Beyoncé – Single Ladies – Single Review
Is anyone else getting a little bit bored of Beyonce’s idea of feminism?
I mean, “if you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it”??? What the hell? I’m not bashing marriage, but the notion that if you want to keep your woman, you have to buy her a big-ass ring is a bit of a fallacy.
And anyway, isn’t it a bit presumptuous to assume that a woman can be bought anyway? And what if she isn’t worth putting a ring on? Lyrically, this song is utter garbage, and no amount of flashing your gusset around in the video is going to change that, Beyonce.
As a tune, there’s no denying that Single Ladies is top notch. That thumping beat, and great harmonies mean it stands up among the best of Beyonce’s songs. Unfortunately, the message it sends out is as hopelessly vapid as the worst of her work. Girls are brilliant, men are just dogs.
I’m sorry, but this song makes me angry every time I hear it (and bear in mind it’s on constant rotation on the music channels at the moment). Mrs Jay-Z is sending a message to young women everywhere that even if you’re being treated brilliantly by your other half, even if they enrich your life in countless ways, if you haven’t got a ring on your finger, it’s all worthless.
What a twat.
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You do realize that the song is not about the jewelry itself, but that to keep a good woman, a man should commit to her by marrying her. Or at least show some kind of sign that he isn’t just going to dump her for the next girl he sees. And if he doesn’t love her, he should just move on, end of story. So stop trying to inject some ridiculous notion of relationships into the song.
I take it that you are a smart person and you know that 95% of pop songs won’t stand up against much scrutiny, especially if you choose to think about it as a faux-feminist statement. So lay off, it’s a lot better than some other stuff out now.
And, as with all hit singles, it’s designed to make people dance and Beyonce richer, so it’s served it’s purpose. Just congratulate and stop whining.
Hi Kat
Thanks for taking the time out to comment. Actually, I wouldn’t normally mind, but Ms Knowles churns out some of the most anti-male music in the world. All this from someone who’s only recently married. She’s so cynical about men in her lyrics, people are bound to notice it.
I mean, Irreplaceable is basically telling a guy that he never mattered that much in the first place and he’s replaceable. According to the lyrics, said guy is groveling to be taken back. Bills Bills Bills is another tune casting men as layabouts – in fact as I hinted above, it’s virtually TLCs No Scrubs Part II. I could go on, but you get the point.
And yes, I like to think I’m a smart person, but I also think music is a great way to get across ideas and attitudes, especially when – as you acknowledge – people are buying this record by the truckload. I never said that Single Ladies was anything less than a great tune, but I think it’s interesting to have a debate about how cynical Beyonce’s lyrics actually are. Maybe she could get around to writing a song about a harmonious male/female relationship someday?
very good responce. i love beyonce and i love her music so i dont complain and i love her new album. it may be anti-male but shes still an excellent singer and songwriter
what on earth are you talking about?
single ladies is definitely virtuosic dance recording which has great tunes and fun lyrics
I was hoping someone would actually question the lyrics! I was dying to share anti love for this song! Most blogs just have seemingly brainless people going ‘I luv dis song coz its cool’.
What is with “If you like it then you shouda put a ring on it”? That single statement could mean so much. It could even be anti-feminist, making the woman an object, an ‘it’, relying on the male to make the decisions in life.
This is not helped by skanking around in high heels with pubes showing that actually gives anything but class to the message.
The style of song, the dress, the fast moves, the kind of condescending or elitist attitude. Beyonce has portrayed a female looks like she’s far from wanting to settle down… for a very long time! No wonder he didn’t put a ring in it.
Maybe this song is actually about a selfish sook who from the looks of it gives HIM no reassurance that she is good for a ring.
Get real, if I met a woman like that, I’d be betting on being burnt in just days into a relationship.
We were discussing this song in my Woman Warriors class, an English elective dedicated to women in literature and feminism. We all had the same opinions on this song. We thought that Beyonce made women objects in the song. They will only matter in this world if they have some big, stupid wedding ring. It’s sad to hear songs like these in 2009. Bet secretly, I would dance to this song if the lyrics were more positive. Shhh don’t tell ;)