Politically aware pop music is not dead!

IN DAYS LIKE THESE, in these troubled times, isn't it good to know that there is a international pop star talking about the real issues? Isn't it inspiring to know that there is an artist who is willing to express our anger and frustration with the world as it is?  Who speaks of a better world?

I'm sure you have guessed who I'm talking about. Yes, it has to be Jennifer Lopez . She is the voice of a generation brought to you by Pepsi.

Lopez  hails from the land that gave us Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez,  Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen and inspired Tracy Chapman to write 'Talkin' About A Revolution'. Naturally she would record a song called 'Booty'. After all, as she once reminded us,  despite the fact she's filthy rich, she is still 'Jenny from the block'.

While Tracy Chapman sang of 'wasting time in the unemployment line' Lopez  sings of having a big bottom.

Lopez captures the essence of late capitalism, the twilight of a failed economic system, in these withering lyrics:

Big, big booty
What you got a big booty
Big, big booty
What you got a big booty
Big, big booty
What you got a big booty
Big, big booty
What you
(Ain't that a freak)
Big, big booty
What you got a big booty


 John Lennon or Benny Hill  could not have said it better.

For those of you out there who think pop music no longer acts as a cultural  flagbearer  for wider  political and social movements, you have obviously not heard 'Booty'.  When Lopez sings 'Mesmerized by the size of it/ You can fight it if you like take your time/I can guarantee you'll have the time of your life/ Throw up your hands if you love a big booty', you know she really means it.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Comments are moderated.