Lily Allen’s timing could not have been better. Last Tuesday, she released the music video for her single “Hard Out Here.” The song reflects the frustration Allen has experienced in the music industry, particularly the pressure to bounce back physically after giving birth to each of her three children (the youngest born January 8, 2013). Her song is a scathing criticism of the societal stress on women to look and act a certain way.
Lily Allen is not alone in her message. While most media only cover the self-confidence that comes with a healthy body image, there are plenty of songs out there that attempt to fight back against this culture. I’ve included my personal top five, favorite lyrics that encourage positive attitudes about body image. I’ve also included one song that I find incredibly upsetting, despite the fact that many may be mislead in believing it promotes self-confidence.
1. You should probably lose some weight ‘cause we can’t see your bones
You should probably fix your face or you’ll end up alone
Don’t you want to have someone who objectifies you?
Have you thought about your butt, who’s gonna tear it in two?
-Lilly Allen, “Hard Out Here”
Lily Allen draws the listener’s attention to the end goal most girls have when they change their bodies, and how this end goal should never be an end goal. If you want to change your body for someone, first take a second to put into perspective who this person is. If you feel the need to alter your physical appearance for a person, then you have admitted to yourself (perhaps not consciously) that this is what they value in you. They are not interested in your intellect, your jokes, or your creativity. All they care about is your bum and the rather violent sounding things they’re gonna do to it once you’ve spent hours at the gym slaving to make it oh so perky (Robin Thicke anyone?). What a tempting reward for all your hard work.
2. I wondered if I could trade my body for somebody else in magazines
Would the whole world fall at my feet?
-Natasha Bedingfield, “Freckles”
Natasha Bedingfield questions what you anticipate will happen once you get what you consider the “ideal body.” Losing ten pounds does not mean that ten page paper due Friday will suddenly disappear into thin air. Anxiety about various aspects of your life tends to seep into your body image, and you sometimes can’t help thinking everything will be better once you fix just this little thing about your body. The key is to learn to identify where the stress in your life is coming from and make sure you keep in mind the root of the problem next time you feel bloated. That uneasiness isn’t really from eating one too many cookies.
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3. Diet coke and a pizza please
Diet coke I’m on my knees
Screaming, “Big girl, you are beautiful!”
-Mika, “Big Girl (You are beautiful)”
Mika’s song specifically targets the issue of weight. While his entire song is an ode to bigger girls, this lyric especially resonates because it hints at eating disorders. Mika doesn’t directly take on the issue of anorexia or bulimia, but he does draw attention to the unhealthy habits that girls form due to the constant pressure to be skinny. In these lyrics, we have the idea of the “trade-off.” I’ll eat this ‘healthy’ thing so I can then go ahead and eat this unhealthy thing. Everyone does it, no matter how skinny they are. And while you probably shouldn’t always eat pizza (think of your arteries), it is not a healthy mentality to feel you have to justify it. The only justification you need is that it is delicious. Also, diet soda is not healthy. It isn’t even better than regular soda. And I don’t just mean that it might increase your risk for cancer, I mean it will actually cause you to gain more weight than regular soda. There are a lot of health misconceptions out there, and a lot of people will just play “follow the leader” with their eating habits rather than make informed individual decisions based on their personal needs. This isn’t a healthy way to go through life, mentally or physically.
4. I’ve got a perfect body, but sometimes I forget
I’ve got a perfect body ‘cause my eyelashes catch my sweat
-Regina Spektor, “Folding Chair”
Take a second to think about just how amazing your body is. The phenomenon that is the human body is the single most fantastic thing on this planet, possibly even the entire universe. Billions of atoms have formed themselves into a complex being, which is able to manifest a single reality for itself. Your brain is able to convert electrical signals into thoughts, and the rest of your body is able to carry out the actions you wish to perform based on these thoughts. Even the smallest of body parts, like your eyelashes, play a role by making sure your eyes don’t sting when sweat or dust gets in them. When you think about all of this, it’s hard to feel down on yourself about something so insignificant as a muffin top or a little bump in your nose.
5. Now I’m done believing you
You don’t know what I’m feeling
I’m more than what you made of me
I followed the voice you think you gave to me
But now I gotta find my own
-Beyonce, “Listen”
Okay, so technically this song is about Beyonce’s fictional struggle to become independent in the movie Dream Girls, but it can easily be translated to any part of life that you want to have better control over. Who is anyone else to tell you how you look, or how you should feel about your looks? If the doctor says you’re healthy, that’s all that matters. You can’t let the media (or anyone for that matter!) impose its value system on you and determine your self worth based on it. Reflect inwardly to find what you truly value in yourself; others will be able to see your confidence shine through.
6. Now for the song I can’t stand, and you shouldn’t either. As harmless at it may seem, One Direction’s “What makes you Beautiful” is in fact encouraging young girls to have an unhealthy self-image. Consider these lyrics:
You don’t know you’re beautiful
oh oh
That’s what makes you beautiful
-One Direction
See it now? Here are cute British boys telling adolescent girls that their insecurities are what make them attractive. That is one of the most damaging things you can ever tell someone, especially if you’re telling it to her and she’s singing along with you in the car. So please, I urge you to stop listening to this song and instead play one of the songs above. Love your body and love yourself!
Sources:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/beyonceknowles/listen.html
http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858534903/
http://www.metrolyrics.com/big-girl-you-are-beautiful-lyrics-mika.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_Allen#Relationships_and_children
http://zumic.com/music-videos/46219/hard-lily-allen-youtube-official-video-lyrics/
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/natashabedingfield/freckles.html
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/onedirection/whatmakesyoubeautiful.html