STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Luv2Shop · Kate Spade

selling out

member · Hermes

I get what you're saying, however, I disagree about Gwen. I don't think she sold out at all. She started a solo career, and I didn't expect or want it to sound exactly like No Doubt. She's trying new things, and I think she's always had an interest in hip hop, so I don't think what she's doing is wrong at all. I really love her solo stuff.

-- Edited by shopchicago33 at 16:30, 2006-05-18

Maddie · Coach

Hmm. I totally disagree. I like her new song better than her old stuff. In my opinon. "I'm Like A Bird" was kind of cheesy, and if you're going to make boring music it might as well be fun. Also, she was pretty young when her first album came out so she's probably changed a lot too. Not to mention, everyone has multiple facets to their personality. I also disagree that Mariah and Gwen have sold out. Mariah has always had an extremely sexual persona, and whether or not you like her new music "We Belong Together" hardly seems to earn her the title of hip hop skank. Also, Gwen's music has defintely changed, but I don't think Gwen Stefani needs to sell out, she's already ridiculously succesful. I would guess she was more likely just interested in doing something new.

honey · Gucci

Maddie wrote:

Hmm. I totally disagree. I like her new song better than her old stuff. In my opinon. "I'm Like A Bird" was kind of cheesy, and if you're going to make boring music it might as well be fun. Also, she was pretty young when her first album came out so she's probably changed a lot too. Not to mention, everyone has multiple facets to their personality. I also disagree that Mariah and Gwen have sold out. Mariah has always had an extremely sexual persona, and whether or not you like her new music "We Belong Together" hardly seems to earn her the title of hip hop skank. Also, Gwen's music has defintely changed, but I don't think Gwen Stefani needs to sell out, she's already ridiculously succesful. I would guess she was more likely just interested in doing something new.

i agree with maddie. imo i feel like a lot of what happens with female singers is that they're really heavily marketed in the beginning, and they only get to define themselves as musicians over the years. mariah carey is a good example b/c she was married to tommy mottola(sp?) who totally put her in this pop mold that i don't think was ever truly her style. plus i actually like a lot of her hip-hop oriented stuff way more than the cheese she used to sing back in the day.

i'll admit i have only heard snippets of the new single, but i do know a couple of things. the song is with timbaland who she's worked with before, and is not just "some rapper" (actually he's more of a producer) and has done tons of work with missy and aaliyah. he's kind of like the pharrell of a couple of years ago. also the sense i get is that "i'm like a bird" was never really indicative of her persona. my understanding is that her musical background is pretty diverse and was heavily influenced by hip-hop music. i'm thinking she probably had to shelve that part of her when she got her first deal.

Luv2Shop · Kate Spade

I guess the part that I am sick of is women thinking they need to be sexy or sing about sex to sell music. I didn't mean Mariah's songs were skanky, but she sure is!! And Nelly Furtado's I'm like a bird was kind of cheesy I guess, but singing a song called, flat out, permiscuous girl just makes me sick. I am scared to have children because of the whole industry of entertainment is just slutting up the whole world.

member · Hermes

Luv2Shop wrote:

I guess the part that I am sick of is women thinking they need to be sexy or sing about sex to sell music. I didn't mean Mariah's songs were skanky, but she sure is!! And Nelly Furtado's I'm like a bird was kind of cheesy I guess, but singing a song called, flat out, permiscuous girl just makes me sick. I am scared to have children because of the whole industry of entertainment is just slutting up the whole world.

I think it's wrong to say that it's just female singers singing about sex, etc. Plenty of male singers or rappers are far worse than who you're pinpoint. Also, I don't get how Gwen Stefani fits into all this?? I can't think of one song of hers that is "slutty" or about sex just to sell her music.

Are the lyrics of Nelly Furtado's song very sexual? I haven't heard it.

As for Mariah, i agree w/Maddie, Mariah's always been a sexual person, but I don't think that makes her a slut. I'm not a fan of hers, but I don't see her music as just selling sex.

honey · Gucci

Luv2Shop wrote:

I guess the part that I am sick of is women thinking they need to be sexy or sing about sex to sell music. I didn't mean Mariah's songs were skanky, but she sure is!! And Nelly Furtado's I'm like a bird was kind of cheesy I guess, but singing a song called, flat out, permiscuous girl just makes me sick. I am scared to have children because of the whole industry of entertainment is just slutting up the whole world.

yeah...but i feel like people have perpetually made this argument for so long that it is starting to lose meaning. back in the day people acted like elvis was the harbringer of the apocalypse b/c of his suggestive hip swinging, and now everyone reveres him as a rock & roll legend.

there are so many options out there as far as music and entertainment go, that it's not that difficult to find alternative entertainment options for yourself & your *future* children. also parents play a huge role in counter-acting all the garbage on tv. i was raised on a steady diet of mtv -- madonna was my icon when i was little -- i *think* i turned out okay. probably b/c i had strong positive influences in my life. also fwiw, i read through some of the lyrics of promiscuous girl, and while i don't think it's nearly as bad as other stuff that i hear

Luv2Shop · Kate Spade

shopchicago33 wrote:

Luv2Shop wrote:

I think it's wrong to say that it's just female singers singing about sex, etc. Plenty of male singers or rappers are far worse than who you're pinpoint. Also, I don't get how Gwen Stefani fits into all this?? I can't think of one song of hers that is "slutty" or about sex just to sell her music.

