Katy P, We Need To Talk About Victimization

So, you ever have those moments where, you know you’ve done something a million times or seen something a million times or heard something a million times, but then suddenly that million and first time, you finally “get” it. Yeah, so that happened to me...

While driving home from volunteer training (which admittedly I wrote this in a very raw and emotional state), the song Extraterrestrial by Katy Perry came on the radio.  Now, I’ve heard this song before.  I’ve sang along.  But tonight, I’m singing along and all of a sudden, I realize what I’m actually saying.  And before I realize it, I’m screaming at the radio, “WHAT THE EFF, KATY?”  

I am a fan of her usually.  Her album One of the Boys is my summer anthem music because it’s so peppy and reminds me of sunshine and fun.  But when I really listened to her lyrics for Extraterrestrial, I liked her a little less.  Here are the lyrics:

[Kanye West - Verse 1]

I got a dirty mind

I got filthy ways

I'm tryna bathe my ape, (ape),

In your milky way (way)

I'm a legend

I'm irreverent

I be reverend

I'll be so faaaaa-ar up

We don't give a fuuuh-uh-uck

Welcome to the danger zone

Step into the fantasy

You are not invited to the other side of sanity

They're callin' me an alien a big headed astronaut

Maybe it's because your boy Yeezy get ass a lot

[Katy Perry]

You're so hypnotizing

Could you be the devil?

Could you be an angel?

Your touch magnetizing

Feels like I am floating

Leaves my body glowing

They say, be afraid

You're not like the others

Futuristic lover

Different DNA

They don't understand you

[Bridge]

You're from a whole other world

A different dimension

You open my eyes

And I'm ready to go

Lead me into the light

[Chorus:]

Kiss me, kiss me

Infect me with your love and

Fill me with your poison

Take me, take me

Wanna be your victim

Ready for abduction

Boy, you're an alien

Your touch so foreign

It's supernatural

Extraterrestrial

You're so supersonic

Wanna feel your powers

Stun me with your laser

Your kiss is cosmic

Every move is magic

[Bridge] & [Chorus:]

[Kanye West - Verse 2]

I know a bar out in Mars

Where they drivin' spaceships instead of cars

Cop a prada space suit about the stars

Getting stupid hah, straight up out the jars

Pockets on shrek, rockets on deck

Tell me what's next? Alien sex.

Imma disrobe you

Then Imma probe you

See I've abducted you

So I'll tell you what to do

I tell you what to do (what to do, what to do)

[Katy Perry]

Kiss me, kiss me

Infect me with your love and

Fill me with your poison

Take me, take me

Wanna be a victim

Ready for abduction

Boy, you're an alien

Your touch so foreign

It's supernatural

Extraterrestrial

Extraterrestrial

Extraterrestrial

Boy, you're an alien

Your touch so foreign

It's supernatural

Extraterrestrial

I’ve already posted a very lengthy rant about Robin Thicke’s song Blurred Lines.  This song is to me, worse than that one.  Here’s why.

Point #1: Wanna be a victim, ready for abduction

There is a woman saying she wants to be a victim.  Not only do women not want to be victimized, you’re discrediting survivors everywhere.  Giving credence to those who says victims were “asking for it.” That’s incredibly disrespectful to survivors.  Going through a victimization and learning to cope with what happened is unbelievably challenging. Not to mention those who would blame the victim.  Now a woman is saying in a song that she’s willing to be victimized?  It disgusts me.

Point#2: See I abducted you, so I tell you what to do

So basically Kanye, you’re going to rape.  You’re saying that because you took physical control over this woman, that you have the right to tell her what to do, which also implies that she has to listen to what you tell her to do.  Here’s the thing….NO. Abduction is wrong all by itself, but adding that the person you abducted also has to do what you want, which by implication is sexual activity, is an added level of horrible.

Point #3: Imma disrobe you, then Imma probe you.

Describing how you intend to rape...classy of you, Kanye.

Point #4: Welcome to the Danger Zone

The song starts with this opening gambit, essentially admitting it's an unsafe connection. It's possible they meant to reference the song Danger Zone. However, the several various implications put together into one unit spell trouble.

