Project Nine

This is the first verse (the one by Slim Thug) and chorus rewritten to reflect feminist ideals.

We need to stop playing round with all them clowns and the chauvinists
Strong Women gotta get down with them feminists
Girls it's your choice so set your mind on it
Don’t stand in the background and let them have control on it

Oh boy you thinking you're good enough for me
I'll come over and check up on it, maybe you'll take me up on it
Ladies let him take you out, watch him when he takes you out
Be strong and secure, and if he's rude dump him tonight.

We as a group believe that this particular song talks about sexism and empowering women. It was also interesting to us how the roles switch; the male seems to be coming onto the female and vice-versa. The song is also talking about women taking control in this male dominated heterosexual society that we live in. Here is what we came up with…

“If you got it, flaunt it, cause I know you want it
While I check up on it, gimme the respect that I deserve for it
Watch me dominate it, I see it in your face yeah, just like you see it on television
Don’t be thinking I am easy, or a breeze yeah….
I'm dancing up on it, cause I know you want it
no need for braggin, the girls goin to have it
please stop teasing, you got no reason
I know I got it, so I’m goin to flaunt it"

chorus:
oooh boy i know that you like what you see,
but you really gotta get to know me, what i like and who i be
i pay for mine don't need freebies, i work for mine that's fine with me
don't get it twisted i'm not passive, gender roles are not my thing

Verse:
If you got flaunt it I know that you're wondering
how does a woman, walk with so much confidence?
how does she work along side with the big wigs?
don't worry, she earned it, education is the key,
she's dealt with the inequality of this reality,
and still she comes out on top with her dignity

While this song may be good for dancing it may not exactly embody a feminist spirit. At first glance it seems to be empowering to women. Telling them to dance in any way that they want and allowing them to want to have sex with this man. This in many ways can be liberating, giving women this type of sexual freedom without making them into a whore; however, the lyrics do say that she could "be a tease" and not sleep with him. This highlights the virgin/whore standard that society can not seem to let go of. By saying that she would be a tease if she did not let him "get up on it" she is indirectly implying that she would be the opposite of a tease (a slut) if she did. Now I am sure that Beyonce is not calling herself a slut or trying to make it seem like that in any way, but society often views women's sexuality in these very unfair extremes. On one hand she is giving an image of power by laying down the law for this man and making the first move. On the other hand she is not making any move at all, she is allowing herself to be objectified for the way she looks while she is dancing and then inviting him to make a move. This does not sound so bad when we realize that this is normally how it works in real life but it does make you wonder why? Also, this song poses an interesting question of who is really in control in this situation and why. This song is certainly not anti-feminism, but it can not exactly be qualified as pro-feminism either.

I can tell you like what i got, but i'm gonna make you chase it
I'm gonna gonna show ya, i can hang wit all ya
cool moves, i'll take you on and off the playing field
you can't be an -------, have to show your support
Can't just put up on me, ya gotta understand me
don't disrespect me, just show me, all men talk but please don't
I can be a b-tch, just let me do it, I can show all 'bout it

*You need to stop playin' round with all those sexist clowns cause'
feminist women gotta get down with respectful sounds
Go ahead Miss put some dignity and independence up on it
While I stay in the background and respect up on it

*[CHORUS]
*Ohh man your lookin’ like you’ve really noticed me
wanna come over must respect up on it, I’ma let you respect up on it
Ladies let 'em get to know you, careful while he get to know you
Meet him, judge him, friend him, drop him, take care of yo’self.

Shannon Gilliland

Check On It

Some of the messages that she is sending in this song are:

1. She wants to please a man
2. She wants to be with a man
3. She wants a man to like her body
4. She wants to dance with a man
5. She wants to bump and grind with a man

Her song is saying that in a womans world she is supposed to look pretty and have a man want to look at her and want to dance with her at clubs.