Watch the video here:
'We like to party' says the chorus. who can disagree with that? The first time I heard the song I thought it was a cool summer song. but then I listened to the lyrics. I had to say, I was kind of shocked that Beyonce at this stage of her career is singing these type of songs. Then I saw the video, and yes it did not disappoint to display exactly what this song is about. I admit when one listens to the song, that is all one leaves with 'We like to party'. However, that is not what the song is about. The rest of the lyrics and the video point to a different meaning to this summer song.
First part of the video/ first verse: Beyonce comes out of a room, later on we see that it is a trailer park. Is this a movie? Is she's a movie star? Is she stopping by on one of her tours and having a party? No explanation is made but in the video she's in this trailer, then there is a party outside and later on, it seems like an after-party in a hotel room. She comes out of her room, she is wearing garters (dressed appropriately for having sex) then some yellow t- shirt attire over it. The shirt says 'summer,' again putting the mood of the song. It also has cartoon-like ice cream cones.
There are a couple of thing in that: Yellow is the color of the sun, brings happy mood, but also...makes her look younger. Its a very young color, which makes sense as this song and video is appealing to a younger audience. Further on, the shirt has some cartoon-looking ice cream cones (representative of innocence and childhood) and a red belt thing and the garter belts hanging off her body. Already, the video is suggesting (mind you, this is analysis you have to question and bring into thought the reason for everything) that she just got busy (why else would someone walk out with some gaters?), put on a shirt over it (the trailer does have windows she doesn't want to walk around almost naked), and going to the kitchen to make something to eat. Maybe the guy is still in the room, maybe she is making him breakfast. Who knows?
So let's listen to what she starts saying: "I may be young but I'm ready... to give you my all"
When she is singing 'I may be young' the video goes to a girl, she looks 15 and lost. Dressed like she is older than what she is. She looks broken and like she needs help, not like she is ready for anything. When Beyonce sings 'to give you all my love,' just in case you are wondering what she means, the video goes to another clip where she is dressed up and brings her hands down by her breast and looks at the camera (us) suggestively. Multiple clues here all pointing to.... I maybe young (girl looked 15, 16, definitely still in high school) but I am ready (to do what?) give you all my love (have sex with you, but her version sounds nicer, I know.)
Then the next lines 'I told my girls you can get it. Don't slow it down, just let it go.' The video proceeds to the trailer. The room is filled with girls (3 of them).They look 15 to 16 year old... all again, the audience the video and song is meant to reach. I stop and I think. Beyonce is in her 30s. Why is she partying with people of that age? She is holding a cup I would imagine a 5 year old drinks out of. Again, innocence? Naiveness? Definitely an intent to reach a young audience. Even in the other clip, she is holding on to a bubble maker toy, that you blow. I played with this when I was 5.She has a lot of little girl cute stuff (the shirt with the ice cream cones, the bubble maker toy) as to say, let childhood go, become a woman by having sex with your boyfriend.
So here she is in her yellow shirt with the ice cream cones, the girls around her which she is a decade younger (surely she only hangs out with non-family 16 year olds in music videos, people hang out with people their own age unless it's family.) Why is she doing this? I think to myself. Why at this stage of your career and influence over teenage girls are you putting out this message? To lose their virginity? Is this is what you want to say? But this is my initial shock. Beyonce never ceases me to shock me with her talent and then her backward songs once in a while (hello 'Diva,' what was that about?).
The next lyric of the song goes to justify: 'so in love'. Which is really interesting, at that age its not love.. as we later learn.. It's lust. A more accurate description would be 'so in lust'. This is used as an argument to 'give it up'... you are 'so in love'.. that is why 'I told my girls you could get it'.
Let's go on. 'I'll give it all away, just don't tell nobody tomorrow.' At this time, the video shows a girl (she is not even 16) and a little kid (what? 15?) and they are looking at each other. The video clearly is relaying the message, oh yeah give it up to him. But the interesting part is don't tell anyone. So there is a sense of this is wrong, I shouldn't be doing it. People hide things when they have something to hide, it is something shameful not everyone should know. But there is the questions of character. Who are you when no one is looking? According to the video, the message is, as long as you don't get caught then you are fine.
