Page 7 | Women singers singing in their knickers.

Thelasthurdle · 2025-02-19T17:31:08+00:00

I admit I'm older generation. I'm a great admirer of singers such as Nina Simone, Linda Ronstadt, Suzi Quatro, Christine Perfect, Joan Baez, Tracy Chapman etc, etc. They all not only have great voices but also real musical talent. And they also don't stand and sing in their knickers So what is it with people like Beyonce and Rhianna? If they really are talented why do they need to sing in their knickers? Why do they need to use sex to sell their songs? They are powerful enough not to bend to the industry pressure on them. Why not stand or fall on their talents rather than on selling their sexuality.?

shvenwe · 19/02/2025 19:24

JHound · 19/02/2025 19:13

Yep - apparently we are “bad feminists” if we have no issue with a women wearing danceable attire!

I agree with you. Beyonce reminds me of Dita Von Teese in that their display of their sexuality is aimed at women, not men.

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It is aimed at children, telling both girls and boys how they need to behave and dress to get on in life. Total nightmare

JHound · 19/02/2025 19:24

shvenwe · 19/02/2025 19:17

It really hacks me off that singers are oversexualised when their main financial target is young kids

I have heard some interviews where it is hinted that this is required by the music industry, which is deplorable. But then again, targeting young people with totally inappropriate things appears to be happening everywhere, films, books, video games. The only way to stop it is to make it illegal. Which I personally think would be an excellent idea.

Along with making porn or sexualised humans on view anywhere children can see it illegal - this includes top shelf by the way - 10 year olds can see the top shelf.

And banning lyrics which are not for children

Edited

Ban adult lyrics? So a puritan approach because kids may access it?

JHound · 19/02/2025 19:25

shvenwe · 19/02/2025 19:24

It is aimed at children, telling both girls and boys how they need to behave and dress to get on in life. Total nightmare

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This is absolute nonsense!

Original poster

Thelasthurdle · 19/02/2025 19:25

user1471453601 · 19/02/2025 19:17

@Thelasthurdle you're not their target audience. Neither am i. It's no big deal, let them do what they want without criticism., As long as it's what THEY want. Women, in general, get a bucket load of criticism without other women contributing.

Really?
Just because I'm not their " target audience" doesn't been to say I can't be sad that women sell themselves short by presenting themselves purely as sex objects when their musical talent should be enough to gain them recognition and accolades.

OP posts:

SexAndCakes · 19/02/2025 19:25

Thelasthurdle · 19/02/2025 17:45

Well to me if you feel people will only listen to your music if you are wearing a pair of knickers when you sing it says more about your lack of confidence in your musical talent than about your fashion choices.
It makes the woman singers look as though they are being manipulated by the industry and the desperation for celebrity. Not that they are actually making a statement about themselves.

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Rhianna is one of the richest women in the entertainment industry and is worth about $1.5B, most of it made from the successful businesses she has launched off the back of her high profile as a singer. I don't think she is desperate in any way.

ClaudiaWankleman · 19/02/2025 19:27

shvenwe · 19/02/2025 19:20

"you were unfaithful to me but I will still love you" is not a great feminist look, is it?

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That’s not really the whole of what is said though, is it?

Bernadinetta · 19/02/2025 19:27

shvenwe · 19/02/2025 19:20

"you were unfaithful to me but I will still love you" is not a great feminist look, is it?

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Tammy Wynette Stand by your Man? Did she perform in her knickers though…

Melroses · 19/02/2025 19:28

ClaudiaWankleman · 19/02/2025 17:57

He was singing in a onesie so tight he had to pull them out of his groin at the end on live TV. Men don’t usually wear knickers, but they can absolutely wear clothes that have the same effect.

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He can keep his knickers on.

Why the total leg cover though. When did men become so bashful. Even men's football shorts go down to their knees these days.

BunnyLake · 19/02/2025 19:28

Bernadinetta · 19/02/2025 18:58

The first female performer that comes to mind when you mention knickers on view is Marilyn Monroe’s famous air vent blowing her dress up in the seven year itch. It’s so famous I don’t even have to post a photo as everyone will be familiar with it. 1955 that was.

Thankfully she wasn’t wearing a g string which they would today, they were big knickers. Her husband was furious about that wasn't he.

