Really, “I Don’t Need A Man”
Love is the most popular topic that exists in music. According to the data of BaiDu Music, in the top 500, 384 songs relate with love (76.8%), 31 songs relate to family and friendship (6.2%), 43 songs relate to encouragement (8.6%), and the last relate with others (8.4%) (BaiDu). Obviously, love becomes the “Boss” in the music, which means the concepts of gender play an important role in the music. I would like to talk more about how music illuminates the role separately playing on the males and females. Now, comparing the concepts of gender with many years ago, the role females play has a colossal difference. The modern music makes it easier to see the female self-awareness.
Traditional females not only believe “love is everything”, but also live in a male-dominated society in the relationship. They are willing to be the “love slaves” of the males. Such as the music expresses to its lyrics: “You can dominate. I will worship you. There’s no better way… You are my meaning, my heaven, my earth, God’s order” (S.H.E).
Later, females start to be waked by their pathetic position in the relationship. They try to find out why they are in such a passive condition by going through self-examination. Finally, they realize that they lose themselves when they are fall in love with males. Ironically, the self-examination is presented by complaining males. Females do not continue to endure any more when they know that males cheat on them. Otherwise, females will bravely question their man about how much do you love?
The result of introspection is to find “self.” In order to break away from male domination in the relationship, females have to occupy the initiative position in love and start the independent declaration of love.
Breaking free from the control of men in order to obtain the equal status in the relationship is not a very easy thing. Sometimes, females have to tolerate abandonment by males or spurn from others. Fortunately, they are not weak anymore; they are confident and strong. Facing the frustrations in the relationship, females decide to say goodbye to male dominance and they also learn to how to comfort them.
As my musical selection “I Don’t Need A Man”, the title of the song exactly shows the contemporary concepts of gender. The singer of this song is Miss A, “a four member Chinese-Korean girl group based in South Korea. They were formed by JYP Entertainment and are managed by AQ Entertainment. The group consists of Fei, Jia, Min, and Suzy. Their group name stands for Miss Asia” (Miss A). Miss A has performed since 2010. Before Miss A promoted “I Don’t Need A Man”, they were involved in a minor car accident. They were taken to a hospital and their condition has yet to be revealed. On October 18, 2012, Miss A has returned with this single “I Don’t Need A Man”. “ ‘I Don’t Need A Man’ is the title track of their latest mini-album ‘Independent Women Pt3’”(Miss A Returns). This song was composed and written by J.Y.Park, “a singer, songwriter, dancer, actor, record producer and the CEO and founder of JYP Entertainment, a major artist management/record label of Korean pop music” (Park). “I Don’t Need A Man” expresses how a woman works hard and lives independently without belonging to a man by its bright melody.
In the beginning of “I Don’t Need A Man”, Miss A said that it was “for all the independent ladies.” The lyrics express that girls can live without a man. Girls can make their own money, buy their own food and own clothes, and pay their rent by themselves. And also they won’t take money from their parents. Girls are satisfied with this lifestyle and they are all proud of themselves. Girls don’t need rich parents or rich boyfriends to support their life. They can make their own life and that is the way that they love themselves. There are very interesting parts in the middle of the
lyrics:
Boy don’t say
“I am your future, trust and lean on me” no no
Boy don’t play
If you’re not gonna respect me
Traditionally, boys always like to make promises to girls, such as “I could give you a future”, “please trust me, baby”, and “I will always belong with you”. Since girls heard those most “beautiful” sentences, they all become fools. No girl could resist those sweet words. However, in the lyrics, the girl says “No” to the boy who would like to show “love” to her. The lyrics also show that girls want to earn respect from boys and they do not play the game in the relationship. It is exactly what the modern women wants to do. They are independent and assertive when they are in the relationship with men. They are not that pathetic or weak girls anymore and they do not need to beg the love from the men. Females take initiative now and they all get a chance to say “No” to males:
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (What?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (Really?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (For real?)
The contents in the parentheses are really funny to me. Every time, after a girl said that “I don’t need a man, I don’t need a man.” there is always a question next to it such as “What? How could you not need a man?” or “Really? You don’t need a man?” Years ago, a girl who can live well without a men would surprise people. However, the conditions are changing now. Girls can have their own lives, which means that boys won’t be the center of their lives anymore. Girls try to not be “love slaves” anymore. They would like to find another focus rather than boys when they are in relationships. It is not a shock to me that girls don’t need a man to live because everyone could live well without others. Girls become stronger and more powerful and they are all improving. They try their best to control their own life.
In the traditional concepts of gender, females always are the weaker and males are the stronger. Females have to belong with males or lean on males in order to live. Just as the prince saves a princess, why can’t the princess save a prince? Based on the common knowledge, the princess is weak and delicate, but the prince is strong and powerful. It is a platitude! Nobody stipulates that females could not save and protect themselves such as the song “I Don’t Need A Man” sings, “I can live well without a man.”
There is the link of the music:
There is the link of the lyrics:
You stated "It is not a shock to me that girls don’t need a man to live because everyone could live well without others." Would this be the same if the gender roles were switched? I find it hard to think people should not live with other people, because without others, the world would be completely lonely and cold. I think that people should simply work on relationships and the people they choose to hangout with, instead of completely isolating themselves.
ReplyDeleteI found the paragraph where you say, "Girls become stronger and more powerful and they are all improving," to be most interesting because it points out the increasing role of women in today's society. Do you think that now that women are more capable of providing for themselves, they are beginning to act more like men in relationships? I think women are completely capable of living on their own, but should eventually want a man in their lives in order to avoid a "lonely life," as Alex suggested.
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting and true that women have become more confident and strong. Women are becoming more independent and it's great. Although, there are still some people in the world that think in the old-fashioned sense. I agree with Eddy and Alex about being capable of living on their own and potentially being able to love with some else to avoid loneliness. But if someone doesn't want to be with someone they don't have to be. I think that's a key thing to remember. Although, girls are becoming stronger and more independent, does that mean that they don't need men altogether? Just a thought
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