It has been quite a bit of time since my last music blog (which was on Rihanna). So I've decided to do another. This one is going to be on the "electro-hop" band 3OH!3. First, some background (Just to show I did my homework). 3OH!3 is a musical group made up of two guys from Boulder, Colorado. The area code of Boulder provided the name of the band (303). Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte started the group in 2004. The group's two most well known songs are "Don't Trust Me" and "Starstrukk". I will give these guys their due. They have managed to create really catchy songs by combining hip hop beats with emo style music. The group's goal seems to be to create crunk-infused songs that get people dancing. Their live shows are said to be colored by energetic show performances and crowd interaction. Now,I am perfectly ok with that (I love Family Force 5 and they generally do the same thing) but my problem with 3OH!3 begins with the content of these infectious songs.
First off, One of 3OH!3's first songs was one titled "Holler 'Til You Pass Out". A line of this early song says "Ladies, shake-shake your a$$ now,
I’ma hit you from the back and make you holler ‘til you pass out."
Now isn't that a charming and intelligent line of lyrics?
You might not have heard of that one though. I am betting you have heard of their most recent singles that seemed to have invaded the airwaves. I'll take 'em one by one.
"Starstrukk is the latest single that 3OH!3 has released and even features Katy Perry in their music video. The song functionally objectifies women by what they wear and the body parts they possess. Example:Nice legs, Daisy Dukes,
Makes a man go (whistles),
That's the way they all come through like (whistles),
Low-cut, see-through shirts that make ya (whistles)"
The singers go on to showcase their feelings about Love and sex "I think I should know /how to make love to something innocent without leaving my fingerprints out, Now,/ L-O,V-E just another word I never learned to pronounce."
"Don't Trust Me" is a rather upfront song (although most 3OH!3 songs are). Its about a guy taking advantage of a girl who seems to get around (A ho)all while warning the listener "Don't trust a ho". If that wasn't insenstive enough this line tops it off
“Shush girl, shut your lips / Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips.”
If you aren't familiar with Helen Keller, she was a girl who was born blind and deaf but went on to become an author, lecturer, and activist. So this line is doubly offensive because 1) it is telling a girl "Just be quiet and do what I want you to." Whether that be dancing or something else, I leave that up to you guys. 2) this is blatantly disrespecting a disabled woman.
You don't have to be a Christian to recognize that 3OH!3 has a bad attitude towards women. Following the script of most hip-hop artists, they make a habit of objectifying girls as mere playthings who shouldn't speak. And just like most popular artists, 3OH!3 seems to get a license to invade the radio and Itunes playlists simply because their songs are deemed catchy. I would say that if you are a guy who cares about your lady friends or a girl who respects herself, steer clear of 3OH!3. (If you're looking for some awesome dance-your-pants-off songs, try Family Force 5).
2 comments:
AH! LISA! that song about helen keller annoyed the crap out of me. I really liked helen keller when i was little. I do not like how this song makes fun of her.
Thanks Mree! Yeah she was a tremendous woman and its sad that she is now reduced to being a line in a song like this.
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