Christina Aguilera made her debut in 1999 with the hit single Genie in a Bottle. She became an overnight pop sensation that everyone must keep their eyes on. Girls want to be her, guys want to be with her. Her certain angelic-like charisma sent her name to the top throughout the world. However, years later, after sinking back into anonymity, Aguilera stirred up controversies when she changed her image. From that cute, innocent (yet subtly devilish) girl-next-door, she got down and dirty with one of her more recent single, aptly named Dirty. Suddenly, most who looked at her in a positive light, now are disgusted at her new-found image. I am one of those people. That is, until her latest song, featuring rap artist Lil’ Kim, contained lyrics that made me think about the message beyond her vulgar make-up and outfits. Can’t Hold Us Down pursuits the all time enigma on double standards. It asks why should males be allowed to be promiscuous, yet society will belittle the females for doing the same. The song uses that method, along with repetitions of the words, and credibility of the artists themselves.
Ever since the sexual revolution of the 1960’s, sex isn’t such a taboo topic to discuss among our society. While it is favorable that sex as a topic might clear up any misunderstandings and assumptions for the inexperienced, sex as an activity might not do so good for the overall morality, especially in today’s society, in such a degree. “I don’t understand why it’s okay/The guy can get away with it and the girl gets named/All my ladies come together and make a change/Start a new beginning for us everybody sing” (Aguilera 2003).The song is telling us that it is unacceptable to apply double standards in this situation, suggesting that men and women should be looked upon equally when they become promiscuous. Also, the song rejects any acceptance for females to not put up defenses when topic of vulgar rumors are about them. Can’t Hold Us Down promotes and encourages females to rise up against the rules of double standards, and to speak their minds, with lines like “Letting them know we’re gonna stand our ground/Lift your hands high and wave them proud/Take a deep breath and say it loud/Never can, never will, can’t hold us down” (Aguilera 2003). This message is obviously telling the females to rise up, and Lil’ Kim, who accompanies this duo with these lines, “Check it - Here’s something I just can’t understand/If the guy have three girls then he’s the man/He can either give us some head, sex her off/If the girl do the same, then she’s a whore” (Lil’ Kim 2003).
Other then pumping out blatant messages like the ones above, Aguilera and Lil’ Kim really nails it into your head by repeating these exact messages two or three times. They don’t hold back any punches as they also say, “If you look back in history/It’s a common double standard of society/They guy gets all the glory the more he can score/While the girl can do the same and yet you call her a whore” (Aguilera 2003). In fact, they are so confident that this message will spread and be effective, they put their names behind it. “But the table’s about to turn/I’ll bet my fame on it/Cats take my ideas and put their name on it/It’s aiight though, you can’t hold me down/I got to keep on movin’/To all my girls with a man who be tryin to mack/Do it right back to him and let that be that/You need to let him know that his game is whack/And Lil’ Kim and Christina Aguilera got your back” (Lil’ Kim 2003).
Unfortunately, it was not as successful as predicted. Double standards still exists today, especially on the topic of sex. Even though the song just came out recently, and the fans can’t have the intellects to look past the outrageous music video to realize they have to do something, at least Christina Aguilera and Lil’ Kim got the word out. It would’ve probably been more effective had it not hide behind the camouflage of the duo’s heavy make-ups, skimpy outfits, and the repetitive droning of the music.
Being a male, I can’t say that I agree completely to what these artists are trying to say, but I do feel a sense of compassion and sympathy towards them. Personally, I applaud them for bringing this subject into the spotlight, and trying to take a step (even if it’s a baby step) toward eliminating double standards. Obviously, there will be many oppositions, such as the old fashion men, who favors double standards. And in today’s society, they wouldn’t have to do much to easily crush all who thinks otherwise.
Lyrics provided by http://www.britneyfreak.com/christina-aguilera/lyrics/stripped02.html