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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Extra Credit - Song Lyrics
Ani DiFranco's "Not a Pretty Girl" If you don't know of her work, both her music and her lyrics are phenomenal. If you really like it, I can burn a CD for you. Enjoy.
Ani DiFranco's Lyrics in "Not a Pretty Girl" reflect exactly what we've been talking about in class, except the opposite. It seems that DiFranco is defying the Cult of Domesticity and True Womanhood, especially the aspect of submissiveness. The submissiveness suggests that a "true woman" should be reliant on her husband and other men. DiFranco says that she is not waiting to be rescued and that she is not a damsel in distress. She is not waiting for her prince to come and save her, meaning that she is self-reliant. I believe that these lyrics sum up a more modern day woman, all though there are still women who are submissive, which is why they refer to DiFranco as "mean".
Ani DiFranco shows in her song how women can be independent. In her songs she said "and i am sorry i am not a maiden fair and i am not a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere" she is showing that she is not depending in anyone to come and help her. In class we were talking about how in ancient times women depended on men for most of the things. But this song shows how a woman can be independent and do things for themselves, without relying on anyone else. This song is about making life on your own, and not depending on others, being everything you can be without depending on others. She goes against the idea that women should stay home or do chores that they are supposed to do. I think that these lyrics are reflecting the truth, a women doesn't need someone to support her because she can do it by herself.
In Ani DiFranco's lyrics "Not A Pretty Girl" I agree with Dan and Michelle, I think that this is the opposite of what we are learning in class. In class we've been discussing how woman years ago weren't equal to men. They generally stayed home, cooked, and cleaned where as the men did all the working outside the house. Just like Michelle stated, the women in a way had to depend on men and needed to have a husband to get through their lives. This song is definitely displaying a sense of independence in women. She explains that she can be alone and she doesn't need to be a stereotypical girl that's always "pretty" and needs a man for all the tough work. She shows the tough tone through her words "i ain't no damsel in distress and I don't need to be rescued." She's saying women don't need someone to assist them and they're good on her own.
Go Find her music on line somewhere and listen a few times. She's very different than most anything I've ever heard. I've seen her in concert a few times, too...Inspired irreverence.
Hey everyone! Amanda and I were thinking how eerily similar this song's lyrics were to the Cheetah Girls' song! Here is a video with lyrics in case you don't know what I'm referring to.
Ani DiFranco directly relates to the topic of the Cult of Domesticity and True Womanhood. DiFranco clearly wants to send an alternative message, which empowers women rather than diminishing them. The social norm or expectation of women is that they are “pretty”. This is also seen in “If I Were a Man” with Mollie Mathewson, “pretty of course—no true woman could possibly be plain”. This is the message Difranco wants to get out of the heads of society. She wants to show society that women are perfectly capable and independent. I really enjoyed this song and loved the meaning.
Here are the exact lyrics to the song Dan is talking about! Its spectacular! Mr Hochheiser, you should show this to your daughter
"Cinderella"
[GALLERIA:] When I was just a little girl, My mama used to tuck me into bed, And she'd read me a story.
[CHANEL:] It always was about a princess in distress And how a guy would save her And end up with the glory.
[DORINDA:] I'd lie in bed And think about The person that I wanted to be,
[AQUA:] Then one day I realized The fairy tale life wasn’t for me.
[CHORUS – ALL:] I don’t wanna be like Cinderella, Sitting in a dark, cold, dusty cellar, Waiting for somebody to come and set me free (Come and set me free) I don’t wanna be like someone waiting For a handsome prince to come and save me On I will survive Unless somebody's on my side Don't wanna depend on no one else. I’d rather rescue myself.
[ALL:] Someday I'm gonna find Someone Who wants my soul, heart and mind Who's not afraid to show that he loves me Somebody who will understand I'm happy just the way i am Don't need nobody taking care of me (i will be there)I will be there for him just as strong as he will be there for me when i give myself then it has got to be an equal thing
[CHORUS – ALL]
[ALL:] I can slay (I can slay) my own dragons. (My own dragons) I can dream my own dreams. (My own dreams) My knight in shining armor (shining armor) is me. So I'm gonna set me free.
I don’t wanna be like Cinderella, Sitting in a dark, cold, dusty cellar, Waiting for somebody to come and set me free. I don’t wanna be like someone waiting For a handsome prince to come and save me On I will survive Unless somebody's on my side
I don’t wanna be like Cinderella, Sitting in a dark, cold, dusty cellar, Waiting for somebody (oh - Oh) to come and set me free. I don’t wanna be like someone waiting For a handsome prince to come and save me On I will survive Unless somebody's on my side Don't wanna depend on no one else. I’d rather rescue myself.
I don’t wanna be like Cinderella, Sitting in a dark, cold, dusty cellar, Waiting for somebody (oh -Oh)to come and set me free. I don’t wanna be like someone waiting For a handsome prince to come and save me On I will survive Unless somebody's on my side Don't wanna depend on no one else. I’d rather rescue myself.
