Friday, May 15, 2009 at 8:30:00 AM EDT
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Jamie Foxx’s “Blame It” has been the no #1 Billboard R&B/Hip Hop song in the country for the last 14 weeks, beating out records by Mariah Carey, Deborah Cox and R. Kelly for longest reign at that spot in Billboard history. So far, only Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You” has had a longer run, and current momentum has Foxx beating out the Queen of Hip Hop Soul for those honors next week. The club banger is also the number #2 pop song in America, jumping two spots in one week.
I thought I’d take a peek behind this musical sensation sweeping our land and major shows like American Idol, Jimmy Kimmel and—rather curiously un-critiqued on—the Tyra Banks Show. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that recession-weary Americans are groovin’ to much more than the idea of escaping their hard knocks life through the bottle, but we are in fact bouncin’ to a one man’s stealth plot to take advantage of a woman he purposely gets drunk for sex. Have you actually read the lyrics to “Blame It”?
I thought I’d take a peek behind this musical sensation sweeping our land and major shows like American Idol, Jimmy Kimmel and—rather curiously un-critiqued on—the Tyra Banks Show. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that recession-weary Americans are groovin’ to much more than the idea of escaping their hard knocks life through the bottle, but we are in fact bouncin’ to a one man’s stealth plot to take advantage of a woman he purposely gets drunk for sex. Have you actually read the lyrics to “Blame It”?
Now, I’m no prude, but what appears to be a simple ode to the joys of different alcohol brands and juvenile irresponsibility (in behavior, not age), essentially depicts women as prey to get drunk and take sexual advantage of. This idea is not new or novel, its reasoning is in fact the reason many perpetrators (gay and straight) are in jail. Some 66% of female victims and 58.5% of male victims of rape say their perpetrator was using alcohol or drugs when they raped them, and almost 20% of women and 38% of male victims were also under the influence.
Still, the wholesale success of “Blame It” reveals more than just a national need to escape hard times through banging beats and chemical alteration. The song’s success speaks to even more than our perennial longing not to be accountable to a host of pesky obligations and responsibilities, from infidelity and child support payments to torture approvals and global economic meltdowns. The success of “Blame It” illustrates the endurance of our cultural belief that it’s not only okay to get those sexually desirable drunk and take advantage of them while under the influence, that it’s in fact a sport worth celebrating through song. At #1, America clearly agrees.
The lyrics to “Blame It” like many pop songs depict a fantastical stereotype through story. Written by an all-male team, including Foxx and T-Pain, the song is interior dialogue and story narrative told from the male’s point of view, one who believes that the woman really wants him, but just needs alcohol to be convinced ( we won’t get into the perp’s self-esteem issues here). In this instance, a woman who doesn’t appear interested in a man will become willing through multiple purchases of alcohol. She will transition from cold fish to groping groupie in just a matter of shots, even if she has another man.
The song’s perpetrator (‘cause that’s what he’d be if this case ever came to trial) is a cool observer who’s strategic as he keeps a variety of cocktails flowing the lady’s way, gradually increasing his invasion of her body as she relaxes(Fill another cup up/Feeling on your butt-What?/You don't even care now), watching for her symptoms of lost judgment and physical disorientation to take hold (Couple more shots/You open up like a book) and advancing accordingly. Once he knows she’s drunk enough to not even know she’s had sex (Shawty got drunk, thought it all was a dream/So, I made her say, "Ah, Ah, Ah"), he takes her somewhere to complete his mission, and potentially catch a date rape case to boot.
The song’s perpetrator (‘cause that’s what he’d be if this case ever came to trial) is a cool observer who’s strategic as he keeps a variety of cocktails flowing the lady’s way, gradually increasing his invasion of her body as she relaxes(Fill another cup up/Feeling on your butt-What?/You don't even care now), watching for her symptoms of lost judgment and physical disorientation to take hold (Couple more shots/You open up like a book) and advancing accordingly. Once he knows she’s drunk enough to not even know she’s had sex (Shawty got drunk, thought it all was a dream/So, I made her say, "Ah, Ah, Ah"), he takes her somewhere to complete his mission, and potentially catch a date rape case to boot.
Aesthetically, the club song is genius, with catchy hooks that invite you to be a little naughty on the dance floor and an engaging bassline to sweep you into a halcyon party groove. In a haze of T-Pain’s stuttered electronic choruses, we fail to notice the song is more than a song but the mental notes of sexual predators’ writ large. Not all of those who buy into this message are conscious predators; many will believe that their actions were following an acceptable cultural script, one that even some good people may find acceptable. Sadly, many Foxx fans gratefully sweating to “their song” may be on the witness stand several months later, both defendant and plaintiff later blaming what might have been a disastrously mis-communicated moment—or a nefarious one—on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol.
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by AFY_Abby
The only problem is, it's so darn catchy, it's stuck in my head just from reading this piece! :P
The only problem is, it's so darn catchy, it's stuck in my head just from reading this piece! :P
The sad thing is that this doesn't suprise me in the slightest. We have gotten to the point where this kind of thing is expected in media, so what does that say about what is expected in real life?
The question of blissfully ignorant dancers/club-goers/radio-listeners singing along and "oh my god loving this song soooo much" reminds me of dilemmas posed after Chris Brown's abuse of Rihanna. While he has clearly produced popular, danceable songs, do we stop appreciating his music because of his abuse? In the same way I ask myself, does it go against my principles to dance to "Blame it on the Alcohol" with my friends? It's a hard call, but at least in this case of T-Pain, the song lyrics are what offend, not a backstory that I have to constantly remind myself of (like Chris Brown).
Anyway, good post, good point. It raises some interesting questions.
A very good friend of mine is a singer/songwriter, she plays acoustic and sings quite amazingly (I really want her to get famous, korean female winning it big, I give all thumbs up) and when she sang the song she basically presented the song in slow acoustic fashion as herself as the protagonist, replacing several instances of you with me (got me feelin dizzy etc) then seperates the middle verse into a dialogue between male and female with her voice. In all it's a mildly complex treatment.
Put in such context it was about a girl who -does- concent and know what she wants but uses the convenient excuse of alcohol to get around social mores in a way she feels acceptable. Notably there is a strong note of irony in the way she sings it, as if she's not drunk, but it rather giving that line to the guy so he'll be emboldend. The middle
Yes, it's still terribly steeped in rape culture (I'm certain she doesn't see it that way) But she puts it forth beautifully and in a way... it's hard to explain.
So naturally when I heard the original and found out it was sung by a male I was frankly shocked, I thought it'd be a female song... One version I find acceptable if irresponsible, the orignial? Well that's just kinda... wrong isn't it?
And doesn't kick it like Judo (which doesn't kick, morons) imply a struggle?
"By b*tch a choosey lover, never f*ck without a rubber"
"Girl dont touch my protection, I know you want it to slip
But slippin is something I dont do, tippin for life? (Mmm mmm!)"
Wether or not the female may be playing into the players game or not, she can not legally commit if she is legally impaired. If she says it was date rape; it was, in the eyes of the law.