New Kerry Underwood song Question?

[ToplessRideFL]

Wasn't it the Dixie Chicks that did a song about killing an abuser? If that song and the video didn't create a backlash nothing will. I haven't heard the Underwood song yet, but definately there is a double standard. So what, live with it.

Earl.... and yes it created a HUGE backlash.... many stations wouldnt play it.

[12vmanRick]

Wasn't it the Dixie Chicks that did a song about killing an abuser? If that song and the video didn't create a backlash nothing will. I haven't heard the Underwood song yet, but definately there is a double standard. So what, live with it.

Earl.... and yes it created a HUGE backlash.... many stations wouldnt play it.

remember when some wouldn't play Independance Day by Martina McBride because they said it promoted violence against abusive men

[sy]

"What if a guy wrote this song? And the song was about taking a bat to his girlfriend's Volkswagon Jetta and keying up her nice leahter seats with his name . . . what if the roles where reversed . . . would it be a hit? Or would the guy siniging it be chastised and have people say that the girl needs a restraining order or something against him because he is obvisouly f'ed up in the head?"

I laughed out loud. I was like, "Wow, girl, you are totally right!" . . . why do girls get off singing violent songs or what have you in pop culture? . . . I actually like the song but I felt she raised a good point.

Groups and men sing that type of thing all the time and far worse, it's just usually in rap or a harder genre of music. As for whether they're hits or not, I don't keep track of that type of thing, but they're popular enough that they keep coming out.

[Bubbaphan]

I thought EXACTLY the same thing...what if this song was about a man trashing a womans car? PRESS UPROAR that's what.
A double standard does exist.
And I DO change the channel when this song comes on...it's played to death.

Here's a little payback:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-aI7j6vCWqM

[ToplessRideFL]

Wasn't it the Dixie Chicks that did a song about killing an abuser? If that song and the video didn't create a backlash nothing will. I haven't heard the Underwood song yet, but definately there is a double standard. So what, live with it.

Earl.... and yes it created a HUGE backlash.... many stations wouldnt play it.

remember when some wouldn't play Independance Day by Martina McBride because they said it promoted violence against abusive men

I do.....

I actually enjoyed both songs....

Hey Rick....were your ears buning last night? We had dinner with Dawg who was passing thru...... and we were recounting some fun Rick stories from atl 2006

[Skibo]

Wasn't it the Dixie Chicks that did a song about killing an abuser? If that song and the video didn't create a backlash nothing will. I haven't heard the Underwood song yet, but definately there is a double standard. So what, live with it.

Again, just a question. Did you read the part where it said, "I like the song". . . . AGAIN, it was more about the double standard between genders in pop culture and how people felt. Chill out with the harsh tone - puh - lease.

I didn't mean to convey a harsh tone here. Imagine me relaxing on my easy chair in a calm tone saying So what, live with it. There were not bolds/caps or exclamation points in my original post. I attempted to address your double standard question.

I didn't realize Earl caused so much trouble. I remember seeing the vid on CMT and was disappointed that the DC's created such an uproar with their political outbursts because I thought then that they were a pretty good band and quite hot.

I completely forgot about the M. McBride song. I think it is hilarious that Sean Hannity uses it in his radio show as a patroitic song. Sean Hannity - now there is a conservative that is way too full of himself, and that is coming from a card carrying right wing whacko.

[ToplessRideFL]

I didn't realize Earl caused so much trouble. I remember seeing the vid on CMT and was disappointed that the DC's created such an uproar with their political outbursts because I thought then that they were a pretty good band and quite hot.
.

As I recall Earl was just the beginning of their "speaking out" on hot topics....

[flyboy55]

So I hanging out in one of my favorite Nantucket bars today and one of my favorite Nantucket bartenders, Melissa, asks a question as the new Kerry Underwood song comes on . . . you know, the one about beating up her boyfriend's truck because the guy was cheating . . .

Curious to hear what people think . . .

