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September 09, 2010
Love The Way You Lie -- Not for kids
I know I'm getting older, and perhaps even growing more conservative over time, but I'm just not too impressed with the Eminem / Rhianna song Love The Way You Lie getting a sickening amount of mainstream air time.
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Personally I am OK with the song for mature listening, and I understand the message. It's a decent track with a catchy chorus, and as far as heavily produced and engineered pop goes, it certainly fits the bill. But read these lyrics as if you were a ten year old girl, hearing them from your future boyfriend:
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 the house on fire
What exactly is the message that my daughter is supposed to take away from this? That if she's in an abusive relationship she should stay in it, because if she doesn't she might get killed?
I'm not naive enough to think that she can't fill in the blanks that the radio stations have put in place of the profanities. She can. I'm pretty sure that even my 8 year old is capable of that. And changing the station is only marginally useful - they're going to hear the song from friends, and on YouTube, etc.
So I turn the radio to a different station when this song comes on and make the effort even if it is in vain, and hope that the next station has a song with more positive values being reinforced. The struggle to raise strong, independent girls is difficult enough without the radio brainwashing them into thinking that abusive relationships are normal or desirable.
As an aside, this is quite a funny parody...
Posted by Hammer at 02:50 PM | Comments (0)