Ani DiFranco's Lyrics in "Not a Pretty Girl" reflect exactly what we've been talking about in class, except the opposite. It seems that DiFranco is defying the Cult of Domesticity and True Womanhood, especially the aspect of submissiveness. The submissiveness suggests that a "true woman" should be reliant on her husband and other men. DiFranco says that she is not waiting to be rescued and that she is not a damsel in distress. She is not waiting for her prince to come and save her, meaning that she is self-reliant. I believe that these lyrics sum up a more modern day woman, all though there are still women who are submissive, which is why they refer to DiFranco as "mean".
ReplyDeleteAni DiFranco shows in her song how women can be independent. In her songs she said "and i am sorry
ReplyDeletei am not a maiden fair
and i am not a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere" she is showing that she is not depending in anyone to come and help her. In class we were talking about how in ancient times women depended on men for most of the things. But this song shows how a woman can be independent and do things for themselves, without relying on anyone else. This song is about making life on your own, and not depending on others, being everything you can be without depending on others. She goes against the idea that women should stay home or do chores that they are supposed to do. I think that these lyrics are reflecting the truth, a women doesn't need someone to support her because she can do it by herself.
In Ani DiFranco's lyrics "Not A Pretty Girl" I agree with Dan and Michelle, I think that this is the opposite of what we are learning in class. In class we've been discussing how woman years ago weren't equal to men. They generally stayed home, cooked, and cleaned where as the men did all the working outside the house. Just like Michelle stated, the women in a way had to depend on men and needed to have a husband to get through their lives. This song is definitely displaying a sense of independence in women. She explains that she can be alone and she doesn't need to be a stereotypical girl that's always "pretty" and needs a man for all the tough work. She shows the tough tone through her words "i ain't no damsel in distress and I don't need to be rescued." She's saying women don't need someone to assist them and they're good on her own.
ReplyDeleteGo Find her music on line somewhere and listen a few times. She's very different than most anything I've ever heard. I've seen her in concert a few times, too...Inspired irreverence.
ReplyDeleteHey everyone! Amanda and I were thinking how eerily similar this song's lyrics were to the Cheetah Girls' song! Here is a video with lyrics in case you don't know what I'm referring to.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUuLNx3Na8Y
Ani DiFranco directly relates to the topic of the Cult of Domesticity and True Womanhood. DiFranco clearly wants to send an alternative message, which empowers women rather than diminishing them. The social norm or expectation of women is that they are “pretty”. This is also seen in “If I Were a Man” with Mollie Mathewson, “pretty of course—no true woman could possibly be plain”. This is the message Difranco wants to get out of the heads of society. She wants to show society that women are perfectly capable and independent. I really enjoyed this song and loved the meaning.
ReplyDeleteHere are the exact lyrics to the song Dan is talking about!
ReplyDeleteIts spectacular! Mr Hochheiser, you should show this to your daughter
"Cinderella"
[GALLERIA:]
When I was just a little girl,
My mama used to tuck me into bed,
And she'd read me a story.
[CHANEL:]
It always was about a princess in distress
And how a guy would save her
And end up with the glory.
[DORINDA:]
I'd lie in bed
And think about
The person that I wanted to be,
[AQUA:]
Then one day I realized
The fairy tale life wasn’t for me.
[CHORUS – ALL:]
I don’t wanna be like Cinderella,
Sitting in a dark, cold, dusty cellar,
Waiting for somebody to come and set me free (Come and set me free)
I don’t wanna be like someone waiting
For a handsome prince to come and save me
On I will survive
Unless somebody's on my side
Don't wanna depend on no one else.
I’d rather rescue myself.
[ALL:]
Someday I'm gonna find Someone
Who wants my soul, heart and mind
Who's not afraid to show that he loves me
Somebody who will understand I'm happy just the way i am
Don't need nobody taking care of me
(i will be there)I will be there for him just as strong as he will be there for me
when i give myself then it has got to be an equal thing
[CHORUS – ALL]
[ALL:]
I can slay (I can slay) my own dragons. (My own dragons)
I can dream my own dreams. (My own dreams)
My knight in shining armor (shining armor) is me.
So I'm gonna set me free.
I don’t wanna be like Cinderella,
Sitting in a dark, cold, dusty cellar,
Waiting for somebody to come and set me free.
I don’t wanna be like someone waiting
For a handsome prince to come and save me
On I will survive
Unless somebody's on my side
I don’t wanna be like Cinderella,
Sitting in a dark, cold, dusty cellar,
Waiting for somebody (oh - Oh) to come and set me free.
I don’t wanna be like someone waiting
For a handsome prince to come and save me
On I will survive
Unless somebody's on my side
Don't wanna depend on no one else.
I’d rather rescue myself.
I don’t wanna be like Cinderella,
Sitting in a dark, cold, dusty cellar,
Waiting for somebody (oh -Oh)to come and set me free.
I don’t wanna be like someone waiting
For a handsome prince to come and save me
On I will survive
Unless somebody's on my side
Don't wanna depend on no one else.
I’d rather rescue myself.
Thanks, Amanda. I'll have to add the Cheetah Girls in somewhere with the Beatles, Maroon 5 and Taylor Swift, her favorites.
ReplyDelete