What about that bass?

[Sue U]

So now that it's officially The Song Played Every Ten Minutes, is it an empowering anthem of self-acceptance or a simpering submission to sexism? Discuss amongst yourselves.

[TPFKA@W]

I thought we finally had a fishing thread. Imagine my disappointment.

[MajGenl.Meade]

[Guinevere]

Not played at all around here. I've not ever heard of it on either free or satellite radio.

[MajGenl.Meade]

So now that it's officially The Song Played Every Ten Minutes, is it an empowering anthem of self-acceptance or a simpering submission to sexism? Discuss amongst yourselves.

Well it's overpowering and it's some XL chick lauding her fat behind... so I'd say neither.

Oh dear oh dear oh dear

[Sue U]

Not played at all around here. I've not ever heard of it on either free or satellite radio.

Really? That's very surprising, since not only is it the Billboard #1 song, but she's a local Nantucket gal, too.

[Gob]

[BoSoxGal]

It's a catchy tune, cute video and overall a positive sentiment, I think - thanks for sharing, as I only ever hear about new music when folks point it out to me.

[Guinevere]

So now that it's officially The Song Played Every Ten Minutes, is it an empowering anthem of self-acceptance or a simpering submission to sexism? Discuss amongst yourselves.

Well it's overpowering and it's some XL chick lauding her fat behind... so I'd say neither.

Oh dear oh dear oh dear

Only in the totally screwed up world where size 2 is the standard for "average" would anyone suggest that girl "XL" with a "fat" bottom.

Suck it Meade.

[TPFKA@W]

If that girl has a fat ass what adjective accurately describes your arguably greatly more generous caboose Mr. Meade?

[Guinevere]

As for the OP, why does standing up for yourself translate into a "simpering submission to sexism?" Because, in part, she is defining her attractiveness in reference to men? Or is the assertion that the whole vid is sexist because no one that adorable should ever have to justify her looks?

I guess I don't get it. She's an artist, making an incredibly important and valid point. What's the problem?

[MajGenl.Meade]

Family snap... but you have to guess which one is me!



Lighten up girls. It was a joke (oh dear oh dear oh dear)

[Guinevere]

Newsflash. It wasn't funny.

ETA: And those kind of "jokes" are precisely why women and girls (note there is a distinction between the two) have all sorts of eating disorders and other issues with confidence and self-assuredness. Shame on you for even going there.

[MajGenl.Meade]

So what about that bass? Is it supposed to stand for B.. ass? And I'm not attempting a joke there... genuinely don't understand what "bass" she's singing of (and yes I watched the entire video - there was that one hot chick wrapped up in cellophane) - must be me. Is it a pun for "base"? At first I thought it was a man singing and hence bass as in tone/pitch but then that obviously wasn't it

And I doubt stupid remarks here drive any female posters into self-induced eating disorders. That would be too heavy

I'm an ass, admittedly

[Sue U]

As for the OP, why does standing up for yourself translate into a "simpering submission to sexism?" Because, in part, she is defining her attractiveness in reference to men? Or is the assertion that the whole vid is sexist because no one that adorable should ever have to justify her looks?

I guess I don't get it. She's an artist, making an incredibly important and valid point. What's the problem?

You've hit on some of it: She is defining her desirability in terms of "the boom boom that all the boys chase" and what "boys like" by way of "a little more booty to hold at night." As a threshold matter, I think it can be agreed that "boys like" all kinds of things, but mostly sexual availability . In any event, women are not objects whose function is to please men. And what about what women like? I know pop culture is broadly heteronormative, but desirability comes in different flavors.

Second, while she defines herself and her clearly not-fat body as desirable, she denigrates "skinny bitches" and "stick figure Barbie dolls." Why are thinner women worth less? If "every inch of you is perfect," then why isn't everyone's body worthy? Sure, she "ain't no size 2," but as one blogger pointed out:

The lyric "but I can shake it shake it/like I’m supposed to do,' bothers me on two fronts. One, we were supposed to be shaking it this whole time? Why didn’t anyone tell me? Is this going to affect my grade? And two, people who’re a size two can’t shake it? What size is Shakira? Because she’s pretty little and she can definitely shake it.

As for "bringing booty back," I think she might be a little late for that:

So what about that bass? Is it supposed to stand for B.. ass? And I'm not attempting a joke there... genuinely don't understand what "bass" she's singing of (and yes I watched the entire video - there was that one hot chick wrapped up in cellophane) - must be me. Is it a pun for "base"? At first I thought it was a man singing and hence bass as in tone/pitch but then that obviously wasn't it

As I'm sure you know, Meade, in music the bass is typically referred to as the bottom (see, e.g. This Is Spinal Tap, where the song Big Bottom was famously played using exclusively bass guitars.) And yes, it must be you, because all the "chicks" in that video were pretty darn hot by conventional standards.

On the plus side for the song, its message is generally one of positive body image and self-assuredness. But most importantly, it's got a great dance beat and a monster hook.

[TPFKA@W]

Poor Meade wading in without a clue. You notice the other fellers were to wise to fall for the OP.

I bet you don't know the correct way to circumnavigate the question, "do these pants make my butt look big?"

[Sue U]

Oh and Gob:

That was awesome!!!!!!