I think violence is ***** . . . but the question was, "What if a guy wrote this song? And the song was about taking a bat to his girlfriend's Volkswagon Jetta and keying up her nice leahter seats with his name . . . what if the roles where reversed . . . would it be a hit? Or would the guy siniging it be chastised and have people say that the girl needs a restraining order or something against him because he is obvisouly f'ed up in the head?"

I laughed out loud. I was like, "Wow, girl, you are totally right!" . . . why do girls get off singing violent songs or what have you in pop culture? . . . I actually like the song but I felt she raised a good point.

There is a reason why Melissa gets all the regulars down here. Again, just curious.

To answer your question in the spirit in which it was asked . . .

I think you're friend Melissa is right. If the roles were reversed, the song and video in question would be under fire from certain groups for the graphic depiction of violence against women, and rightly so.

If you take the position that violence is wrong (leaving aside for another discussion all the state-sanctioned violence like wars, the death penalty, etc) then it does appear that there is a double standard in how we treat the violence originating from men vs women. Or to put it another way, we seem to be more accepting of depictions of women doing violent things (especially in the context of relationships) than we are of men doing those things. I think it's because we generally feel that 'men' should be able to look after themselves, whereas 'women' need looking after.

But I do think there is another aspect to this. I think there is a certain irony in the fact that while we would condemn depictions of male violence against females, we seem to be completely accepting of the media's objectification of women (as primarily sex objects and nothing more) in myriad obvious and subtle ways and the media's devaluation of women - the subtext of most TV and print advertising and also of most entertainment concocted to get you to see that advertising, is that your worth as a woman depends to a large degree on your physical attractiveness.

Violence against women is far more prevalent in our society than we would like to admit, and I think the many ways our culture chooses to objectify and devalue and infantilize women goes a long way towards aiding and abetting that violence.

I think there is an almost "schizophrenic" aspect to how our culture, as reflected in our popular media, (de)values women: "we won't allow graphic depictions of you being harmed but at the same time we see nothing wrong with depictions that increase the likelihood that you will be subjected to violence".

On one holiday of the year, slave-owning Roman citizens would trade places with their slaves, performing all the menial duties of the household with the master serving them food at the table and enduring criticism and mild abuse for the duration of the holiday. It was all considered 'good fun' (by the Romans) but there was no question who was really in charge.

Sometimes I think that is how our society operates. In some contexts we put women on pedestals, and like the Romans' slaves we cater to them, but all the while everyone knows who is really in charge, and this reality is played out daily in women's lives in terms of physical, mental and emotional abuse.

Carrie Underwood gets to trash the guy's truck in a music video, and we'll allow it, but she better not join any campaigns to improve women's lives, or criticize the inanity of beauty pageants, or demand that she get paid at least as much as the guy in the office next door who has half her experience/talent/education, or we'll simply let her know who is REALLY in charge.

PS I don't consider this a political rant, although I do adhere to the truism that the 'personal is political'.

[SharkOnLand]

There are songs (if you can call them songs) about beating up women and tearing up their crap, but you won't hear them sung by a country or pop/rock artist. A lot of the cRap artists will 'sing' about such things, and you really don't hear too much backlash. Mainly because they never hit Top-10 countdowns or whatever.

So yeah, there's a little bit of a double standard. But I don't think a similar song with reversed roles would cause too much of a stir. Most sensible people realize that a song is just a song.

And I agree with Larry/Pres. Bush above

[drunkpirate66]

So I hanging out in one of my favorite Nantucket bars today and one of my favorite Nantucket bartenders, Melissa, asks a question as the new Kerry Underwood song comes on . . . you know, the one about beating up her boyfriend's truck because the guy was cheating . . .

Curious to hear what people think . . .

I think violence is ***** . . . but the question was, "What if a guy wrote this song? And the song was about taking a bat to his girlfriend's Volkswagon Jetta and keying up her nice leahter seats with his name . . . what if the roles where reversed . . . would it be a hit? Or would the guy siniging it be chastised and have people say that the girl needs a restraining order or something against him because he is obvisouly f'ed up in the head?"

I laughed out loud. I was like, "Wow, girl, you are totally right!" . . . why do girls get off singing violent songs or what have you in pop culture? . . . I actually like the song but I felt she raised a good point.

