definitely call it sex assault.

But the lyrics indicate that she grabbed him didn't they?

cantdecide

If the lyrics are about anything (and they're most probably about nothing), it may well be the common male fantasy of a 'lady in the street and a whore in the bedroom'. The girl who gets freaky for him because of what a great a lover he is. It's raunchy and controversial because the small bald men in board room knows it'll make them the moolah.

panda100

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

It's a bit of fun.

seosamh1980 wrote: »

the video is pretty funny, it's so in your face it's just funny.

Mysteriouschic wrote: »

It's just a fun video really don't need to read too much into it.

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

I agree it's quite a fun video.:pac:

I consider myself quite a fun person. I do crazy stuff and generally like having a laugh, but for the life of me I just can't see anything 'fun' in this video.

I was actually shocked when I saw it on tv the other day. The whole idea of naked women prancing around for the titillation of fully clothed men, is just a bit outdated at this stage really. The whole women being sexual objects for the boys concept is just degrading and done to death. If anything the whole video is boring, and couldn't be any further away from being what I would consider 'fun'.

Oh THAT'S the catchy song I keep hearing on the radio.

I don't really like the whole "bitch" thing, but maybe that's just me.
I don't think it's rapey or whatever though, it keeps saying stuff like:
"The way you grab me
Must wanna get nasty
Go ahead, get at me"

"One thing I ask of you
Lemme be the one you back that ass up to
So, hit me up when you pass through"


Lena's stranger danger song in the eurovision was worse sure

Tisserand

Love that song, the tune is very catchy, but I never bothered listening to the lyrics. So that's what it's all about...!

--Kaiser--

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

:rolleyes: There's no need for that. Can you not just have a discussion without snide snipes like that?

It wasn't really a snipe, lyrics are often quite vague and open to interpretation. Take a look at this site songmeanings.com and all the wildly different meanings people infer for a song....and often in no way connected with what the artist actually meant

(e.g. 'Ticket to ride' - some people think it's about a girl, others say it's about getting a clean bill of sexual health....while John Lennon has gone on record saying it was about Paul McCartneys reluctance to take acid)

Mod

Please be reminded that posting videos/pictures of nudity could result in a siteban.

Thank you.

I absolutley LOVE that song. It's one of my favourite tunes at the moment. It's rarely my style but I dance in the car every time that comes on the radio.

They're song lyrics. That's it. Just song lyrics.

Why must people always overthink things?

pwurple

Deleted User wrote: »

Why must people always overthink things?

Yeah, down with Thinking!
We are girls afterall. Giggle.

*cringe*


Sorry, I just hate that turn of phrase. I actually agree with you on this song. People bothered by this must not listen to many pop lyrics. Yes, it is formulaic but catchy enough. I was a bit morto for Hayden Panetteire on graham Norton when she clearly had too much to drink and started wiggling away when they were performing.

clairefontaine

I can't believe that was banned from YouTube.

Honestly. Get a grip.

--Kaiser--

clairefontaine wrote: »

I can't believe that was banned from YouTube.

Honestly. Get a grip.

The nude version? No nudey bits are allowed on any of Youtube

clairefontaine

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

The nude version? No nudey bits are allowed on any of Youtube

The article jaffacakes linked says it was banned from YouTube. I watched I on vevo. The nude bits are boobs. Big wow.

Ridiculous.

I thinks it's catchy and fun, good summer tune.

April O Neill

Love it.

April O Neill

cantdecide wrote: »

Don't fall for the hype- it's formulaic beyond belief.

I didn't fall for the hype. I liked the song long before I ever saw the video.

April O Neill

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

What is the 'rapey' lyric? 'I know you want it?'
Is that it?

That, I suppose, and I guess some might take "blurred lines" the wrong way. I dunno.

Arawn

I know you want it is a bit rapey??? How, women know when men want to get in their pants and men know when women want them in their pants. Nothing rapey about saying I know you want it.


Saying I know you want it despite what you saying no. Thats rapey

April O Neill

Dolbert wrote: »

'I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two' springs to mind!

Eh, that could also just be dirty talk...

Malari

Went to listen to this song as I hadn't heard it. I like it, just downloaded it :-)

I don't see anything wrong with the lyrics.

Dolbert

April O Neill wrote: »

Eh, that could also just be dirty talk...

The poster asked for an example and I gave one, personally I can take or leave the song

Thicke said he had received the approval of his wife Paula Patton before shooting the video.[20]

Ahhh

clairefontaine

bluewolf wrote: »

Thicke said he had received the approval of his wife Paula Patton before shooting the video.[20]

Ahhh

Wife is smiling all the way to the bank. Smart lady.

ElleEm

I have to say, I love this tune!
It is catchy, and I would see the lyrics being more sexy than "rapey".
My 58 year old mother told me today that the more she hears it on the radio, the more she likes it. I must ask her if she has an opinion on the lyrics.
When I heard all the hype about the original video, I was intrigued, but the girls are just topless and having fun in the video. I prefer to see this type of music video instead of ones with girls in bikinis being pawed over by some "gangsta".

clairefontaine

The fact RAPEY is being used so frequently, suggests to me an implicit acknowledgement that there is a grey area.

How did this word become so popular?

April O Neill

The video director is female - of course females can be sexist against their own sex so I guess that's neither here nor there.

April O Neill

clairefontaine wrote: »

The fact RAPEY is being used so frequently, suggests to me an implicit acknowledgement that there is a grey area.

How did this word become so popular?

First time I heard it was on 'The Inbetweeners' - that show was popular, but I'm not sure if it was popular enough for it to be the reason the word entered common parlance.