OK, quick warning here - the following video is graphic and has bad language. Normally I wouldn't post something like it on my blog, but I have a beef with this video, and the song. Having seen my share of domestic disturbances among friends and neighbors, I know enough to realize this video is sending the wrong message, to both young kids just starting out in a relationship, and to those already involved in an abusive relationship. It glorifies the sick kind of excuses and lies that are used to keep the cycle of violence going. Here's some of the words from the song:
"As long as the wrong feels right
It's like I'm in flight
High off of love
Drunk from the hate
It's like I'm huffing paint
And I love it the more I suffer
I suffocate
And right before I'm about to drown
She resuscitates me
She fucking hates me
And I love it"
What kind of screwed up stuff is that? The bad part is, that before I realized what he was saying, I listened to the song all the time, because Rihanna's voice is so pretty. And now my kids know the words to the chorus, and when they hear it on the radio they get mad when I change the channel.
And this:
"Cause when it's going good
It's going great
I'm Superman
With the wind at his back
She's Lois Lane
But when it's bad
It's awful
I feel so ashamed
I snap
Who's that dude
I don't even know his name
I laid hands on her
I'll never stoop so low again
I guess I don't know my own strength"
"I guess I don't know my own strength?" That sounds to me like an excuse to hurt someone, like, oh, whoops, I guess I didn't know I could choke you so hard I'd leave bruises that don't go away for weeks and crush your windpipe so hard you can't ever talk again....my bad....sorry......
Or how about this:
"All I know is
I love you too much
To walk away though
Come inside
Pick up your bags off the sidewalk
Don't you hear sincerity
In my voice when I talk
Told you this is my fault
Look me in the eyeball
Next time I'm pissed
I'll aim my fist
At the dry wall
Next time
There will be no next time
I apologize
Even though I know it's lies
I'm tired of the games
I just want her back
I know I'm a liar
If she ever tries to fucking leave again
I'mma tie her to the bed
And set this house on fire"
Wow. My mental picture when hearing this is NOTHING like the video, so I can just imagine what someone who hears this and gets ideas for their girlfriend's next beating is thinking of.
I just think it's so wrong that popular artists get to say whatever they want in their songs. I know, I know, freedom of speech, whatever. Musicians should be more concerned about the well being of their fans than making a buck.
1 comment:
I fully agree with you. When I was growing up I did a lot of volunteer work for a Domestic Abuse Shelter. One of my duties was to watch the children while their mothers got to go to a support meeting once a week. Yes, the women get hurt and that is horrible, but I saw the effect on the children. We had a baby that was almost 2 and didn't crawl because his mother was always afraid to put him down, I had to deal with a 2 yr old boy who had super human strength and would hit and kick and punch anyone who did something he didn't like (and being 2 there was a lot he didn't like, I got hurt many times by him). These are only 2 examples of the horrible things that occurred during my time there. To have someone "glorify" domestic violence through their music is absolutely disgusting.
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