Many things while watching the VMAs last night amazed me. First of all Russell Brand is an acquired taste and had me shocked and appalled and then holding my hand over my mouth in amazement at his boldness. He eventually won me over, especially with his health care comment. Ouch! Kanye West left a very bad taste on stage and pulled focus to nonsense instead of to the chosen winner. My heart ached for anyone who was ever been abused by a huge celebrity or politician and the truth never saw the light of day.
Beyonce saved the night in a lovely tasteful manner and won all of the accolades for her poise and grace. She is one powerful dynamic woman and a great example. It was the lyrics that amazed me. All the lyrics for the songs that the women won for were about pining for unrequited love. It made me wonder if they were disguised as ways to oppress and distract women or as blatantly obvious to everyone as they were to me.
Taylor Swift is a darling and a huge influence to young girls. That is the reason I question the lyrics being sung. I don’t mean to be uptight and I’m not talking about doing the opposite and singing songs that rage against men. I’m wondering where the messages of power and strength are. The message being sent with these songs is that focusing on that guy who doesn’t see you will eventually work out. The message being received is that it’s perfectly okay and encouraged to focus on the love that you don’t have.
When you’re “in love” with someone who is not in love with you, that’s called obsession. I think when you’re in love that both parties are equally in love. Where are those songs? This is one of the reasons I love Christian Rock. Yes, it’s true. I love Jars of Clay because the messages are focused on higher things and even if you’re not a Christian, the overall focus of most of the songs is inspiration and empowerment to be a better human being.
The lyrics to the songs that won last night are all about pining for a man. Every song with the exception of Beyonce was in some way wanting, needing and pleading for a man. Yet even Beyonce’s song was shaped around needing the patriarch. Her song is strong and powerful but instead of singing about cleaning up the mess that men made in war and destruction, it demands that single ladies stand up and get that ring on their finger. Are you telling me that we should plead for the man who doesn’t see us and then demand we get a ring on our finger so we can be tied to him for a lifetime and have him own our land. Really?
Lady Gaga’s song was not only pining, it was longing until death for the unrequited attention from someone untouchable. Is this why I speak to so many teens who spend more time writing texts to some boy who doesn’t like them than feeding their brilliant brains?
Beyonce saved the night with her gracious gift to Taylor Swift. Although I wonder if the whole thing wasn’t a PR plot to do joint albums. Time will tell. Still, it was beautiful to watch women uniting. I was cheering for that and would like to add to the unity and suggest that the lyrics become more about what we’re doing in the world as a whole and less about how we are incomplete without the attention of untouchables. I think of Lauryn Hill. She has some amazing lyrics and messages.
Michael Jackson had the best lyrics out of everyone and his goal of sending good messages to the world was certainly achieved – through his music anyway. Don’t even get me started…
It was nice to see Jay-Z come on stage and sing with the flawless Alicia Keys about New York. Thank God I didn’t have to listen to a song about booties, pimps or whores as the finale!
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