Popular Music and Today's Society

The assignment given was to show what today's music says about today's society. Much like the anti-war songs of the 1960s, musicians speak out though their music even today. With this, I picked the song "Run The World (Girls)" by Beyonce Knowles1, with lyrics attached.

Introduction:

Woman, the world over, constantly feel the desire to be treated like individuals, and not second class citizens. Only in the last one hundred years is western society changing so that woman can be equal to men. But one thing holding them back, is a counter social message that woman have to be "Kinder, Küche, Kirche" translated: "children, kitchen, church", which at times is also associated with the English "Barefoot and pregnant" figure of speech.

Ms. Knowles is considered a role-model to young girls, not only by her success but being a woman, and African-American. Hence much like Gloria Gaynor's "I will Survive" released in October 1978, and Donna Summer's "She works hard for the money" in 1983, she, like other artists try to show girls that they can be strong and even equal to men. If they ignore the counter messages

.
Does Ms. Knowles song do this? Was there an offensive, or threatening side?

Materials and Methods

Wikipedia's article3 about this song2 suggested a 'femdom' message, instead of the more uplifting empowerment of young girls. Now I feel the video 1suggests that. However Ms. Knowles writing2 gives a deeper meaning; one of empowerment, yes, but she points out that not all men are afraid, and even appreciate and support equality in women.

Results:

Several verses in the song points out to girls that you can be successful, if you work hard, and never give up;

DJ don't be scared to run this, run this back

I'm reppin' for the girls who taking over the world

Help me raise a glass for the college grads

and

This goes out to all my girls

That's in the club rocking the latest

Who will buy it for themselves and get more money later

and

How we're smart enough to make these millions

Strong enough to bear the children      

Then get back to business

Then in one verse she points out there is some men who appreciate and support women:

To other men that respect what I do

Please accept my shine

Discussion:

Society is once again in a cross-roads. With the LBGTQ community running full tilt toward equality, Ms. Knowles' song points out that females still are being oppressed by society. This could be why the video1 was as raw, and aggressive as shown. The lyrics suggests a lighter uplifting message, more in the teachings of Dr. King, which is better for the girls she speaks too. Instead of adopting a militaristic approach, the lyrics point out what is wrong, but also points out how to improve, and advance.

This suggests that society is moving more toward a centralist, moderate view. The "Hippie generation" of the sixties was as extreme left, as the militaristic right views of other decades. Now, we may be seeing in music -- which tends to be the first alerts to societal change -- of a more centralist view.

Lyrics:

"Run The World (Girls)"

Girls, we run this motha (yeah!) [x4]

GIRLS!

[Chorus:]

Who run the world? Girls![x4]

Who run this motha? Girls! [x4]

Who run the world? Girls! [x4]

[Verse 1:]

Some of them men think they freak this like we do

But no they don't

Make your check come at they neck,

Disrespect us no they won't              

Boy don't even try to touch this

Boy this beat is crazy

This is how they made me

Houston Texas baby

This goes out to all my girls

That's in the club rocking the latest

Who will buy it for themselves and get more money later

I think I need a barber

None of these niggas can fade me

I'm so good with this,

I remind you I'm so hood with this

Boy I'm just playing

Come here baby

Hope you still like me

F- you pay me

My persuasion can build a nation

Endless power, with our love we can devour

You'll do anything for me

[Chorus:]

Who run the world? Girls! [x4]

Who run this motha? Girls! [x4]

Who run the world? Girls! [x4]

[Verse 2:]

It's hot up in here

DJ don't be scared to run this, run this back

I'm reppin' for the girls who taking over the world        

Help me raise a glass for the college grads

41 rollin' to let you know what time it is, check

You can't hold me (you can't hold me)

I work my 9 to 5, better cut my check

This goes out to all the women getting it in,

You're on your grind

To other men that respect what I do

Please accept my shine

Boy I know you love it

How we're smart enough to make these millions

Strong enough to bear the children

Then get back to business

See, you better not play me

Oh, come here baby

Hope you still like me

F- you hate me

My persuasion can build a nation

Endless power

With our love we can devour

You'll do anything for me            

[Chorus:]

Who run the world? Girls! [x4]

Who run this motha? Girls! [x4]

Who run the world? Girls! [x4]

Who are we? What we run? The world (who run this motha, yeah)

Who are we? What we run? The world (who run this motha, yeah)

Who are we? What do we run? We run the world! (who run this motha, yeah)

Who are we? What we run? We run the world

Who run the world? Girls

Acknowledgment:

Shaddock Delaforge was instrumental in helping me find this song.

Bibliography      

1. Knowles, Beyonce. "Beyoncé - Run the World (Girls)." YouTube. YouTube, 18 May 2011. Web. 02 Feb. 2015. <www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmMU_…>.
2. Taylor, David M., David J. Taylor, Nick Van De Wall, Terius Nash, Thomas W. Pentz, Thomas W. Pentz, Adidja Palmer, Beyonce Knowles, and Nick Wall. ""Run The World (Girls)" Lyrics." BEYONCE KNOWLES LYRICS. Rze Music Publishing, Songs Of Smp, Emi, Universal Music Corp., Tenyor Music, Talpa Music, Downtown Music Publishing LLC,, n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2015. <www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/beyonc…>.
3. "Run the World (Girls)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 31 Jan. 2015. Web. 02 Feb. 2015. <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_the_…>.
4. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/"Kinder, Küche, Kirche." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Sept. 2014. Web. 02 Feb. 2015. <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinder,_…>.Kinder,_K%C3%Bcche,_Kirche
5. "Barefoot and Pregnant." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Dec. 2014. Web. 02 Feb. 2015. <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot…>.
6. "I Will Survive." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Jan. 2015. Web. 02 Feb. 2015. <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Will_S…>.
7. "She Works Hard for the Money." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 June 2014. Web. 02 Feb. 2015. <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She_Work…>.