What is Robin Thickes song, Blurred Lines, really about? WARNING: Violent content!

[GalaxyHunter]

Robin Thicke’s summer hit Blurred Lines addresses what he considers to be sounds like a grey area between consensual sex and assault. The images in this post place the song into a real-life context. They are from Project Unbreakable, an online photo essay exhibit, and feature images of women and men holding signs with sentences that their rapist said before, during, or after their assault. Let’s begin.




The rest of the story at the link.

http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/09/17/from-the-mouths-of-rapists-the-lyrics-of-robin-thickes-blurred-lines-and-real-life-rape/




How could a song like this be so popular?

[sinkingfeeling]

1. They were talking about Thicke's 'rape anthem' on HLN at noon.

[GalaxyHunter]

3. I never really listened to the song and didn't know what the song was about.

I knew it was popular.

Now that I know what the song is about I'm appalled that it is still being played and people like it!

[LittleBlue]

2. Blurred Lines isn't about rape

It's about the outward pressure to be a "good girl" when inside she wants to be a "bad girl". The blurred lines is the barrier between those breaking down. The lyrics make it pretty obvious that it has nothing to do with rape.

OK now he was close, tried to domesticate you
But you're an animal, baby, it's in your nature
Just let me liberate you

I know you want it
But you're a good girl
The way you grab me
Must wanna get nasty
Go ahead, get at me

Hence why the video is a bunch of naked girls dancing around, obviously losing themselves to their inner feelings.

[GalaxyHunter]

4. You make a fair point, but I still feel the lyrics are out of control.

[Iris]

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

Last edited Thu Sep 19, 2013, 09:50 PM - Edit history (1)

That pretty much does it for me. Maybe there are women who want to be talked to in that way, but I would suspect they are in the minority.

[MelungeonWoman]

23. And before that line,

One thing I ASK of you,
lemme be the one you back that ass into.


This song completely rocks. Haters gonna hate.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. That's what Thicke said in the interview. I wouldn't pay one red cent to

hear that crap.

[LittleBlue]

7. I never listened to his interview, I don't even own the song

That is my interpretation of it after hearing it a zillion times.

If you want to go more deeply into symbolism, the white environment of the video suggests it's all happening in the girl's head. Presumably on the outside, she's still that hopelessly good girl while inside she's dancing around naked with two music stars and other girls.

[Brickbat]

6. Close, but not quite.

It's about the outward pressure to be a "good girl" when inside she and he wants her to be a "bad girl".

[ismnotwasm]

10. I don't agree

Not with lyrics like this

One thing I ask of you
Let me be the one you back that ass to
Go, from Malibu, to Paris, boo
Yeah, I had a bitch, but she ain't bad as you
So hit me up when you passing through
I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two
Swag on, even when you dress casual
I mean it's almost unbearable
In a hundred years not dare, would I
Pull a Pharside let you pass me by
Nothing like your last guy, he too square for you
He don't smack that ass and pull your hair like that
So I just watch and wait for you to salute
But you didn't pick
Not many women can refuse this pimpin'
I'm a nice guy, but don't get it if you get with me

[Xithras]

17. Do you understand what those words even mean?

The rap subculture has its own language, and words often have completely different meanings to rappers than they do to others.

One thing I ask of you
Let me be the one you back that ass to
He's asking for permission to sleep with her. "Back that ass up" has been hip-hop slang for sex since the 1990's.

Go, from Malibu, to Paris, boo
Yeah, I had a bitch, but she ain't bad as you
I've been with women from around the world, but none as attractive as you.

So hit me up when you passing through
I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two
Call me when you're in town and we can hook up. I have a really big dick. A lot of people have a problem with the "tear your ass in two" line, but in this context it's merely emphasizing the hugeness of his penis. He's not literally wanting to "split her ass in two".

Swag on, even when you dress casual
I mean it's almost unbearable
I find you attractive no matter how you're dressed. It's all I can think about.

In a hundred years not dare, would I
Pull a Pharside let you pass me by
This is a reference to an old Pharcyde song from the 1990's called Pass Me By. The song was about a guy who found a woman attractive but lost her because he was scared to ask her out.

Nothing like your last guy, he too square for you
Speaks for itself, but he's saying that your last guy was too boring, and he's anything but boring.

He don't smack that ass and pull your hair like that
A lot of us enjoy rough sex. What of it? Boring sex is...boring. Some of the best sex I ever had left bruises.

So I'm just watching and waitin'
For you to salute the true big pimpin'
Your lyrics were wrong. "Pimping" is rap slang for being a badass or, more technically "peacocking"...showing off for the opposite sex. "Salute" is recognize. Ergo: "I'll just sit here watching and waiting for you to recognize that I'm really the hottest guy in the room".

