My hump! My hump! My lovely lady lumps!

The Alanis version does a good job of spelling out the lyrics, which, in the faster pace of the original, were buried. Not that they're terribly profound or anything, but it does help with evaluating and forming an opinion on them! That said, I'm not sure how much credit I'd give Fergie with intending a message of empowerment...but then, who knows?

Alanis is in my family tree. She's cool. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]

Oh my GOD, Alanis was MOCKING the song, the video is a Parody of "My Hump" by Fergie.

Cmon, why would anyone think Alanis would dress up in those outfit ?

[ 27 April 2007: Message edited by: babblerwannabe ]

Well, you and I both then Michelle. I watched the Alanis video yesterday, and without the original to compare it to, I just thought it was creepy.

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Cmon, why would anyone think Alanis would dress up in those outfit ?

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.....to sell records, maybe?

I don't watch the music video chanels much-- in fact I usually only catch stuff my 18 year old is watching when I walk into the room.

But from that I sense that there is now a collection of women performers who decry the sexualization of music, and insist that for them it's all about the art.

And, they always manage to wear something sexy while saying it.

If Janis Joplin were young today, she'd never have gotten out of that stinky Texas town.

Rebecca West viewed both and claims there isn't a feminist analysis of either, "it's just shit."

Having viewed the Black Eyed Peas original, I get the Alanis satire now.

Strangely, I found the B.E.P. version produced more belly laughs. But then, that's me.

I've sounded off on the music industry before in this forum, and I find putting a non-hypocritical opinion together on it difficult.

On a certain level, I don't think there is anything wrong with the cellabration of sex, or young people enjoying their attractiveness.

While it lasts.

And even the B.E.P. video wouldn't be a problem if it was a single event. But, unless there is some statistically impossible coincidence going on when I happen to see Much Music or other music stations, this stuff is wall to wall.

And, I think there is a problem with that. I think there is a problem leading girls to think that the only way to have value is to dress in fetish gear all the time and get material gain for sexual favours.

And, it's insulting to both genders, when you think of it.

Of course, I'm a hypocrite. That silver satin pencil skirt about drove me nuts. And once and a while I have been known to engage in sexual behaviors that would make Fergie look like a Nun.

But there's a time and place. And, mercifully, I never prostyletise my sexuality, or shill any art or product while I'm doing it.

I guess I'm a prevert, but an honest one. Not the same could be said for the music industry as a whole.

I think that that a lot of the hypoceracy of the entertainment industry, comes from the fact that while they plaster sex on billboards and broadcast it in movies and TV, they are completely subservient to the reactionary fuckwits in organizations like The Christian Coalition and will censor a bare breast at the drop of a hat.

Our society hates sex. We see it everywhere and yet we are loathed to discuss it. We watch Britany Spears dance in halter tops and short skirts, but when Jane Canadian tries to immitate that particular look, we condemn her as a slut. What a wretched, represseed and fundamentaly screwed up society we live in. [img]frown.gif" border="0[/img]

That Alanis video is absolutely hilarious ! The song is quite vapid.

I find that these videos bring to mind questions of agency though- as in are these genuine expressions of female sexuality or women who are making displays under pressure from a record or similar type of executive ? If we assume the later, aren't we steeling them of their agency as human beings ?

Wish my net was faster. I can't watch Alains' version. But I have seen the Fergie. It begged to be satirized. How Fergie or any other female entertainer make a living is their business.

"If Janis Joplin were young today, she'd never have gotten out of that stinky Texas town."

I hear this all the time and think it's partially wrong. KT Tunstell. Courtney Love back in the Live Through This days. Metric. Pink. L7. The Dixie Chicks (one of my favourite bands; they really have fun with satirizing country themes) I'm sure at many levels womens' entertainment ability is tied to their appearance, but there are enough examples for me to argue differently.

This thread has become a little male dominated, and there are those that are uncomfortable with that, so with thier forebearance, I will make this my last post on this subject. Feel free to have the last word.

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But I think Janis was kinda sexy in her own way.

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That's how I feel too. But she was considered unatractive by the boys in her town, and by others who, unlike you and I, can recognize that there is attractiveness outside the narrow common evaluation. Those where the days though that sound matter just a smidgen more than looks. Sure, there were T.V. appearances, but no video industry as there is now. And, I think early rock audiences and the industry weren't as keyed on physical appearance of female artists.

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I hear this all the time and think it's partially wrong.

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Well, all the examples you sited (I googled the ones I wasn't familiar with) featured conventionally attractive women.

I wonder how many young women with great voices or fine tallent with the guitar who don't see themselves as conventionally attractive don't pursue a career in music, in a kind of draconian, aesthetic based self censorship?

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I find that these videos bring to mind questions of agency though- as in are these genuine expressions of female sexuality or women who are making displays under pressure from a record or similar type of executive ? If we assume the later, aren't we steeling them of their agency as human beings ?

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I guess we might find a clue if we knew who was in control of the music industry. My guess is that it's men calling the shots.

Men do most of those inane entertainment interviews with pop musicians. Few to my knowledge ever based an entire interview with "Meatloaf" based on his appearance. But that's all they would talk about with either Ann or Nancy Wilson from "Heart" after one of them put on weight during the same era.

Additionally, it seems to me that, back eons ago, "Mitsou" was squelched for being too sexually explicit in one of her videos. But the only distinction I could really find was that she was the one in control of her career and making her own decisions. Similarly, the independant Toronto area artist, Moonlyn, is outrageously sexual, but she doesn't get time on Much Music. (that I am aware of) It may be that her music video "Butterfly Girl" is a tad on the insipid side. It may be that it's just too sexual even for Much.

But I deeply suspect it's because she making her own decisions, and not doing what she does at the order of the male dominated music industry.

Just a hunch.

And I will leave this now.