There is a reason why Melissa gets all the regulars down here. Again, just curious.

To answer your question in the spirit in which it was asked . . .

I think you're friend Melissa is right. If the roles were reversed, the song and video in question would be under fire from certain groups for the graphic depiction of violence against women, and rightly so.

If you take the position that violence is wrong (leaving aside for another discussion all the state-sanctioned violence like wars, the death penalty, etc) then it does appear that there is a double standard in how we treat the violence originating from men vs women. Or to put it another way, we seem to be more accepting of depictions of women doing violent things (especially in the context of relationships) than we are of men doing those things. I think it's because we generally feel that 'men' should be able to look after themselves, whereas 'women' need looking after.

But I do think there is another aspect to this. I think there is a certain irony in the fact that while we would condemn depictions of male violence against females, we seem to be completely accepting of the media's objectification of women (as primarily sex objects and nothing more) in myriad obvious and subtle ways and the media's devaluation of women - the subtext of most TV and print advertising and also of most entertainment concocted to get you to see that advertising, is that your worth as a woman depends to a large degree on your physical attractiveness.

Violence against women is far more prevalent in our society than we would like to admit, and I think the many ways our culture chooses to objectify and devalue and infantilize women goes a long way towards aiding and abetting that violence.

I think there is an almost "schizophrenic" aspect to how our culture, as reflected in our popular media, (de)values women: "we won't allow graphic depictions of you being harmed but at the same time we see nothing wrong with depictions that increase the likelihood that you will be subjected to violence".

On one holiday of the year, slave-owning Roman citizens would trade places with their slaves, performing all the menial duties of the household with the master serving them food at the table and enduring criticism and mild abuse for the duration of the holiday. It was all considered 'good fun' (by the Romans) but there was no question who was really in charge.

Sometimes I think that is how our society operates. In some contexts we put women on pedestals, and like the Romans' slaves we cater to them, but all the while everyone knows who is really in charge, and this reality is played out daily in women's lives in terms of physical, mental and emotional abuse.

Carrie Underwood gets to trash the guy's truck in a music video, and we'll allow it, but she better not join any campaigns to improve women's lives, or criticize the inanity of beauty pageants, or demand that she get paid at least as much as the guy in the office next door who has half her experience/talent/education, or we'll simply let her know who is REALLY in charge.

PS I don't consider this a political rant, although I do adhere to the truism that the 'personal is political'.

thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for that intelligent response. Although I do not agree with all of it I think you are well spoken and created a thought provoking discussion . . . I really appreciated that.

[drunkpirate66]

"What if a guy wrote this song? And the song was about taking a bat to his girlfriend's Volkswagon Jetta and keying up her nice leahter seats with his name . . . what if the roles where reversed . . . would it be a hit? Or would the guy siniging it be chastised and have people say that the girl needs a restraining order or something against him because he is obvisouly f'ed up in the head?"

I laughed out loud. I was like, "Wow, girl, you are totally right!" . . . why do girls get off singing violent songs or what have you in pop culture? . . . I actually like the song but I felt she raised a good point.

Groups and men sing that type of thing all the time and far worse, it's just usually in rap or a harder genre of music. As for whether they're hits or not, I don't keep track of that type of thing, but they're popular enough that they keep coming out.

I really don't know much rap although I do know that alot of rap songs are extremely degrading towards women. I noticed that came up alot after Imus's comments . . . I can't stand Imus about as much as I can't stand rap music but one thing is for sure - Al Sharpton was such a hypocrite through the whole thing.

[drunkpirate66]

I thought EXACTLY the same thing...what if this song was about a man trashing a womans car? PRESS UPROAR that's what.
A double standard does exist.
And I DO change the channel when this song comes on...it's played to death.

Here's a little payback:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-aI7j6vCWqM

too funny.