I know that people would probably argue that I’m reading too much into the lyrics.  But I’m not.  Those lyrics are obvious.  Her stating she wants to be a victim is in the chorus.  Is the song catchy? Sure.  Did it used to be a song I enjoyed?  Yeah.  Does it now make me feel slightly revictimized and upset? Absolutely.  I guess the point I am trying to make is there are plenty of topics to sing about, does it have to be sexually assaultive? For anyone else out there that might have felt victimized by the song, know you aren’t alone. It’s sad how much this topic actually permeates music. But that’s another topic for another time.

Musical Revertigo

Every once in awhile, a song will play or I will reread a book or even think about a time in my life and that action will connect in my brain to something else. And I will begin thinking about that something else. If you’ve seen most of How I Met Your Mother, you’ve probably seen the episode in which they discuss revertigo-named by Marshall as such it is the experience of someone acting like their old self around someone from the past. Lily sees her high school friend Michelle and becomes more ghetto. Ted sees his high school friend Adam “Punchy” Punchiarello and he becomes more pushy and violent. Robin sees her old high school flame and she is transformed into a googly-eyed teen. I have somehow in my brain transformed this phenom to attach itself to music.

Senior year of high school can be a very magical time, as well as a stressor for a need of caffeine. That was the year I started drinking coffee regularly. And unfortunately for my wallet, there was a coffee place on the way to school that had a drive thru. Of course, I was just starting with coffee so I couldn’t actually drink real coffee. I had to get the froofy drinks. My poor wallet! This was the same time I had gotten the How to Save a Life album from the Fray. The distance to school was short so I only really listened to the first few songs. But to this day, that album reminds me of driving to school in the dark and sipping overly priced “coffee.”

Freshman year of college, I had not gotten an ipod yet and was using a dinky mp3 with minimal space on it, which limited my musical selections. The few albums I had installed became what I listened to over and over again, until I got sick of it and switched out albums. Two albums stick out that which when I hear them, immediately throw me back to Freshman year. I can remember walking to class, having lunch in Fresh Foods, and spending ample time curled up in bed reading. Paolo Nutini’s These Streets immediately makes me think of fall. His soft sounds and slightly raspy voice call to mind changing leaves and comfy blankets. The other album is the Transformers soundtrack. The eclectic group of artists on that album offered a more aggressive tune than the smooth sounds of Paolo. It was my “I’m frustrated with my professors” music.

Also Freshman year was two significant discoveries, strangely enough offered to me by the same person. Almost at the same time was I introduced to the artist Breaking Benjamin and the book series Twilight, by none other than Rachel DeWitt. To this day, their album Phobia has distinct lines that make me think of scenes from Twilight. And whenever I reread the series, I get serious hankerings to listen to Breaking Benjamin.

Sophomore year of college I started watching the show Supernatural, and the show has a music base of classic rock. I was already a fan of AC/DC, but the show’s love of the band increased my love for them as well. I ended up going through episodes and picking out classic rock songs that I either owned or wanted to own and created a Supernatural playlist. Now, whenever I hear those songs, I immediately think of the specific episode they are played in and how much I would love to run around the country hunting ghosties.

Lastly, one album and one specific song remind me of one of my favorite trips I’ve ever taken. On the airplane on the way to Ireland, I fell asleep listening to Civil Twilight’s debut album. I had already listened to it repeatedly, and finally just let myself wear out. Sadly enough, I still didn’t get much sleep on the plane. Not enough room + children behind me + children across from me + not much sleep = cranky Alex. Later on in my adventures around the emerald isle, the group of us took a bus ride to Cork (heehee, in Ireland when they say it, it sounds like cock). From Cork we went to Blarney, where I kissed the stone. But on that bus ride, I practically listened to Tom Petty’s Last Dance with MaryJane on repeat. So to this day, hearing that song puts me back on that miserable bus ride (is there any long bus ride that isn’t miserable?) and I’m back in Ireland for a spell. That song still has the power to make me hit repeat and play it over and over again, like no other song does.

These instances, though there are more (Miles Davis reminds me of my dad; Huey Lewis and the News reminds me of cleaning), are ones that happen every time one or the other comes up. These memories or sentiment are almost interchangeable in my brain now; they are so attached to each other. And myself being so attached to these attachments has made the memories somehow stronger in my mind. Music has weird powers, I don’t dare question. Only enjoy.