The video and song then goes into the part that is prevalent in the whole song.. the sense of urgency... Don't just give it up, you must do it soon. How soon? Tonight!! Beyonce proclaims over and over in the song.
'We will be knocking until the morning light'. The way Beyonce says knocking and brings her thigh up, revealing her gater sex gear (in case you missed it the first time).. It's all a reference to.. sex, giving it up, being a freak, doing it 'whichever way'.. yeah we get that. But its also making a reference to a popular song that led people to giving it up called 'Knocking boots.'
Second part goes to the chorus (which is the only part the song gets recognized for talking about, partying). The video starts going into the party scenes. Solange is outside wearing all american shorts, being the DJ, and the chorus is about to start. Again, something we can all agree with 'we like to party.' There is scenes of Beyonce, with girls in her room. Then the party scene, all youngters. You do have to love the token gay guy (is he albino?!?) with the flower pin (just in case you questioned it). There is the white rocker with the Led Zeppelin shirt. And once again, Beyonce dressing young and colorful trying to fit in with these cool youngsters.
Next scene: Beyonce lyrically is talking about 'your touch is driving me crazy' while wearing a outfit that would make anyone want to touch. Her boobs are out and alluring and her eye makeup is too heavy for a teenage party, let alone a pool. She is also wearing heels inside the pool, which makes no sense. But this is a music video and , like dreams, they don't have to make sense.
She also keeps wearing this bunny ears looking horrible thing. Her doing so made me realize how cool Beyonce is perceived to be, she can do anything and get away with it. But honestly, that is UGLY.
Other shot goes to a girl sitting on top of the guy next to his lower level area. This is very subdued, but this is actually referring to one sexual position. It is very fitting as the entire song (except the chorus) is about giving it up (and by giving it up, they mean losing your virginity). This is the first clip we see youngters acting it out (in a not so obvious way). The camera is also angled, so again, it can be easily missed. But we can all agree, when people sit down on the floor this it is not normal for a girl to sit by the guy's dick. It's not like they are dancing or something.
Then the clips go to Beyonce sitting around with some couture type of outfit. I wondered a lot about this then it started to make sense. Although she is cool enough to hang with high schoolers, she is a megastar. Her wearing this specially designed couture type of high fashion outfits, she is distinguishing herself. Not only as a star, but also a wage-earning adult who can consume some of the most expensive clothes in the world. She can hang with the young people, but here she is setting herself apart. It is very interesting because teenagers love fashion, and a lot of the idols that they look up to usually have something they don't have. She is establishing this role: I am at a level you might never reach. Setting up a kind of a pedestal that they can look up to. Also, of course, it displays Beyonce's beauty.
So here it comes: the next level and most interesting part of the video: the hotel after-party!
First J Cole comes in a luxury car (of course, establishing his celebrity status). When he gets out... and this is when its going to get deep.. before he comes out there is a black snake. I stopped the video, I asked myself why is there a snake? If it wasn't meant to be there it would be edited out. And what type of snake? Did they have to fly it in? Is it from another continent? What complications had to go to have a snake in the video (and also not hurt anybody)? This made me look deeper into answering those questions. Then they gave it to me in the next scenes:
In another car (not luxury, regular I would say). We see J Cole standing on top (great, who cares).
Then we get another clip with him standing up and Beyonce on the floor (the woman is wearing expensive clothes, and it looks like a hot Arizona type heat.. why the hell would she be in the floor?). Then the next car scene, Beyonce and J Cole are at the same level. Its a sit down type of level, better than not being on the floor, but not tall and proud like how J Cole first began. Snake and these things made me look really deep. And this is what I think:
Adam and Eve!
There is a snake (the devil), the man (standing up in a closeness with God), then there is the woman (Eve who falls, that's why Beyonce was on the floor)....And then.. both of them on the same level, Eve led Adam to sin and then both of them were cast out of Eden. Still living, but missing the innate closeness they once had with God. Then you know the story, the whole creation has been suffering ever since.