Not many women can refuse this pimping
Most women are attracted to me.

I'm a nice guy, but don't get confused, you gittin' it
Again, wrong lyric. This line says "I''m a nice guy, but I want to be clear that my goal is to have sex with you."

Misogynist? Absolutely, misogyny has been a serious problem in the hip hop world for a very long time. But the accusations that it's a "Rape Anthem" are a bit far off, and understanding the context of those words dispells that.

A big part of the controversy, IMHO, is being driven by people judging lyrics they don't understand that originated from a culture they're unfamiliar with. The words don't mean what you think they mean.

[Iris]

20. what does this mean-"I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two" n/t

[opiate69]

22. RIF...

"So hit me up when you passing through 
I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two" 
Call me when you're in town and we can hook up. I have a really big dick. A lot of people have a problem with the "tear your ass in two" line, but in this context it's merely emphasizing the hugeness of his penis. He's not literally wanting to "split her ass in two". 

[Iris]

27. Yes. I understand metaphor. This one is just bad and offensive.

But thanks for 'splainin' it to me.

[Xithras]

28. Comparative vs declarative statement

Comparative: "I have something that is large enough to split your ass in two, and I would like you to have it."
Declarative: "I will insert something into your ass capable of splitting it in two".

It was intended the first way, and not the second. He was trying to attract her, not threaten her.

Of course, if we really wanted to play with this, we could also discuss what he actually meant by "ass". That word has a lot of definitions. Think "that's a big ass plane" or "I'm going to kick your ass", or "I haven't seen your ass in years", none of which refer to a physical ass. I think he actually was referring to the ass you sit on though, so I'm going to leave that one alone.

Hip-hop has a lot of problems, and misogyny and homophobia are some of its biggest. Still, there's a big difference between misogynist peacocking and advocating for rape.

[dkf]

25. It now becomes apparent I had no idea what he was saying.

Too funny that we actually do need a translation.

[tammywammy]

31. Excellent translation. n/t

[gollygee]

14. That's kind of a rapey line

"You act like a good girl, but really you're a bad girl who loves it" isn't far from "Your mouth is saying 'no' but your eyes are saying 'yes.'"

[Ellipsis]

8. Emily Ratajkowski

[GalaxyHunter]

9. ok? she is in the music video? whats you point?

[Jesus Malverde]

13. thanks..nt!

[riqster]

11. First of all, it's a serious rip of Marvin Gaye, so it sucks from the get-go.

Having said that, I must also say that not all ass-smacking and hair-pulling is non- consensual. Lots of men and women, gay and straight, are into such. Different strokes for different folks. The lyrics do not imply sexual violence if consent is given and not revoked. I recommend checking out NCSF to become educated on the different ways couples can interact, and the ways so many of us reveal our Puritan streaks. "Got consent?"

And lots of men like to think they are so well-endowed as to be able to "split" their partner. That's why those dumbass Big Johnson shirts sell so well. To that we can only say " ever see a baby's head? How big are you, compared to that?"

Like I said, the "artists" totally robbed a legend with this "song", so fuck 'em. But let's not go wild with assumptions regarding lyrical intent.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

16. I didn't really hear too much simularity between this and Gaye's song.

Of course, the reason I say that is because Gaye's song is actually good, and Thicke's song, not so much.

[Jesus Malverde]

12. Auckland University’s Law School parody

[Tommy_Carcetti]

15. I'll be honest, the song itself bores me too much for me to even bother to listen to the words.

Most of the time when it comes on I end up changing the station because I have no interest in listening to it.

Didn't even know what the song was about.

Plus something about Robin Thicke just screams "Douchebag"



I did enjoy his father's work on Family Ties, however.

[Sissyk]

18. Damn, that's Alan Thicke's son?

I did not know that. I'm getting old. lol!

[Vashta Nerada]

24. *Growing Pains

[Tommy_Carcetti]

26. Same thing.

Actually, no. Family Ties was far superior.

Both kicked the ass of Full House.

[Precisely]

21. about 4 minutes too long

[kwassa]

29. I think this song might be about SEX.

Or so I'm told. I find this shocking.

I would never look at a video like that.

Or especially look at the "Unrated" version, with the beautiful naked dancers.

Never.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

30. All I know is that it's a rip off of Marvin Gaye and he, Pharrell and TI should be ashamed of

themselves. Ridiculous!

[otohara]

32. I Hate The Video

it's gross.

[KentuckyWoman]

33. Bunch of old farts all outraged over young peoples devil music

It's goofy and fun to the people young enough to speak the jive.

It has zero to do with rape.

I'm over 50. Do not listen to or have much understanding of hip hop or rap or even the difference between them...and even I can see it's just another one of those kids being kids songs.