[Indiana Jolly Mon]

I like the question drunkpirate, and while I agree with much of flyboy's response, It goes a bit far for me.
I think the role reversal would get a huge backlash. We as a society are ok with women getting revenge on scumbag men, and find it amusing. But the other way around is an all too common occurance that is luckily not taken lightly. Like flyboy said, as far as women have come, the basic reaction of humans and most animals is to protect the women and children first, men can take care of themselves, I am not saying I agree with this, but that is the way we are wired. Also the average man is physically stronger than an average woman so the reversal in song or screen is a change of pace, not a sad reality.
So yes, if reversed there would be a lot of "harumphs"
Rap music degrades women constantly, but when jesse and al were asked about it recently they said it is "art" and "expression' and not real. Personally I think it is BS, but if the media were to go after rap music, being primarily black artists.......never gonna happen.

[drunkpirate66]

I like the question drunkpirate, and while I agree with much of flyboy's response, It goes a bit far for me.
I think the role reversal would get a huge backlash. We as a society are ok with women getting revenge on scumbag men, and find it amusing. But the other way around is an all too common occurance that is luckily not taken lightly. Like flyboy said, as far as women have come, the basic reaction of humans and most animals is to protect the women and children first, men can take care of themselves, I am not saying I agree with this, but that is the way we are wired. Also the average man is physically stronger than an average woman so the reversal in song or screen is a change of pace, not a sad reality.
So yes, if reversed there would be a lot of "harumphs"
Rap music degrades women constantly, but when jesse and al were asked about it recently they said it is "art" and "expression' and not real. Personally I think it is BS, but if the media were to go after rap music, being primarily black artists.......never gonna happen.

When my friend brought this up the first image I had was some girl going into a Eurotrash bar up in Boston (plenty of them) to meet some other guy and while inside her boyfriend takes a bat to her BMW or VW and pops the tires and takes his keys to sctrach his name somewhere in the interior and then shows up to the bar as the girl comes out holding a baseball bat . . . - - - he would get 30 days minimum for attempted assault, destruction of property, get a restraining order put against him, and have to take anger management classes . . . if it were portrayed in a Video like Ms. Underwood's Oprah and the View girls and probably high ranking United States government offiicials would have a field day . . . BUT they don't do it for how girls are portrayed in rap videos OR if a girl does it to a guy (that is just "cute" some how being "strong" . . . . very odd in the year 2007. People have come so far huh?

[12vmanRick]

Wasn't it the Dixie Chicks that did a song about killing an abuser? If that song and the video didn't create a backlash nothing will. I haven't heard the Underwood song yet, but definately there is a double standard. So what, live with it.

Earl.... and yes it created a HUGE backlash.... many stations wouldnt play it.

remember when some wouldn't play Independance Day by Martina McBride because they said it promoted violence against abusive men

I do.....

I actually enjoyed both songs....

Hey Rick....were your ears buning last night? We had dinner with Dawg who was passing thru...... and we were recounting some fun Rick stories from atl 2006

um no but you should have seen 2007... hell at least one more person would have been able to tell me their view of the show.

[SchoolGirlHeart]

As far as role reversal goes, Toby Keith's video for the song A Little Too Late showed what you assume to be his wife or girlfriend tied to a chair while he sings about leaving her and builds a brick wall, seemingly walling her up in the basement. At the end, the joke is on him because he walled *himself* in, but during the whole video the viewer has the impression that he intends to leave her walled in to die. I didn't see a whole lot of yelling about that one.... (although the ending made it seem as though he wasn't serious, so it probably defused teh situation....)

I *hated* the Earl song and video. Way too cavalier an attitude about killing a person....

[surfpirate]

...... who is Kerry Underwood?

you mean Carrie Underoos? ......

Maybe they meant Lacey Underalls? Wait, maybe that was Caddyshack.

[SchoolGirlHeart]

Caddyshack.

One of the most irreverent, politically incorrect, HILARIOUS movies ever made!

[pbans]

Seems we had quite an uproar here once when someone made a joke along those lines.....seems to me if it's wrong to make light of domestic violence (which is what it is in the video), it's wrong......if it's not....it's not.

[flipflopgirl]

Seems we had quite an uproar here once when someone made a joke along those lines.....seems to me if it's wrong to make light of domestic violence (which is what it is in the video), it's wrong......if it's not....it's not.

Very true Paige!