Showing posts with label Justin Timberlake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Justin Timberlake. Show all posts

Monday, April 28, 2014

B- // Not A Bad Thing // Justin Timberlake

JT, what a crooner, right? It's hard to make a feminist love song. Let's take a stab at this one:


  • The first good news is that there's no objectifying. There's no "I want you because you're pretty." Nice!
  • And other than Justin references himself as "that guy", there seems to be a possibly conscious choice to keep gender out of the song. people, someone, and baby are gender-neutral. So although this song is likely written as women in relation to man, I will give it some cred for not making it obviously so.
    • I know people make promises all the time
      Then they turn right around and break them
      When someone cuts your heart open with a knife and you're bleeding
      But I could be that guy to heal it over time
      And I won't stop until you believe it
      'Cause baby you're worth it
  • There's some self-consciously silly stuff in here. He fantasizes about saving her from her troubles, but at the same time acknowledges that he can't.
    • If I had a pair of wings
      I'd scoop you up we'd fly away and disappear
      Then you could put your worries upon my shoulders, my dear
      And I know I can't save you
      From the troubles of the world
      I know this sounds like such a silly thing

      But if I could I'd fly you away
      On a big old pair of wings
         He seems to respect her. But is that enough to be empowering? I think not. Still, I also don't think it's disempowering. Pretty neutral on this one.
    • No I won't fill your mind with broken promises
      And wasted time
      And if you fall
      You'll always land right in these arms
      These arms of mine
  • No name calling


Friday, October 4, 2013

C // Mirrors // Justin Timberlake

  • Woman in relation to man
    • It's like you're my mirror
      My mirror staring back at me
      I couldn't get any bigger
      With anyone else beside of me
      And now it's clear as this promise
      That we're making two reflections into one
  • No name calling
  • Woman not objectified! (okay, she is literally compared to an object-a mirror-but it's for the use of some nice, extended metaphor that doesn't really have to do with her body)
  • Woman neither empowered nor disempowered

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

C // Holy Grail // Jay Z ft. Justin Timberlake

Although relationship imagery is used, it is clearly a metaphor for fame.

  • Women as empowered (but cruel)
    • You get the air out my lungs whenever you need it // And you take the blade right out my heart, just so you can watch me bleed
  • Women in relationship to man
  • No name-calling
  • Not objectifying