Not about her wearing big knickers instead of a g string, but the whole scene lol.

Ddakji · 19/02/2025 19:28

JHound · 19/02/2025 19:13

Who has mentioned empowerment on this thread?

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Sorry - is this a court of law? Are you a judge? I read the first couple of pages and I’m pretty sure I saw empowerment mentioned, but maybe I’m mistaken. I’m broadening the discussion to beyond words mentioned just on this thread, as I said previously.

But I don’t think you’re actually interested so I’ll leave it there.

Brinkley22 · 19/02/2025 19:30

Thelasthurdle · 19/02/2025 17:52

I've never even heard of Benson Boone.

I just don't understand all the hype about singers such as Beyonce. If you are really talented why do you need to sell your body? Why is your musical talent not enough?

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I was listening to “Hold up” on the Lemonade album really loud whilst bouncing on a massive ball in my knickers whilst in labour with my daughter… it is an incredibly powerful brilliant song! She composed it, sang it, moved to it. And in my opinion if she wants to sing it in her knickers that is her prerogative! She doesn’t strike me as a woman who would be dictated to by a male in power in terms of what to wear… if that was so I would feel different; but my feeling is she chooses to wear what she pleases and also that her clothes and hair represent emotions that she wishes to express in her songs. Do you never like to sing and dance around in your pants OP? (Rhetorical question!)

Bfmamma · 19/02/2025 19:31

To be fair, if I was being paid millions I'd sing in my knickers too

peudhrk · 19/02/2025 19:31

Women in knickers are not the problem, men thinking women in knickers owe them something is the problem. Women arguing about this using feminism as some kind of defence is highly ironic.

Arrggghhhhhh · 19/02/2025 19:31

ClaudiaWankleman · 19/02/2025 19:12

I am going to go out on a limb and say however you manage to throw yourself around, it doesn’t have the same aesthetic and athletic prowess as Beyoncé’s dancing does. Whatever you manage to accomplish is irrelevant.

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you do not get a very good booty clap going whilst wearing denim, yo7 would need a looser flimsier fabric.

Mmeme · 19/02/2025 19:31

I've read these threads on MN for years. It's always the same. Half the posters bending themselves out of shape to justify the fact that women performers are generally the ones wearing far fewer clothes than their male counterparts, and the other half feeling despair that it's still like this.

I'm an ex-dancer who has railed against this bullshit again and again. With some exceptions - and they ARE exceptions - women's bodies are exposed and men are far more covered up.

There is NO reason for it other than the depressing ingrained crap that each generation just accepts, while coming up with 'it's empowering!' shite.

It's not equal - and that's the problem - but it seems that we barely expect it to be equal anymore.

ClaudiaWankleman · 19/02/2025 19:32

JHound · 19/02/2025 19:19

I think Jay-Z and Beyonce have only toured with each other once. I think she only did the one album about him cheating.

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They’ve had at least two joint tours, and I have read that he travels with her for solo shows too. Beyond the very explicit references on Lemonade, there are definitely themes in Renaissance too.

BishBashBoshClick · 19/02/2025 19:33

Would your bum look good in just knickers, OP?

Are you sure there isn't a little bit of jealousy going on here?

Ddakji · 19/02/2025 19:34

Mmeme · 19/02/2025 19:31

I've read these threads on MN for years. It's always the same. Half the posters bending themselves out of shape to justify the fact that women performers are generally the ones wearing far fewer clothes than their male counterparts, and the other half feeling despair that it's still like this.

I'm an ex-dancer who has railed against this bullshit again and again. With some exceptions - and they ARE exceptions - women's bodies are exposed and men are far more covered up.

There is NO reason for it other than the depressing ingrained crap that each generation just accepts, while coming up with 'it's empowering!' shite.

It's not equal - and that's the problem - but it seems that we barely expect it to be equal anymore.

Well said. But some women, depressingly, don’t want to hear it, especially if it means commenting negatively on their chosen favourites.

Original poster

Thelasthurdle · 19/02/2025 19:35

SexAndCakes · 19/02/2025 19:25

Rhianna is one of the richest women in the entertainment industry and is worth about $1.5B, most of it made from the successful businesses she has launched off the back of her high profile as a singer. I don't think she is desperate in any way.