Then I think of the song.. It's all about telling it's audience (young girls) to give it up (lose their virginity). The song is not tailored to men (I guess no need to, they all want to get laid already), but it is to women (little girls actually). God gave women the power of influence, just like Eve influenced Adam to sin. The song is telling girls (not yet women) to lead men to sin.. to bite the apple of fornication. Very deep. Very subdued, very easy to be dismissed.
Don't worry, I thought this was just a party song too once you only listen to the chorus. But no, listen to the rest of the lyrics. Listen to the rest of the song. Another bible reference: J Cole comes and 'Thanks God' for Friday. Beautiful people, if you had any doubt. Snakes, men and women falling and standing reference then the God reference to seal the deal. I aforementioned how Godly things are mentioned in unholy songs and videos in my 'Bottoms up' review. You might think this is too much to decipher from Adam & Eve story from these clues, but don't be surprised. How did the whole Wives trend begin? It began with Desperate Housewives, the show that made Eva Longoria famous. The cover and promotion for the show was all the wives holding an apple next to the tree of life. Shakira's album 'Oral Fixation' was her as Eve complete with the leaves on her naked body and the apple. The Bible is one of the oldest books of the world, and many references are made to it throughout pop, books, and culture.
The rest of the video has a lot of clips of girls in booty shorts ( no faces clips, just their lower area). Beyonce putting makeup on in the bathroom. Then Beyonce in the bed as she is talking, once again about 'give you everything.' As we already don't know what she is saying, she is laying in the bed, like come on.. get here. This is the next step...
Then the video goes out into the yard where the party originally started. Beyonce has Kelly Rowland from Destiny's Child come on and keep making the video look acceptable and cool. They are wearing the trend Rihanna made famous, its called I'm-not-wearing-any-pants-trend. Yeah, you just wear panties and wear it in a way that makes it look cool (does that ever look cool?). Lady Gaga also popularized this trend about the same time as well: besides her 'Eh,Eh Nothing else I can say' video do you recall her Yankees game outfit? Hideous.
Then Beyonce with some furthering strutting in her yellow rabbit fur and rabbit ears (who wears fur in the summer?) and she is walking like she's in a runway and trying to look like she is mowing the grass at the same time. Then we go to another clip she is looking like a bit Rihanna to be honest. Then the thing she does with her lips and the way she mimics the song it looks a little too much JLO for me. Jlo always did that in her videos, I don't know what that's about.
More couture outfits, more garters, and she scratches the trailer the way a virgin might scratch the back of the guy once she 'gives it all up' to him. When? Tonight!!! I guess after the afterparty. And its done!!! What I think its amazing about this song is how you can listen to it 5 times and miss completely the lyrics. The lyrics do not hide its message. The video confirms it, give it up tonight. Beyonce uses her influence to blatantly tell teenage girls to give up their virginity to a guy and 'don't tell anybody tomorrow.' It sickens me because hey, tell that to someone older with more sense. Not a girl that doesn't know anything and just wants to fit in with everyone else. Beyonce stands for women independence and everything, and I think this video is one of those senseless pointless song and videos she makes once a year ('Telephone'... really Beyonce ?!?!).
Things like this makes it hard for me to be a Beyonce fan. I like her pre-Sasha Fierce. Something has definitely happened to her, I'm not talking just J-Z, and new look but also her work! her songs! the messages! Something has changed, and not for the better. All the way from 'Independent' to this song I would say its a long way down. Nothing wrong with showing your sexuality (we got enough of that in 'Kitty Kat,' a song about the literal pussy/cat connection) but I have a problem you advicing young women to give it up. With sky-high teenage pregnancies and the normalcy of it being displayed in the media by having a show titled '16 & pregnant,' I think the world is at a loss for morals. Add this song to the mix. But don't forget.. we like to "partyyy."
Looking at it a little deep, you may not agree... This is THE CRITIC.
No comments:
Post a Comment