Jolene, and other anti-feminist anthems

Makes sense in the context of George Michael being gay perhaps? It would explain the reference to fear and sin? Just musing.

How the hell does him being gay 'make sense' of words about tiny hands and being a 'father figure'?

It’s commentary on society’s views of femalehood. I don’t see the problem with that at all! It’s feminist to talk about it.

We can’t just listen to happy ditties all the time...

Same for other songs like ‘will you still love me tomorrow’ - nothing wrong with that one either. These are real things that people (especially young women) do have to consider.

WAP is reported by some to be the epitome of female empowerment. I don’t see it at all. I think it’s crude and the lyrics are horrible.

If I’m missing the point, I’d love someone to explain it to me.

I’m not going to post the whole song, this is enough:

Look, I need a hard hitter, I need a deep stroker
I need a Henny drinker, I need a weed smoker
Not a garden snake, I need a king cobra
With a hook in it, hope it lean over
He got some money, then that's where I'm headed
Pussy A1, just like his credit
He got a beard, well, I'm tryna wet it
I let him taste it, now he diabetic
I don't wanna spit, I wanna gulp
I wanna gag, I wanna choke
I want you to touch that lil' dangly thing
That swing in the back of my throat

So not a guilty feminist pleasure, sorry OP but I’ll post that separately.

@KizzyWayfarer I think a lot of women feel like that though (not saying they should) and she's literally addressing in the song that it shouldn't be that way. You only need to see some of threads on here to see some of the pressure women feel if they are turning 30 single. So I think it's a mirror to society rather than condoning it.

There’s a Lily Allen song which is about a woman sad about her rubbish life, single at the advanced age of ‘nearly 30’, and the chorus is “It's sad, but it's true how society says her life is already over”
Maybe it’s meant to be ironic, but it just comes across as WTF.

ABBAs song is completely different.

He is looking out for her.

A lovely little ditty by the Beatles...

Well, I'd rather see you dead, little girl
Than to be with another man
You better keep your head, little girl
Or I won't know where I am
You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand, little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end, little girl
Well, you know that I'm a wicked guy
And I was born with a jealous mind
And I can't spend my whole life
Trying just to make you toe the line
You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand, little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end, little girl
Let this be a sermon
I mean everything I've said
Baby, I'm determined
And I'd rather see you dead
You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand, little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end, little girl
I'd rather see you dead, little girl
Than to be with another man
You better keep your head, little girl
Or you won't know where I am
You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand, little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end, little girl
Na, na, na
Na, na, na
Na, na, na
Na, na, na

The ABBA song is better than 'don't stand so close to me' at least.

Going back Jolene, it came on the radio when I was being pursued by a married man, and was really tempted. It put me straight very quickly, so I think it's worth it for that.

We aren't told the age of the girl. Just that the guy thinks she's too young to be out picking up guys for sex.

There’s a metal version of Jolene where they’ve changed the lyrics and Jolene is now some terrifying and unknownable entity that needs to be appeased before she destroys everything.

Funnily enough, ABBA also have a song about a student kissing her teacher in a geometry class.

The song is told from the POV of the student who initiated the kiss. We're not told much about the teacher's reaction (or about the later consequences).

I've never been entirely sure what to make of that one!

I always thought it was a pretty responsible song!

Depends if you find an adult saying a child is hot and teasing them and they will flirt with them ok.?

For me it’s a no.

I always took it as a guy in his 20s in a club being chatted up by a 15 or 16 year old. He's willing to have a dance with her and flirt with her a bit if it makes her happy but he isn't going to take things any further.

I always thought it was a pretty responsible song!

Might have already been mentioned but....

I don't like it when you break me honey
Why'd you have to do that?
Tell me when you'll make these tears keep falling
Do you feel like a man?
Figure, figure there's no working you out whatsoever
Only one way I can sum you up altogether
You got a black heart
Daddy I've fallen for a monster
Somehow he's scaring me to death
He's big and bad
I love him like mad
Momma, he's the best I ever had
Daddy I've fallen for a monster
He got a black heart
No walls to build around me honey
'Cause you blew my house down
Sticks and stones won't put it back up for me
And that's where we're at now
Sicker, sicker, I ain't feeling your mouth whatsoever
Naming hurts me more than weight thrown around but whatever
You got a black heart
Daddy I've fallen for a monster
Somehow he's scaring me to death
He's big and bad
I love him like mad
Momma, he's the best I ever had
Daddy I've fallen for a monster
He got a black heart
Daddy I've fallen for a monster
Somehow he's scaring me to death
He's big and bad
I love him like mad
Momma, he's the best I ever had
Daddy I've fallen for a monster
He got a black heart
He got a black heart
He got such a dirty black heart in him
I love him like mad
Oh, yes I do
He got a black heart

Great idea for a thread Op
I am loving it

Anything by Lana del Rey. But she openly admits to not really caring about feminist culture, and true feminists are supposed to accept her work because she's a woman too etc etc. Wonder if that makes her lyrics ok?

10 hours of sleep and I'm still not awake this morning!

Lots of people referencing ‘Sweat’; ‘cry out’ = orgasm, not cry out in pain, surely? At least that’s what I always assumed.

The Beatles have been mentioned on this thread, and yet nobody has cited their very worst anti-feminist song.

When I pointed it out to friends years ago I was told I was "reading too much into it" and committing blasphemy by dissing anything L&C wrote.

Brace yourselves for "YOU CAN'T DO THAT".

I got something to say that might 'cause you pain
If I catch you talking to that boy again
I'm gonna let you down
And leave you flat
Because I told you before
Oh, you can't do that
Well, it's the second time I've caught you talking to him
Do I have to tell you one more time, I think it's a sin
I think I'll let you down (let you down)
And leave you flat (gonna let you down and leave you flat)
Because I've told you before, oh
You can't do that
Everybody's green
'Cause I'm the one, who won your love
But if they'd seen
You're talking that way they'd laugh in my face
So please listen to me, if you wanna stay mine
I can't help my feelings, I'll go out of my mind
I'm gonna let you down (let you down)
And leave you flat (gonna let you down and leave you flat)
Because I've told you before
Oh, you can't do that
You can't do that
You can't do that
You can't do that
You can't do that
You can't do that
Everybody's green
'Cause I'm the one who won your love
But if they'd seen
You're talking that way they'd laugh in my face
So please listen to me, if you wanna stay mine
I can't help my feelings, I'll go out of my mind
I'm gonna let you down (let you down)
And leave you flat (gonna let you down and leave you flat)
Because I've told you before
Oh, you can't do that

Lady in Red

"Hadst thou need to stoop so low? To send a wagon for thy minstrel and refuse my letters,
I need no longer write them though, now thou art somebody whom I used to know..."

(Well, it's not as if she'd be able to play his records anyway: the power supply was probably a bit erratic in those days.)

I have nothing to contribute because I listen to Metalcore and the Mysoginy is right there in your face O_o There was even a few years where every bands music videos was 'girl tied to chair looking scared'. The format is so bloody catchy though.

If her daddys rich take her out for a meal
If her daddys poor then just do what you feel.