Imogen Heap's New Album

After years of preparation and hype Imogen Heap's new album, Ellipse, has finally debuted. I am happy to say I was not at all disappointed. It was worth the wait. She is one of the most talented musicians working today and this album clearly shows why. I was especially pleased that she included an instrumental version of each song on the deluxe album.

One track I find particularly fascinating is "Bad Body Double." It is playful, thought-provoking and distressing; a combination that only Imogen could pull off (reminds me of "Goodnight and Go..." an adorable song about unrequited love but at the same time very creepy when you consider the stalking element of it). "Bad Body Double" is a statement about standards of beauty for women. I am still trying to figure out exactly what her stance on it is, but one thing is made clear; every woman has two versions of herself to some varying degree. One version cares tremendously about whether she looks good, the other doesn't. Reconciling the two can be pretty tricky.

Here's a preview:

She's trouble, alright.

Sometimes I manage to lose her
Shake her at a bar, in the gym for five minutes
It feels so good to be back to my own self again
Can get quite confusing.

We look very similar except she's got some grays
and a little extra weight on the sides
And dimply thighs,
I hear that stuff's a bitch to get rid off

No, no, no, no
We're having quite an intimate, personal moment (not now)
Could you maybe come at a slightly less awful time? (not now)
She can see I've got someone quite nice here with me
Can't we just be left alone...
I guess that's a no then
Seeing as you're still here

She Likes to Shake Her Ass: My Addiction to Sexist Alternative Rock Songs

I have recently discovered a disturbing addiction. I'll be in my car and Nickelback's song “Something in Her Mouth” will start playing on the radio. Then, horror of horrors, I'll start singing. I become completely engrossed in singing along with this masochistic, chauvinist display of male debauchery…and for some inexplicable reason, I seem to enjoy it.

Is it wrong for a proud, independent, respectful woman to like this and similar alternative rock songs with lyrics such as, “I like your pants around your feet,” “Hey, you’re crazy b*tch but you f**k so good I’m on top of it,” or my personal favorite, “My girlfriend's a dick magnet, my girlfriend's got to have it?” Umm, YES. Yes it is.

Or is it? I have reflected over my unabashed love of these offensive lyrics and have come to several conclusions. This is a very good thing as my excuses, “but they’re so catchy” and “they have a great beat” were just not cutting it anymore.

Conclusion #1: We all, in large or small part, want to be a bad girl. Secretly I want to be the girl that guys think of when they hear someone say it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for. Embarrassing, yes. True? Absolutely. Usually I am the witty, sarcastic, kind of entertaining but not relationship-material mother hen when I go out with my pretty friends. That sassy intellectual stereotype does not leave much room for ass-shaking or downing shots on top of the bar. So if I want to indulge in a little fantasy through the magic of song, is that so terrible?

Conclusion #2: We all, in large or small part, want a bad boy. This is so cliché it pains mentioning, but in this context it is about the lyrics themselves and what they literally say. If someone talked to me like this in a bar I would smile while simultaneously punching them in their mouth. However in lyrical form, the line blurs. Again, it is that fantasy factor. You want to smack the lead singer, but at the same time you want to take him home to spite your parents. Oh the bad boy complex…when will we ever learn?

Conclusion #3: I like being in control. One thing all these songs have in common is the projection of sexual and social power on the female subject. These guys want these girls BAD. This feeling of power is pretty intoxicating. Thanks goes to our patriarchal society for always making women feel that to be powerful and independent we need to act more like the men. In doing that, we are giving men exactly what they want; the dirty girl with no inhibition (aka the college frat boy in female form). SIGH. I blame the sexual revolution…as Kim Blum eloquently stated, “The sexual revolution is over and everybody lost.”

Conclusion #4: They really are catchy and they really do have a great beat.

So against my better judgment I will continue to listen to and yes ENJOY these songs. On the inside, my rational self will be screaming about the unfair objectification of women and the societal programming that has turned me into this poor excuse for a feminist. But my naughty alter-ego? She’ll be ripping up the dance floor.

Here are my current favorites...please do not lose all respect for me:

• "Something in Your Mouth" by Nickelback
• "Shakin' Hands" by Nickelback
• "Crazy B*tch" by Buckcherry
• "Bad Girlfriend" by Theory of a Deadman
• "Blue Jeans" by Silvertide
• "New Tattoo" by Saving Abel
• "Addicted" by Saving Abel