Good Afternoon all!
I've had a rather literary day, doing some reading and time lining the development of my art practice.
I have also had VH1 music channel on all day, with the Top 100 Ultimate 90s & 00s Girl Pop Anthems on. This not only provided me with great music all day and made me long for my childhood years, but it also made me think and take pen to paper on one music video in particular...
I promise you it is all light-hearted fun!
Christina Aguilera and the turmoils of teenage sexual experiences expressed in 'Genie In A Bottle'
'Genie In A Bottle' is a song that, lyrically, sends out a message that any sensible teenage girl should follow; yes you're horny but this guy only wants to get into your pants and will break your heart if you give it all to him on a plate.
The line 'If you wanna be with me, baby there's a price to pay. I'm a genie in a bottle, you gotta rub me the right way' suggests that the guy in question has got to make some kind of effort if he is to earn the privilege of getting into her pants.
What I don't understand is why the music video is full of sultry looks and sensual dance moves if the song contains such an important message for the youth? Surely it undoes any education of self respect and integrity the song sent out? Any clever woman of the 21st Century could tell you that if you dress with your cleavage and midriff showing, then go dancing like a lady of the night, guys are going to expect you to put out. Then, when you don't and give the excuse 'my heart is saying no', you will inevitably be labelled a 'Prick Tease'.
Then there is the issue of a large number of teenage girls admitting their rise in sexual urges. Aguilera may be giving out the 'parent-friendly' message that their daughters should keep their knickers up, but her admission that her 'body's saying lets go' does in fact lower the taboo barrier of young people openly discussing a perfectly natural urge to copulate. Another positive to the songwriter's catchy, lyrical genius.
The song dishes out sensible advice on one of the most prominent worries for teenage girls in the Western world. However, the music video industry fails to strengthen the message by styling and shooting a video that suggests to the viewers that sex 'sells'. Ultimately, the video for 'Genie In A Bottle' undermines an otherwise empowering message to young women, of self respect and the importance of their control over the physicality of a relationship.
A-Thank You! xx
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