On July 30, Robin Thicke decided to publish his thoughts on women in his new song "Blurred Lines". Sending a message to the young generations that women want men. That it's in our "nature" to act like an "animal". That we "must wanna get nasty... you wanna hug me... I know you want it." His song undermines respect that all human beings should get equally. It is his way of saying that women are the problem in relationships: "You're far from plastic, Talk about getting blasted, I hate these blurred lines." When he says you're far from plastic, he is implying that we are real. We have feelings and emotions. Then he says something completely different, that we talk about getting blasted. That it's so confusing and women send mixed messages. And I am sure that some women probably do. But when you write a song about "blurred lines" and the fact that it's okay to cross them, "And that's why I'm gonna take a good girl, I know you want it." That's just not okay. He is sending a universal message that says it is okay to cross women's boundaries because it's in our nature, we're just animals. Oh, but don't worry, we're far from plastic.
But it also sends the message that all men think they can "domesticate" and "liberate" women. And that men think women are the weaker sex. "What you don't like work." But, just like the above statements, this might apply to some, but not the majority.
At first I thought that this song was really catchy. I would find myself singing it during random times of the day. Then, when I took the time to look up the lyrics, I was disappointed. I was disappointed that pop-stars today think that they can say whatever they want--even if it is offensive. Pop musicians have a responsibility for the messages that the promote to the world. Because their words are heard near and far. "With great power comes great responsibility." And musicians have great influence, or power, over their listeners. What bothers me is that young people are going around singing this song, much like I did, and not even knowing what they are implying. Or that when they sing the song they are agreeing with and supporting his claims. That women are a weaker sex, and that they want men because they are animals.
To smooth things over with the public, Thicke claimed that he was making fun of stereotypical R&B and hip-hop discourses. Except for the notion that there is no evidence, in words or the music video, that he is making fun of anything. If the R&B stereotype is nudity, such as Miley Cyrus's Wrecking Ball music video, then how does the audience know that he is not just participating in it, but making fun of it. Because there is no evidence for or against his disclaimer, many people are going to take their own opinions of his song and music video. Creating a very biased song that will be listened to and re-watched hundreds of thousands of times. Maybe a biased song with nudity is the way Thicke is trying to gain money. Looking at it from that prospective, he is a very smart man trying to get people worked up about it. He makes money when people tell their friends, "Hey, did you hear about the new song that's getting all these bad reviews. Let's watch it and see what all the talk is about." Maybe everyone should let it go and focus instead on the good songs out there. Let profit go where profit is deserved, and vice-versa.
