Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass

Stheno · 31-12-2014 11:34PM #1

Anyone else find the lyrics of this song both offensive and promoting ill health?

It repeatedly refers to thin women as stick figure insects/barbie dolls, and promotes that if you think you're fat you're still perfect from the bottom to the top?

Or have I got it completely wrong?

31-12-2014 11:37PM

No, I think she just says she won't be that skinny - size 2/6- and it's ok not to be and that magazines are awfully photoshopped
It doesn't mean all women who are skinny are silicone barbies or that not being a size 6 is fat - so even if you think you're fat for not being size 6, if you're still hot you're hot

Yeah, it's pretty clear, I ain't no size two
But I can shake it, shake it
Like I'm supposed to do
'Cause I got that boom boom that all the boys chase
And all the right junk in all the right places

I see the magazine workin' that Photoshop
We know that **** ain't real
C'mon now, make it stop
If you got beauty, beauty, just raise 'em up
'Cause every inch of you is perfect
From the bottom to the top

Yeah, my mama she told me don't worry about your size
She says, "Boys like a little more booty to hold at night."
You know I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll
So if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along

chorus

I'm bringing booty back
Go ahead and tell them skinny bitches that
No, I'm just playing. I know you think you're fat
But I'm here to tell ya
Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top

Yeah my mama she told me don't worry about your size
She says, "Boys like a little more booty to hold at night."
You know I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll
So if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along

J Mysterio · 31-12-2014 11:39PM

Got it completely wrong. She does say "i'm bringing booty back, tell all those skinny bitches that" but then says "i'm just playin". She rails against fake bodies, implants and surgery. It's about being comfortable in your body and not being self conscious in the face of hollywood ideals.

Admittedly it is more aimed at bigger women being comfortable in themselves but thats because the artist herself is more 'curvy'. She is standing up for women who feel under pressure to change themselves to magazine standards.

Stheno · 31-12-2014 11:42PM

J Mysterio wrote: »

Got it completely wrong. She does say "i'm bringing booty back, tell all those skinny bitches that" but then says "i'm just playin". She rails against fake bodies, implants and surgery. It's about being comfortable in your body and not being self conscious in the face of hollywood ideals.

Admittedly it is more aimed at bigger women being comfortable in themselves but thats because the artist herself is more 'curvy'. She is standing up for women who feel under pressure to change themselves to magazine standards.

So why stand up for women who are overweight while calling those who are not skinny bitches?

That's what I just don't get, I'm quite slim and have had female colleagues call me a skinny bitch to my face, regardless of the fact that if I called them a fat sow in return I'd be in trouble

I just find what she is doing misguided.

31-12-2014 11:42PM

Stheno wrote: »

So why stand up for women who are overweight while calling those who are not skinny bitches?

That's what I just don't get, I'm quite slim and have had female colleagues call me a skinny bitch to my face, regardless of the fact that if I called them a fat sow in return I'd be in trouble

I just find what she is doing misguided.

She says "just playin", she's not really saying they're all skinny bitches

eviltwin · 31-12-2014 11:43PM

I took the skinny bitch reference to be about mean girls, you know the kind who make bigger women feel bad, rather than about all slim women.

J Mysterio · 31-12-2014 11:45PM

Stheno wrote: »

So why stand up for women who are overweight while calling those who are not skinny bitches?

That's what I just don't get, I'm quite slim and have had female colleagues call me a skinny bitch to my face, regardless of the fact that if I called them a fat sow in return I'd be in trouble

I just find what she is doing misguided.

J Mysterio wrote:

Admittedly it is more aimed at bigger women being comfortable in themselves but thats because the artist herself is more 'curvy'. She is standing up for women who feel under pressure to change themselves to magazine standards.

...

