Jolene, and other anti-feminist anthems

Modern C&W woman are EPIC. Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, et al have all done some real FUCK YOU songs! One of my personal favourites is Carrie Underwood "Before He Cheats"

Then of course there is the ultimate women are just support humans song, God Made Girls by RaeLynn...

Somebody's gotta wear a pretty skirt,
Somebody's gotta be the one to flirt,
Somebody's gotta wanna hold his hand
So God made girls
Somebody's gotta make him get dressed up,
Give him a reason to wash that truck,
Somebody's gotta teach him how to dance,
So God made girls
He needed something soft and loud and sweet and proud
But tough enough to break a heart
Something beautiful and breakable that lights up in the dark
So God made girls
God made girls

He stood back and told the boys
I'm bout to rock your world
And God made girls (for singing in your front seat)
God made girls (for dancin' to their own beat)
He stood back and told the boys, "I'm bout to rock your world."
Then, God made girls.

Somebody's gotta be the one to cry
Somebody's gotta let him drive,
Give him a reason to hold that door
So God made girls
Somebody's gotta put up a fight,
Make him wait on a Saturday night,
Walk downstairs and blow his mind,
So God made girls
Someone that can wake him up and call his bluff
And drag his butt to church
Someone that is hard to hande
Somethin' fragile to hold him when he hurts

90s school disco anyone? We were singing and dancing to Sweat (a la la la Long) in our teens, how dark is that?! I actually think the lyrics are too dark to post in this comedy thread, it's more than just questionable. So many popular songs are about sexual predatory or controlling or gaslighting behaviour! I definitely block out my political mind when singing along to stuff otherwise there would be so much great music that I would have to boycott.

Pyongyang Not heard that song before, I've just added to my playlist😊 - thanks.

I know that this makes me a failed feminist.

@MimiDaisy11 I think what copped me on to it is the line you quoted. The way she says "While you go have a beer" you can almost see her snarling with resentment, the tone as she sings it!

"Hey little girl is your daddy home, did he go and leave you all alone?"
I love a bit of Bruce, but this always sets my teeth on edge.

The person in the Smack my Bitch Up video, who is doing the drug fueled fighting, groping and the rest is actually a woman. Not sure where that leaves it in feminist terms.

I drove all night to get to you
Is that all right?
I drove all night crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep to make love to you
Is that all right?
I drove all night

Agree with VenusTiger: "Jolene is an amazing song about strength and compassion (to me anyway) and DP is just utterly fab."

Joplin's Piece of My Heart : I always interpret it as a woman who knows she's in trouble and is enraged about it. Probably not how it was written.

My guilty sexist pleasure: Gordon Lightfoots (That's what you get) for lovin' me.

That's what you get for lovin' me
That's what you get for lovin' me
Every thing you had is gone as you can see
That's what you get for lovin' me

I ain't the kind to hang around
With any new love that I found
'Cause movin' is my stock in trade, I'm movin' on
I won't think of you when I'm gone

So don't you shed a tear for me
Because I ain't the love you thought I'd be
I got a hundred more like you, so don't be blue
I'll have a thousand 'fore I'm through

Now there you go you're cryin' again
Now there you go you're cryin' again
But then someday when your poor heart, is on the mend
I just might pass this way again

I thought it was the fact that she was saying take my man like she somehow owned him.

If it wasn't for the lyric 'please don't take my man', the song could be a love song from Dolly to Jolene.

At least that's how I like to think of it. 😊

@PyongyangKipperbang
@VienneseWhirligig

Ah ok, didn't realise that. Can't say I've studied the whole song but it always came across as anti-feminist to me but perhaps I picked it up wrong. I think it's a nice tune though.

I don't find talking to Jolene asking her not to 'take her man' antifeminist as such.

MN's Relationship board would strongly recommend that she shouldn't participate in a Pick Me dance and definitely TOTD (throw out the ditherer dancer).

I also disagree that I know him so well is anti feminist. They both loved him and he played them both, then left them both. They are mourning what they have lost, and still thinking that they know him best. Its desperately sad but not antifeminist I dont think.

Haven't RTFT so apols if someone has already posted this, but if you love Jolene and think it's anti-feminist, you will very much enjoy listening to this podcast and hearing Dolly's thoughts:

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dolly-partons-america/id1481398762?i=1000457236260

“I’m gonna keep on loving you” - is it REO Speedwagon?

No you’re fucking not, mate.

[quote DodoApplet]I admit I wasn’t a great fan of “Jolene” when it was first released, but I discovered this enchanting medieval interpretation of it on YouTube a few weeks ago, and haven’t stopped playing it since. This is “bardcore”, and I love it! [/quote]
Ah I was looking through the thread to see if anyone had put this on yet, I love it!

Dont know if this has been mentioned but Diane is a response to Jolene. It very much slates the man involved. Not a brilliant song tbh but interesting to listen to.

@MimiDaisy11 I have always thought that that song was about a woman who marries in love and hope and then finds that she is washing the dishes while he goes to the bar with his mate. Its the story of a womans life gradually being turned into a life of drudgery and being taken for granted while he carries on doing what he wants. I may be over thinking it but I always assumed the Cowboy she was referring to was the wonderful man she fell in love with, not the selfish git she is married to.

Have to agree with PP I don't personally find Jolene particularly anti-feminist, instead I find it to be a song about naked vulnerability and insecurity. And yes she might be with a dickhead guy she feels will leave her for Jolene, and maybe HE'S sexist, but I don't find talking to Jolene asking her not to 'take her man' antifeminist as such.

Agree there are so many sexist songs out there though!

@MimiDaisy11 I quite like that one. It's a tale of gradual disillusionment from enthusiastically becoming a housewife with a fine, productive husband, to realising she's doing the drudge work while he pisses away the family money down the pub.

@StealthPolarBear

I liked your comment about Kd Lang "Cravings " song 😁

I know the lyrics of Substitute are not great but I loved the song when I was young.