Lyrics
I don’t want to sound like a disappointed parent here, but gang, you’ve really got to start listening to the lyrics of the songs you’re making popular. Plenty of comics before me have discussed nonsense lyrics, or explicit lyrics (Chris Rock has an amazing bit involving Lil John’s “Get Low” that you should also listen to). Hell, I’ve done it before. In a blog post a couple years ago I broke down how harmful the mental health imagery is in Matchbox Twenty’s “Unwell.” But I’m not talking about those kinds of lyrics though. I’m talking about top 40’s pop songs with lyrics that if anyone actually listened to, they would be shocked at best and offended at worst. You’re making these songs popular, and it’s driving me insane.
The example that drove me to write this piece is “Love Me Anyway,” the new song by Pink and Chris Stapleton (which is a bizarre sentence I never expected to write). It’s a slightly over 3 minute song with incredibly repetitive lyrics and only two actual verses. The first verse is a fairly generic pop song asking if the object of the singer’s affections would love them despite adversity. Think a slower, less fun version of “21 Questions” by 50 Cent. But halfway through the second verse (of only two total verses, remember), things go a little off the rails. I’ll copy and paste them here for you to review, so you don’t think I’m just summarizing from a place of bias.
“Is it for better or for worse
Or am I just your good time girl?
Can you still hold me when it hurts
Or would you walk away?
Even if I scandalize you
Cut you down and criticize you
Tell a million lies about you
What would you say?”
That is the second half of the second verse, or 25% of the verses of the song. The chorus is a super repetitive “Would you love me anyway?” And the thing is, no. I wouldn’t. I’ll fight for a relationship through some troubles. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again. In the first verse there’s a line “if I flirt with all the other boys, would you love me anyway?” Yes, I could deal with that, provided the relationship is strong enough and I know it’s all in good fun. But the rest? If you start telling lies about me after embarrassing me in public and criticizing me? I’m out. And that’s how you deal with an unhealthy relationship. You don’t stay through that, that shit’s toxic, and you all are driving it right to the Grammy’s.
There’s countless other examples, and they each drive me nuts. “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum won 5 Grammy’s and it’s about a drunk dial booty call. Sure, it sounds pretty, but it’s about fucking someone you shouldn’t after a few drinks. “Girls Like You” by Maroon 5 has a verse from Cardi B where she explicitly states she masturbates on the phone when he calls. Start listening to lyrics, and either stop making these songs popular, or stop pretending you care about what your kids hear on the radio.
For this week’s positivity, I’d like to draw your attention to another podcast. “Do You Work Here” is as podcast from Taylor and Adrian Kane that discusses working in various customer service roles. Taylor is a hairdresser, and Adrian was a dyer until a few years ago, and they discuss customer service in the salon field, but also in former jobs including retail and restaurants. I was on a recent episode, but I think their standout episode is a two parter about when Taylor had finally had enough at a really toxic job. The entire series is very engaging, and if you have some time I definitely think you should check it out at https://www.doyouworkherepodcast.com/ Have a great day!