The Allure of Christmas Music

I’ll admit, I’m one of those people who loves Christmas music to a fault. I’ve been listening to it since the beginning of November. As evidence of Facebook and Twitter, my cousin Colette (also a huge fan of Christmas) and I have already purchased a tree and decorated it in our room. It is adorable. And now has presents underneath it :)

If you’re a Christmas music purist, as most people are, you can’t stand that stations start playing it in November, and you believe decorations should wait until after Thanksgiving. And in some ways, I understand that. Holidays go in a specific order, so decorations should as well, right? But here’s where I disagree a bit.

Society as a whole has dubbed this the “holiday season.” Meaning all holidays. And the reason I cherish Christmas above all else is the meaning it carries with me. Christmas to me is the epitome of love and family. I enjoy spending the time I have on this planet with the people I love. And I love spoiling them. Seriously. There are fewer joys to me than to see someone I care about open a present into which I put thought and care. People know when someone has put effort into their presents. So for me to be blasting “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” while I’m driving is my way of celebrating that I can’t wait until I get to see the people I love and spend time with them.

So maybe, other people feel the same way I do. That Christmas music to them is an excitement for the time coming. Maybe people think Thanksgiving is just about eating a lot and buying things on sale, with a little bit of thanks on the side. And some football. Or maybe this anticipatory playing of Christmas music is a way for commercialism to push people into buying more presents for people. But personally, give me The Beach Boys Christmas album and a glass of peppermint hot cocoa any day. Because there is nothing more awesome than celebrating my favorite holiday with the people I love.

My Inner Fangirl needs some air....

So usually my inner fangirl stays pretty well locked up, but since the Eclipse soundtrack was released today (also my friend's b-day, so shout out to being able to booze up), I decided that the fangirl needed to come out for a little bit and breathe.

Disclaimer: Yes, I am a fan of Twilight. I am however, not the kind of fangirl who makes tribute videos, imposes my image with members of the film franchise to seem like we're dating, or actually consider the writing good. I am a fan in the sense that I enjoy the books as a pleasure read and nothing more. I don't think Stephenie Meyer's books will become classics (on the contrary, I tend to critique her grammar constantly). So if your tendency to lump fangirl with the automatic notion of being crazy, leave this page. I have no tolerance for people who generalize and stereotype. If however you would like to hear an honest critique of the franchise and books, please, read on friends.

The soundtrack was released today and my expectations were high. The Twilight soundtrack was decent. The New Moon soundtrack left me wanting more, but the songs that I did like were very good. So what was to come from this one?

There was one song that I really just don't like and one song that I don't like part of, but the rest of the songs I am inclined to enjoy. The song I didn't like was the pre-released "Neutron Star Collision" by Muse. This severely disappointed me. I am a huge Muse fan, so the fact that their song was so bad really sucks. Their songs on the last two have always been favorites of mine. And now, so disappointed. The other song, the one I will say I'm on the fence about, is "The Line" by Battles. The intro was great, but midway into the song I just couldn't keep with it. But I am very glad to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the cd. I feel that the songs fit well with the tone of the movie. Standouts were "Atlas" by Fanfarlo and "Chop and Change" by the Black Keys. Now, onto the film.

I am very, very excited for this film. More so with any other because "Eclipse" is my favorite book of the series. That being said, my expectations are pretty high. More than that reason alone. David Slade is directing. I absolutely loved Hard Candy. Though it is a completely twisted and messed up story, it is an unbelievably well made film. His cinematography is outstanding. So I am intrigued as to how he will take this film. I couldn't stand what Hardwicke did with Twilight and I think Weitz got part of it right with New Moon (better than Hardwicke anyway). So Mr. Slade, what are you going to offer?


Side bar, I'm currently rereading "The Host" (the adult work of Meyer). I enjoy this story better because....I'm not sure. Part of it is that I think the human interaction and emotions are far more believable than in "Twilight" and the idea of intelligent life being out there seems far more plausible. I'm glad it is a fast read like her others because I've already counted a few sentences that end in a preposition. Come on, editors. Are you napping on the job? Seriously. Also, Stephenie. Learn some grammar would you?

So that's the end of my fangirl release. She's getting locked back up until the film comes out. Go and be free, friends. Be smart. Be awesome. But above all, be yourself (and that means letting the inner fan out every once in a while).