S08: GWSS 3306 Pop Culture Women

Crazy B**** - Buck Cherry

Break me down,
you got a lovely face,
we're going to your place
now you got to freak me out
Scream so loud,
getting f***ing laid,
you want me to stay
but I got to make my way

2x Chorus:
Hey! You’re a crazy b****,
but you f*** so good I'm on top of it.
When I dream I'm doing you all night,
Scratches all down my back to keep me right on.

(Verse)
Take it off,
the paper is your game,
jump in bed with fame another one night paid in full
You’re so fine,
It won’t be a loss,
cashing in the rocks just to get you face to face.

2x(Chorus)

(bridge)
Get the video, f*** you so good
Get the video, f*** you so good
Crazy B****,
Crazy B****,
Crazy...
B****

2x Chorus:
Hey! You’re a crazy b****,
but you f*** so good I'm on top of it.
When I dream I'm doing you all night,
Scratches all down my back to keep me right on.

(verse)
Baby girl, you want it all to be a star you’ll have to go down.
Take it off, no need to talk
You're crazy, but I love the way you f*** me.

2x(Chorus)
You keep me right on
You're crazy, but I love the way you f*** me.

This rock song by Buck Cherry came out quite recently with a great response from listeners. However, the great rock beat of the song may overshadow for a lot of people the actual lyrics and what is happening in the song. I admit I have found myself tapping my toe to the beat, but always am disappointed in myself when I think about the lyrical implications of the song. The woman described here valued only for her sexual abilities. She is just a body and her mental capacity, even if crazy, is insignificant to the fact that she performs well in the bedroom. He doesn’t want her to talk, just to satisfy him sexually. She is also referred to as getting paid for this, referring to the woman as a prostititute. This song is a prime example of the sexual objectification of women. The song is written for a rock audience (“sex, drugs, and rock and roll”) and was written by men for a male audience. Thus, a male bonding experience is happening through the objectification of the female body (which, admittedly is definitely not a new occurrence).

Jewel – Stronger Woman
I guess you could say
I'm one of those girls
thats always been with one of those guys
you know the type
like right now
he sleeps while I write

it's better than crying
i'm warn out from trying
from loving a man who always makes it clear
I'm not welcome here
Just when he's hungry or horny or needs something cleaned
you know what I mean
But not tonight
Cause come the morning light

I'm gonna love myself
More than anyone else
Believe in me
Even if someone can't see
The stronger woman in me

I'm gonna be my own best friend
Stick with me till the end
Won't lose myself again
never, no
Cause theres a stronger woman
a stronger woman in me

the light bulbs buzz I get up
head to my drawer
wish there was more
I could say
another fairy tale fades to grey

I've lived on hope
like a child
walking that mile
faking that smile
all the while
wishing my heart had wings
well from now on I'm gonna be
The kind of woman I want my daughter to be, oh

I'm gonna love myself
More than anyone else
Believe in me
Even if someone can't see
a stronger woman in me
I'm gonna be my own best friend,
Stick with me till the end
Won't lose myself again
Never, no
Cause there's a stronger woman, stronger woman

this is me, packing up my bags
this is me, headed for the door
this is me, the best you ever had

I'm gonna love myself
More than anyone else
Believe in me, even if someone can't see
The stonger woman in me

I'm gonna be my own best friend
stick with me till the end
Won't lose myself again
no no
Cause there's a stronger woman, a stronger woman
Theres a stronger woman in me, a stronger woman in me
stronger woman in me

This song by Jewel is a much more positive representation of women. It is written by a woman, the singer herself, and directed toward a lite-rock, adult contemporary genre of listeners. This song is actually a great response to those that would place the woman as only being desired by men when they want their needs met (hungry or horny or needs something cleaned - i.e. Buck Cherry). The woman in the song desides that merely serving a man’s needs is not what she wants for herself or for her daughter. Ultimately it is her daughter that provides her with the strenghth to say no to the situation so that her life will be an inspiration for her girl. Since this is not a situation she would ever want her daughter to endure she has to be an example for the girl on how to remove herself from these belittling situations. It is not a selfish idea that the woman is promoting, to “love myself more than anyone else” but the truth that one cannot constantly be subverting their own needs in order to meet another’s. There has to be an equality and reciprocity is such in a relationship. Jewel’s song creates a brave female character that is willing to stand up for herself.