31-12-2014 11:47PM

I can understand if you get a lot of hassle for being skinny that this might seem like yet more of the same, but I think it's really not in reality, it's more of a positive message - however skinny you may be some of those photoshopped pics are unattainable standards for anyone and reducing that pressure is positive

Orim · 01-01-2015 07:39AM

bluewolf wrote: »

She says "just playin", she's not really saying they're all skinny bitches

And I'm not a racist but...

Her goals are noble but it doesn't justify putting other people down, even if she means no offence and says it with all due respect.

If her next song was to try highlight unequal pay in the workplace, would she get as much slack for calling out those lazy stay-at-home bitches? I mean she'd be highlighting an important issue and would be just joking.

anewme · 01-01-2015 10:32AM

I hate hate hate that song........you are giving it too much creedance by analysing it.

I just hate her voice. They way she says....
no twwwweeeble.........and then the other bit where she is singing in the background, that booty booty....that booty booty.

aghhhhh, it just makes me want to punch the dashboard of the car.

It is an offensive song. To my eardrums. I hope it goes away soon. And her as well.

meeeeh · 01-01-2015 10:44AM

I don't know, one can be offended about anything these days. I tend to ignore lyrics in most pop songs because there isn't much worth paying attention to. However it does seem a lot of female stuff is obsessing about their bodies. Not exactly politically or socially hard hitting stuff.

italodisco · 01-01-2015 10:48AM

Honestly my wife's first thought on this song was that it was promoting obesity, something she herself is fighting.
I have to admit, it really does sound like some overweight woman trying to justify laziness and a fear of the gym /healthy eating.

Rubbish tune

meeeeh · 01-01-2015 10:59AM

Well it didn't take long for someone to drag out lazy fat people stereotypes. How dare they wish to be acknowledged as attractive too.

rainbow kirby · 01-01-2015 12:37PM

She could have made her point without having to trot out the "skinny bitches" line - it seems unnecessarily rude.

AmyPL · 01-01-2015 01:27PM

meeeeh wrote: »

Well it didn't take long for someone to drag out lazy fat people stereotypes. How dare they wish to be acknowledged as attractive too.

Hey, we can't have those fatties ever feeling good about themselves can we? Now that a song has been released I'm finally free to sit at home, eat what I want, and gain weight as much weight as I please. (End obvious sarcasm)

It's a stupid, annoying song that was probably written to court just the right amount of benign controversy. I don't like the song and I especially don't like the 'skinny bitches' line but I despise the hand wringing about songs like this promoting ill health- really? Give us overweight people a little credit please. We're not going to start relentlessly shaming thinner women while stuffing ourselves with junk food just because one rubbish song came out celebrating women who "ain't no size two".

(Ironically, I'd managed to avoid ever hearing this song until it entered rotation on the spinning class playlist at my gym. Hearing it makes me think of exercise.)

anewme · 01-01-2015 01:49PM

AmyPL wrote: »

(Ironically, I'd managed to avoid ever hearing this song until it entered rotation on the spinning class playlist at my gym. Hearing it makes me think of exercise.)

It really is a cringey song. Probably my most hated one from last year. Hope she is a one hit wonder.

I love my spin classes and if this pathetic excuse for a song made it's way onto the playlist, they'd be getting a written objection.:pac:

panda100 · 01-01-2015 03:15PM

I HATE that song. It's offensive to skinny women and I'm sick of the bashing we have been getting the last few years. The funny thing is that theses 'curvy' bodies that niki minaj, Kim kardashian and the likes have are all as a result of plastic surgery. These 'booties' we are getting shoved in our faces are just as much silicon barbie dolls. There is nothing body positive about this song as it is dismissing and degrading a whole cohort of people who are naturally slim

J Mysterio · 01-01-2015 03:29PM

The poor poor naturally slim women. Life must be so difficult for you.

J Mysterio · 01-01-2015 03:33PM

panda100 wrote: »

it is dismissing and degrading a whole cohort of people who are naturally slim

It's a song for bigger ladies to make them comfortable in their own skin. Its not a hate song on skinny women for ffs. Get over yourself.

