Comments on: Earworm — or threat to my family?

By: andrea

andrea — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:13:00 +0000

even catchier: http://jezebel.com/5134429/whistle-while-you-work-it

By: mnuez

mnuez — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:54:56 +0000

I’m amazingly impressed that in this day and age your wife would feel that way. I’m not sure how much children’s programming you watch but the shows that are popular among third grade girls regularly feature young high-schoolers (and junior high-schoolers) making out as well as girls being told by hopeful male classmates that they should show up to some event in a bikini.

The fact that you, as a father, didn’t consider this impression, or even the possibility that the video is the kind of material that’s more interesting to our reproductive senses, rather than to our joy with cool choreography, shows how sexually licentious our culture is.

To be fair, that may be what’s best for the general happiness of the average human being, I don’t know. But in answer to your query, you’re both right. You’re right within the context that your children live in (you’re not Amish, are you?) and your wife is right within the context that (you don’t live in but that) would grant your daughters a far far FAR greater likelihood of retaining their sexual innocence until their in a relationship where that innocence is treasured and becomes the foundation for a life-long close marriage. But - again- that really isn’t an option unless you’re considering a move to Riyadh, so I suppose you’re correct and your wife’s view makes no sense at all in the atmosphere within which your children are actually being raised.

I make no apologies for sounding like I’m talking out of the 18th century. I believe I’m actually speaking out of the 22nd (in theory - in practice, I imagine that things will be so revolutionarily different in the 22nd century that any future sociologist’s recognition of what would have been a preferential culture in the 20th century will be almost irrelevant in the world within which they live).

mnuez

By: Tess

Tess — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 03:57:26 +0000

If you’re straight male: totally cool and acceptable
If you’re a straight female: admire it for about 1 minute but overall about 3 minutes too much bouncing and gyrating (sp?)
If you’re a gay male: pretty jealous
If you’re a gay female: pretty hot
Overall it all goes back to gender and sexual orientation you be the judge of how much you want to talk to kids about that

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:54:14 +0000

I assume most of you have seen the movie Mean Girls. If you are like me and have seen it a million times (OK not really but it came out when I was in high school so we are safely in the 90,000 range), you remember that Regina George’s younger sister would mindlessly imitate what she saw on TV, which included belly dancing to Kelis’ song Milkshake and lifting her top to Girls Gone Wild commercials.

Well I can in no way compare Beyonce to either of those. She is far more talented and classy and I believe empowering to women. The song is empowering, and catchy, and she looks like she is having a blast, and god I wish I could dance like that.

But back to Mean Girls. The girl in the movie really didn’t know what she was seeing or what she was communicating. So I would have to agree with Mrs Sagal on the whole not viewing it thing. But as a song to listen to - totally go for it. As long as its not the kids pop version or whatever those horrible covers are. Please don’t do that to your children or yourself.

By: The Wife

The Wife — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:35:11 +0000

Peter’s wife here. To set the record straight: I do not think this is pornographic. I love it. I think these three women are gorgeous and dance amazingly. The issue is not the music or the lyrics (the way I hear it, she’s pretty much in charge: if you want me, you need to make a commitment to me.) nor the costumes. The issue is this: young children, girls or boys, simply don’t understand the physical language involved. I wouldn’t want my daughters emulating this totally great dance (which they certainly would) without understanding what this kind of very sexy movement is communicating. They’re not ready to be using this body language, because they wouldn’t understand what they’re saying. I don’t mind them seeing it, which they have. I just don’t want this kind of thing to be the fabric of what they watch or listen to on a regular basis, until they’re ready to understand it. Then if they want to use this kind of body language, knowing what they’re doing, that will be their conscious choice.
Meanwhile, I’m glad it makes my husband so happy. I wish I looked that good in a leotard.

By: Donald

Donald — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:27:40 +0000

My .02: boring and derivative dancing, poorly articulated lyrics, not an earworm (after 3 listenings) and not a threat to the family dynamic. Would rather watch Pavlova, Michael Jackson, Barney.

By: cooper

cooper — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:23:17 +0000

piglet - #44. What a coincidence! At 23, your son thinks he’s wiser than you are, too.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:11:09 +0000

I had the same response - this music has a real hook (I first heard it in the parody on Saturday Night Live, which is brilliant). I’m a dyed in the wool feminist, but I wasn’t offended - the “message” I got was that the woman wanted “a ring” (ie, a commitment) and when she didn’t get it, she left - nothing anti-feminist about that.

As to whether to share it with your daughters or not, I’m afraid you don’t have a choice - it’s everywhere. I’d be very surprised if they haven’t heard and seen it already (if you limit their access to the Internet, they’ve probably seen a rendition by their friends)…

By: cooper

cooper — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:41:24 +0000

Ken Tucker today on Fresh air reviewed “Single Ladies” and he did give it a nod.

By: ella

ella — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:42:40 +0000

I think your daughters will be just fine, but I recommend this as more family-friendly youtube entertainment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkA31t0n1Ew