Oh, don't even get me started on the males!! I guess I am just all worked up from yesterday. I heard the song after I was watching the Dateline special about sexual internet predators, so I just flew off the handle. It seems like everything these days just disgusts me more and more. Sorry if I stepped on any toes. BTW, I really like Gwen Stafani, I was just using her as a very slight example. And I never said Mariah used sexual lyrics, but she does dress like a ho.
Rant over.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

Times change.

bliss · Dooney & Bourke

As far as Nelly Furtado is concerned she really uses a lot more raggae influences in her music than anything, I'm confused as to who says she is hip hop oriented anyway. I think her music has always pulled from different genres and that is what makes her the artist that she is.

And if her and Mariah and Gwen all want to become leading hip hop pioneers who does that harm? Mariah's music needed a change, her album sales were slipping and she needed to revamp herself, like getting a promotion at work, you have to keep moving in life.

dewdk · BCBG

for those of you wondering what the actual words to the song Promisc. Girl here they are in all their semi-vulgar glory. . .gosh this guy just sound so charming. . .i guess they are in luv HA!

Promiscuous Girl

N: Do I turn you off?
Nope
N: Didn’t think so

How you doin’ young lady
That feelin’ that you givin’ really drivin' me crazy
You don’t haveta play about the joke
I was at a loss of words first time that we spoke

N:If you looking for a girl that’ll treat you right
If you lookin’ for her in the day time with the light

You might be the type if I play my cards right
I'll find out by the end of the night

N: You expect me to just let you hit it
But will you still respect me if you get it

All I can do is try, gimme one chance
What’s the problem I don’t see no ring on your hand

I be the first to admit it, I’m curious about you, you seem so innocent

N: You wanna get in my world, get lost in it
Boy I’m tired of running, lets walk for a minute

Chorus-
Promiscuous girl
Wherever you are
I’m all alone
And it's you that I want

N: Promiscuous boy
You already know
That I’m all yours
What you waiting for?
Promiscuous girl
You're teasing me
You know what I want
And I got what you need

N: Promiscuous boy
Let's get to the point
Cause we're on a roll
Are you ready?

Verse-
N: Roses are red
Some diamonds are blue
Chivalry is dead
But you're still kinda cute

Hey! I can't keep my mind off you
Where you at, do you mind if I come through

N: I’m out of this world come with me to my planet
Get you on my level do you think that you can handle it?

They call me Thomas
last name Crown
Recognize game
I'm a lay mine's down

N: I'm a big girl I can handle myself
But if I get lonely I’ma need your help
Pay attention to me I don't talk for my health

I want you on my team
N: So does everybody else.

Baby we can keep it on the low
Let your guard down ain’t nobody gotta know
If you with it girl I know a place we can go

N: What kind of girl do you take me for?

Chorus-
Don't be mad, don't get mean
N: Don't get mad, don't be mean

Hey! Don't be mad, don't get mean
N: Don't get mad, don't be mean

Wait! I don't mean no harm
I can see you with my t-shirt on

I can see you with nothing on
feeling on me before you bring that on

Bring that on
N: You know what I mean

Girl, I’m a freak you shouldn't say those things

I’m only trying to get inside your brain
To see if you can work me the way you say

It's okay, it's alright
I got something that you gon' like

Hey is that the truth or are you talking trash
Is your game M.V.P. like Steve Nash

Chorus-
Promiscuous Girl
Wherever you are
I’m all alone
And its you that I want

N: Promiscuous Boy
I'm calling your name
But you're driving me crazy
The way you're making me wait

Promiscuous Girl
You're teasing me
You know what I want
And I got what you need

N: Promiscuous Boy
We're one in the same
So we don't gotta play games no more

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

For what it's worth, I was a history major, and I think the Victorian era was pretty much the only time in western history when extremely bawdy crap wasn't prevalent among, well, I guess what we would now call white trash. Regular people. They used to give kids alcohol until like, I think the 1820s, for crying out loud. Then with teh industrial age, the newly-invented middle class liked morality because of the social stability. But the very rich were always just nastier than anything (not much has changed, can you say Paris H.?) It's always been popular entertainment. These lyrics are icky, but they're not new. I think the only thing that's changed is in modern times we have more options and so the family unit isn't as tight as it used to be, but that's not because there's more smut. (although modern communication methods have definitely changed the pervasiveness of smut - it didn't used to be in the house with you).

Oh, and of course I'm paraphrasing and vaguely remembering a bunch of stuff from classes I took 10 years ago, so I could be wrongish. I'm just saying, people have always been dirty. And now that dirtiness is everywhere because society is different. But we're not nastier. Hell, have you ever read some in depth things about European royalty? Yuck.