Gag Me

The song's name has been changed from 'S&M' to 'Come On' in some regions, namely the UK.

While today's post veers slightly off topic, it's something that's been bothering me for a while now. Add the recent release of the above train-wreck to my simmering frustration, and I've had it. 

Seriously.

Before I move on, I'll just take a cyber second to make clear how I feel about love & sex. This isn't to explain myself or my opinions, but rather to put everything into context. After all, what are words without context?

Growing up, we spent a few years in Sweden and this may or may not be common knowledge but the Swedes are high functioning hippies. What does that mean, you wonder? It means that their relaxed approach to human sexuality is what I took away from my time there. Well, I took away a lot from my time spent there, but this is the most relevant for the issue at hand. (I promise to write about my time in Sweden in greater detail sometime soon). So in short, my stance is as follows: 

• If it's mutual and consensual then it's none of my business.
• I'm not a prude, but leaving somethings unsaid and private keeps them special. 
• That's all.

'S&M'... What a tragedy. 

I don't have anything against Rihanna or her music in particular, but 'S&M' is the straw that broke the camel's back (kinky, I know). I'm not going to attempt to explain what S&M actually is, but I'll just say this: Rihanna has no fucking idea what she's doing. My super-human ability to analyze the hell out of anything suggests that she's trying to convey the sometimes sadistic relationship between celebrities and the press/paparazzi. I get it: sex sells. However, I'm just not buying into this constant degradation of something we should be treating with more respect.

While not entirely original, the song is layered. The lyrics are average, the beat catchy and the hook insane. Nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to Pop music. Hell, I've even jogged to this track, and I like the entire album (Loud) for what it is: cookie-cutter Pop. I'm telling you all these things because I want you to understand that I don't have any grievances with RiRi or her sound. I do have a problem with this particular music video. 

'S&M' is not the first, nor is it the last, tribute to this irritating trend. Upon closer examination, it's not as ridiculous as I remembered it before I began writing this, but it pays the price for being the most recent misstep. It's just so sad to see people so willingly sell out and turn the extraordinary into something menial, cheap and ordinary because they want record sales. I'm all for free speech, and have been a vehement opposer of censorship since middle school, but this? 

It's just lacking, in taste and thought.  

Seeking out the sacred,

S.

PS - I gotta say though, RiRi looks damn fine.