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Well I knew of Rhianna because of her willingness to use her body as a selling point and because of her abhorrent use of real fur.
It actually amazed me when I heard her sing and realised she actually wasn't a bad singer.
Same with Miley Cyrus. I knew of her ott sexual behaviour and then heard her sing and was amazed that she actually sounded good.
Ii find it more upsetting knowing that women with talent sell themselves using sex than someone who is actually talentless selling themselves by using sex.

OP posts:

Brinkley22 · 19/02/2025 19:38

Mmeme · 19/02/2025 19:31

I've read these threads on MN for years. It's always the same. Half the posters bending themselves out of shape to justify the fact that women performers are generally the ones wearing far fewer clothes than their male counterparts, and the other half feeling despair that it's still like this.

I'm an ex-dancer who has railed against this bullshit again and again. With some exceptions - and they ARE exceptions - women's bodies are exposed and men are far more covered up.

There is NO reason for it other than the depressing ingrained crap that each generation just accepts, while coming up with 'it's empowering!' shite.

It's not equal - and that's the problem - but it seems that we barely expect it to be equal anymore.

This is really interesting to read, especially as an ex-dancer and I certainly take your point.
I would actually really love to hear what Beyoncé would say in relation to this question…. Whether she feels that she is expressing herself with the performances of the music she creates as she wishes; or whether she is consciously/unconsciously influenced by the patriarchy.
in my fantasy discussion, I would also invite Sia as I would love to hear her thoughts about how objectification of women’s bodies is so central in the industry.

BunnyLake · 19/02/2025 19:38

Ddakji · 19/02/2025 19:07

Lots of people have mentioned empowerment, both on this thread and of any discussion about this issue.

Interesting that men don’t tend to dress in this kind of thing to enable their performance. Sure, traditional male ballet dancers wear pretty revealing tights, but you can’t compare what male and female gymnasts wear, nor with most pop.

I listen to a lot of K-Pop. Both girl and boy groups do a lot of performance and dance routines. The men never wear skimpy stuff, ever. Still manage to pull off endless impressive dance-based performances.

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I have thought that some of the girl kpop bands have been very sexualised, and that can be uncomfortable to watch, especially knowing those big companies are all run by middle aged men. Getting a quick shot of a Jungkook’s chest is in no way the same. The men are always fully dressed while the girl’s arse cheeks are hanging out their teeny shorts, and some of the choreo 🤦‍♀️

Nat4819 · 19/02/2025 19:39

Once again OP @Thelasthurdle failing to answer the question as to why she is solely calling out women of colour....

shvenwe · 19/02/2025 19:39

Arrggghhhhhh · 19/02/2025 19:21

But they always have been, I used to get the magazine Supersonic in the 1970s I remember pictures of abba nearly naked, David Essex shirt open lying down gazing at camera. I’m 60 now I’m fine.

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If you think about it, the 1970s TOTP was the time of Jimmy Saville and pop stars taking 13 year olds back stage and sexually abusing them after shows.

In terms of dance and costumes, things have become progressively extreme since then. David Essex and Abba were nothing like what is going on now.

HolyPeaches · 19/02/2025 19:40

Here is a selection of photos of Beyoncé and Rhianna (your examples), singing in NOT their knickers.

You say you’re “older generation” but were you around in the 80’s?

Women singers singing in their knickers.

TonTonMacoute · 19/02/2025 19:42

Giggorata · 19/02/2025 17:44

I have always found it a bit odd.
To my mind, it's different from the Suzy Quattro skin tight/cleavage/lots of leg look because it's still clothes.
The others are just… knickers, and cutaway at that, to show as much groin/bum cheek as possible, as are the dances they do.

Some of the male rock stars used to wear tight jeans that left little to the imagination, and bare chests and so forth. I also remember Axl Rose in his tight little red shorts and Iggy Pop in transparent jeans.
Do the young men just sing in their pants now, too?

I also have a nagging feeling that the really good singers don't need to sing in their knickers.

It does spread into other areas. Female gymnasts and athletes often complain about the very skimpy kit they are expected to wear. Jessica Ennis Hill said she was often afraid spot involuntary flashing because of the tiny knickers she had to wear.