BonsaiKitten · 01-01-2015 03:41PM

J Mysterio wrote: »

The poor poor naturally slim women. Life must be so difficult for you.

Naturally slim?
Explain that please?

Celly Smunt · 01-01-2015 03:44PM

They ALL have lovely bottoms.

Scarinae · 01-01-2015 03:44PM

It comes across to me like she's saying it doesn't matter if you're not a size two as long as men still find you attractive. You can love your body as long as men love it. That's what I personally find the most problematic about the song.

bluewolf wrote: »

'Cause I got that boom boom that all the boys chase
And all the right junk in all the right places

bluewolf wrote: »

Yeah, my mama she told me don't worry about your size
She says, "Boys like a little more booty to hold at night"

eviltwin · 01-01-2015 04:24PM

panda100 wrote: »

I HATE that song. It's offensive to skinny women and I'm sick of the bashing we have been getting the last few years. The funny thing is that theses 'curvy' bodies that niki minaj, Kim kardashian and the likes have are all as a result of plastic surgery. These 'booties' we are getting shoved in our faces are just as much silicon barbie dolls. There is nothing body positive about this song as it is dismissing and degrading a whole cohort of people who are naturally slim

Why is a bigger woman celebrating her shape offensive to slim women?

One eyed Jack · 01-01-2015 04:30PM

eviltwin wrote: »

Why is a bigger woman celebrating her shape offensive to slim women?

I don't think there's anything wrong with it if that's all the song was attempting to do, but it's not, it's most basic message is that "boys don't want slim women, boys want girls that have all the right curves in all the right places".

That's not celebrating anything, that's just sneering, which, ironically enough - nobody likes.

J Mysterio · 01-01-2015 04:35PM

This is just one of those cases where people have to put some effort into actually being offended.

Venus In Furs · 01-01-2015 05:57PM

I think the "Just playin'" is just a hurriedly thrown in disclaimer.

It TOTALLY seems like a bitch at slim women tbh, even if it's also a way to make people who are not slim feel ok with themselves.

lazygal · 02-01-2015 04:02PM

Venus In Furs wrote: »

I think the "Just playin'" is just a hurriedly thrown in disclaimer.

It TOTALLY seems like a bitch at slim women tbh, even if it's also a way to make people who are not slim feel ok with themselves.

Agreed. It's the old "No offense, but...." line.
I'm slim enough and I hate this 'real women' crap, like the Dove campaign. This is more of the same, try writing a song slagging off women who call themselves curvy but are really 'all about the flab' and see the sparks fly.

Soft Falling Rain · 02-01-2015 04:15PM

rainbow kirby wrote: »

She could have made her point without having to trot out the "skinny bitches" line - it seems unnecessarily rude.

I don't think she wrote the song, funnily enough I believe it was rejected by a few more well known singers before it fell into her lap.

02-01-2015 04:33PM

Soft Falling Rain wrote: »

I don't think she wrote the song, funnily enough I believe it was rejected by a few more well known singers before it fell into her lap.

No I think she wrote it and asked them to sing it and finally did it herself
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_About_That_Bass#Writing_and_development

strobe · 02-01-2015 04:44PM

The whole "men prefer 'curvy' women" message is pretty wilfully delusional, there is a bit of a 'real women' (uggh) vibe off it, and the 'skinny bitches' remark is uncalled for, but damn catchy song though.

seventeen sheep · 02-01-2015 05:01PM

What I don't get about the video is, there's herself and her back-up dancers (who, in fairness, are average-size rather than obese, and look to be wearing unflattering clothes to make them look bigger than they actually are - but still looking good.)

And then they have a seriously obese male dancer, with his belly hanging out and flopping around the place, and he takes up a large proportion of the video.

I don't get what point they're making? It's nearly like they're taking the piss of the obese male guy, but making the point that fat girls can be sexy ... while using relatively average-sized female models?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PCkvCPvDXk

Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass

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