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Original poster

To find the blurred lines song offensive

340 replies

Winter123 · 14/08/2013 23:37

Here's an extract of the lyrics if you are lucky enough to have not been subjected to them...

Baby, it's in your nature
Just let me liberate you
You don't need no papers
That man is not your maker
And that's why I'm gon' take a
Good girl
I know you want it
I know you want it
I know you want it
You're a good girl

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

Nothin' like your last guy, he too square for you
He don't smack that ass and pull your hair like that
So I'm just watching and waitin'
For you to salute the true big pimpin'

Do it like it hurt, like it hurt
What you don't like work

I know it's a bit old now... But it still makes me so Angry

OP posts:
MamaMary · 17/08/2013 14:14

The music industry is churning this stuff out constantly now. It is totally depressing, and yes, far more degrading to women than stuff ten years ago or even 20 years ago.

Tattva · 17/08/2013 14:16

you must do a lot of outraged turning off the radio if you take everything so literally

Well if by singing tear your ass in two he doesn't actually mean tear your ass in two then please tell what he does mean. You know, in the none literal sense. Are you saying it's open to personal interpretation like say, the bible, or is there evidence of another fluffier meaning?

limitedperiodonly · 17/08/2013 14:29

It is hard to put any other interpretation on someone singing about wanting to tear your ass in two.

And I can't be arsed to think of another interpretation. Call me literal-minded but if that's what he says, that's what he means. It's not fucking Shakespeare.

cocolepew · 17/08/2013 14:33

The music (not lyrics) is so good because he has ripped off the great Marvin Gaye and early Prince.

waterlego6064 · 17/08/2013 14:34

I listen to R4 so luckily don't have to come into contact with this sort of shite, though I am aware of the song and it's lyrics.

Another Pharrell Williams song (Frontin) contained the lyric:

'Then we locked eyes - and I knew I was in there
And I was gonna tear your ass up (tear your ass up)'

So this is obviously a sexual practice he's quite keen on. More disturbing still, is that Jamie Cullum also covered that song. It was very odd to hear him crooning about tearing asses up.

waterlego6064 · 17/08/2013 14:36

its lyrics.

TobyLerone · 17/08/2013 14:36

It's possible to switch off the radio because you don't like what you're hearing without being outraged, clutching pearls or hoicking of bosoms.

Well, for normal people, anyway.

LittleRayOf · 17/08/2013 14:42

People over-reacting to this song by crying "rape" are doing far more damage than they can possibly imagine

This song is NOT about rape.
It is objectifying women as sex objects. This is wrong.

The song includes various references to smoking marijuana. You will have your own view about how right or wrong this may be.

This song is about sex and smoking weed, neither of these themes are new to popular music.

What is horrible and disgusting about this AND many other songs, tv shows, films and video games is the way women are portrayed as sex objects.

This song is not about rape.
A women who has consensual sex may want something very, very big in her ass. (or he may be singing about the size of the spliff, aka marijuana cigarette, he is about to light up)

You risk alienating the people you are trying to educate by concentrating your anger on something that isn't even there.

limitedperiodonly · 17/08/2013 14:49

I always see a strong element of homo-eroticism in any sexual act or conversation where men egg each other on, whether there are women present or not.

I wonder if Thicke, TI and Williams like that interpretation?

AnyFucker · 17/08/2013 15:45

Totally agree, LPO, and whenever I raise that point on here or in RL I always get a massive Shock and Hmm face

I apply the judgement to men who frequent strip clubs etc

There if something about men expressing their twisted sexuality towards women in group situations that is not actually anything about women at all

Tell a "red blooded" bloke that though and he is mortally offended Wink

PrincessFlirtyPants · 17/08/2013 16:28

LPO & AnyFucker Grin

I think we should go ahead with the webchat with Thicke that was suggested up thread, you can pose your hypothesis to him... I for one would be very interested in his response!

CorrineFoxworth · 17/08/2013 16:30

Oh, so would I Smile

limitedperiodonly · 17/08/2013 16:39

No Shock or Hmm from me. Seems pretty obvious. But many people don't like having the obvious pointed out to them.

Anyway, on re-examining the lyrics, which some people are so keen for us to do, I notice Thicke seems obsessed with the good girl's current or former partner.

It could be a cry for help Wink

PrincessFlirtyPants · 17/08/2013 16:52

He's obviously jealous that the girl in questions ex-p didn't have to smack her or pull her hair during sex... The lack of violence makes him a 'square'

mrsruffallo · 17/08/2013 17:41

Sorry, what's wrong with pulling hair and smacking?

mrsruffallo · 17/08/2013 17:42

FFS puritanical or what???

mrsruffallo · 17/08/2013 17:47

It's not about rape, where is the evidence for that?

There are much more offensive lyrics by, for example, Snoop and Dre. For example here

AnyFucker · 17/08/2013 17:48

Glorifying it in a pop song listened to by young kids ?

That's what is wrong with it

Please stick to the point

AnyFucker · 17/08/2013 17:49

Yes, those others are bad too

You missed the point again

mrsruffallo · 17/08/2013 17:54

If its listened to by young kids then the parents are at fault. My children don't know the song because they are not exposed to it.

mrsruffallo · 17/08/2013 18:03

AF I was responding to Princesses comments...did you miss that?

BinksToEnlightenment · 17/08/2013 18:06

I just think it is such a shame how much more hair pulling is going to be going on in Britain's bedrooms as a result of this.

Those poor women. They won't be doing it of their own volition of course, because women are too sweet and sensitive for such things. They'll all be doing it because the naughty man on the radio said it was ok.

Can a reverse song of a similar infantilizing nature be produced as a counter attack, to ensure that no women engage in distasteful sexual behaviour?

mrsruffallo · 17/08/2013 18:10

LOL Binks

limitedperiodonly · 17/08/2013 19:20

Much as I like to blame the parents for the shocking morals of young people today mrsruffalo I really can't lay this one at their door.

It's being used for adverts. Unless you want to maintain radio silence you can't avoid it.

I've no problem with consenting adults having whatever sex they like. It's just depressing and unimaginative that women look so fucking dopey. Again.

I'd love to see more portrayals of free will in sexual relationships too binks, so I'm sure you'd join me in calling for music videos showing more varied images of non-vanilla sex.

I wouldn't clutch my pearls if any male recording artist who likes to be dominated by either sex would portray those tastes in a video. I'm sure they're out there, don't you agree?

Maybe Thicke, TI and Williams could do a spit-roasting video. They could be the doers or the done-to. As long as no-one's harmed during the making, I don't mind.

That would be really groundbreaking, wouldn't it? But perhaps that wouldn't sell so well because mainstream media wouldn't touch it with a bargepole and it would really get people clutching at their pearls, or whatever it is people wear in the privacy of their own homes.

What do you two think?

SinisterSal · 17/08/2013 19:31

You lot are so fucking cool and laid back. Are your kids are old enough to appreciate it yet?