Alanis Vs. Fergie

[eumelia]

Everybody knows Black Eyes Peas really dumb song "My Hump" (which made me want to vomit, even though they're a fun group).

Here's Alanis Morissette's cover, which is a genius criticism:

And here's the original:

Comments

[nurint.livejournal.com]

Umm... What do you have against the original "My Humps"? It's a song that shows that if men are stupid enough to let their lust get in the way of their better judgment, they'll be taken advantage of. Sort of like in martial arts, when you use your enemy's momentum against him. Fergie's untouchable in that song, and will keep staying untouchable when it comes to men that only think with their "bottom brain". So, in a way, that song teaches women the martial arts of tempting, and how to deal with the guys that are obsessed with the wrong thing and teach them a lesson. It also teaches the guys that if their world is compromised of humps and money, it won't be long before they have neither.

All in all, a rocking song. And Alanis's version had me rolling on the floor, so thanks for sharing! :D

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I suppose because I've had my "humps" and "lumps" oggoled at one too many times, the song struck the wrong cord. *shrug* I like the BEP, but that particular song rubbed me the wrong way. Though I do like Fergie :)

I know, Alanis was hilarious!

[mokey4.livejournal.com]

I agree with you- to me the song is saying "I've got this great body that you want, and I'm going to use it to my best possible advantage." At first it seems kind of cool, playing up being objectified to get something out of it. But at the end of the day it still feels cheap, and you're only encouraging people to turn you into a pile of meat and bones. And that just doesn't feel good- it makes a low self esteem feel lower.

That said, it's a catchy tune and it grabs attention because of its theme, so it is very effective. I enjoy it when it comes on the radio, but it's a guilty pleasure.

I think Alanis did a great job with that song- I've always liked her.

[bitter-moss.livejournal.com]

I agree, the objectification based on her looks is encouraged by Fergie in the original. I feel she is basically saying I will tease men and use my looks to get money out of them.

I don't feel she is getting true empowerment from her looks. Shes empowered by the feeling that men want her and with how far as she can manipulate them with her looks.

Heh, hope that made sense I am pretty tired. I love the Alanis parody too, thanks for posting it :).

[morin.livejournal.com]

Danny says he liked black eyed peas until he heard this song. He's sickened by the mysogeny and objectification of women in it.
(Isn't he just the best hetro spouce ever?)

Anyway, there's still hope. Some guys got brains.

[stateofwonder.livejournal.com]

Alanis is friggin awesome.

I don't think there is any way to make beautiful body parts sound crude and unappealing more than using the terms "lumps" and "hump". Ew. To me, this song is about a woman buying into the ideal that she is only worth as much as her body. And we should all aspire to have lots of guys treating us nice and giving us ice.

No thanks.

[cziganybriella.livejournal.com]

I freaked out when I saw this on feministing yesterday and started tacking into myspace comments left and right. I think it's great. Alanis really was the right person to bring out how utterly retarded that song is.

I don't like Fergie. I hate her song Fergilicious and I hate humps. Just in general, she makes shitty music. I can't get behind this Pussy Cat Dolls empowerment these celebraties all seem to be flocking to. Gross.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Ach, don't get me started on the Pussy Cat Dolls. I really feel they're taking us backwards regarding women in music.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Word!

[nurint.livejournal.com]

Hmm... Okay, seems like I'm at the minority opinion here, so let me try and strengthen my point.

Look at Alanis's parody. I'm sure you all will agree that Alanis is one of the most feminist well-known artists today. And she took this controversial BEP song, and parodied it. But what exactly did she parody? She sings the *exact* same words, but she sings them in her style of singing. The only message that she sends that way is that her type of music doesn't match the black-up-beat-clubs music. Nothing in what she does actually weakens or criticizes the original lyrics. And as for the video-clip, all she does is make the pathetic men from the BEP clip appear even more pathetic, and abuses them even more than Fergie does (hits them instead of just taking their money). If anything, it seems like Alanis's version only works to clarify even more the parody intended in the original BEP song.

But, that's just my humble opinion. (though, I probably would have been sticking to it so hard if I didn't know other people, some of them women, that shared my opinion of the song)

[aesiron.livejournal.com]

I like Alanis and despise Fergie but can't say the satire did much for me.