Kelly Clarkson: Getting "real" about relationships
Today's appreciation post is dedicated to the queen of anthemic chick-pop/rock, Kelly Clarkson.
Recently I was listening to the radio and was surprised to hear some thought-provoking lyrics, the kind of which are sorely absent in much of contemporary pop music. ("Call Me Maybe" may be catchy, but is ultimately vapid. Don't even trip.)
The chorus of the song goes like this:Everybody's got a dark side/ Do you love me?/ Can you love mine?
First of all, YES. Second of all, PLEASE. We need songs like this. A lot of people, men and women, are horribly naive when it comes to being in a relationship. I may totally be preaching to the choir, but getting to know someone beyond the superficial means having to constantly resist the urge to romanticize them as a charming, flawless creature that can do no wrong. People like this act surprised when they witness a loved one being petty, needy, depressed or selfish.
The beauty--and the risk--of relationships is that the two parties involved open themselves up to the scrutiny, and possible rejection, of the other. So I appreciate this song because it highlights the universal insecurity in taking a leap of trust with another person.
Nobody's a picture perfect/ but we're worth it
Ahhhh, another impressive lyric. It's been my observation that women disproportionately apologize for their faults to the point of self-hatred + a healthy dose of all-around feelings of worthless. Thankfully this song subverts that, normalizing imperfection, and even partly glorifying it. Having a "dark side" is what it means to be human, so...if you want to have a relationship with an actual human being, it stands that flaws and all, women (and men) are "worth it." Gorgeous.
Lastly, the music video, although very cursorily, ambitiously attempts to showcase (and de-stigmtize) eating disorders, bullying, chemical dependency, PTSD and...also gratuitously splices in a random Asian American girl on a tire swing. Don't know what she is supposed to symbolize but, you know. Whatever. Can't be perfect. It's Sony music, after all.
Bottom line: humans (women especially!) are beautiful. Scars, baggage, neuroticism and all.
Don't run away. ;-)
Recently I was listening to the radio and was surprised to hear some thought-provoking lyrics, the kind of which are sorely absent in much of contemporary pop music. ("Call Me Maybe" may be catchy, but is ultimately vapid. Don't even trip.)
The chorus of the song goes like this:Everybody's got a dark side/ Do you love me?/ Can you love mine?
First of all, YES. Second of all, PLEASE. We need songs like this. A lot of people, men and women, are horribly naive when it comes to being in a relationship. I may totally be preaching to the choir, but getting to know someone beyond the superficial means having to constantly resist the urge to romanticize them as a charming, flawless creature that can do no wrong. People like this act surprised when they witness a loved one being petty, needy, depressed or selfish.
The beauty--and the risk--of relationships is that the two parties involved open themselves up to the scrutiny, and possible rejection, of the other. So I appreciate this song because it highlights the universal insecurity in taking a leap of trust with another person.
Nobody's a picture perfect/ but we're worth it
Ahhhh, another impressive lyric. It's been my observation that women disproportionately apologize for their faults to the point of self-hatred + a healthy dose of all-around feelings of worthless. Thankfully this song subverts that, normalizing imperfection, and even partly glorifying it. Having a "dark side" is what it means to be human, so...if you want to have a relationship with an actual human being, it stands that flaws and all, women (and men) are "worth it." Gorgeous.
Lastly, the music video, although very cursorily, ambitiously attempts to showcase (and de-stigmtize) eating disorders, bullying, chemical dependency, PTSD and...also gratuitously splices in a random Asian American girl on a tire swing. Don't know what she is supposed to symbolize but, you know. Whatever. Can't be perfect. It's Sony music, after all.
Bottom line: humans (women especially!) are beautiful. Scars, baggage, neuroticism and all.
Don't run away. ;-)
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