Comments on: Bashy ft. H-Boogie – Your Wish Is My Command

By: Chuck Eddy

Chuck Eddy — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:39:54 +0000

I pretty much attended to the voices and ignored the words when I wrote my review above, and (not having relistened since) I’ll take people here at their word that the lyrics might well be questionable. Have to say I agree, though, that not hearing at least the suggestion of a classic date-rape scenario in “Blame It” seems willful to me. And pretending that people who do detect one do so only because it’s a rap song is shooting at a strawman. To my ears, the scenario in “Blame It” comes off more frat than street, and I wouldn’t be surprised if frat types constitute a significant portion of the audience that made it a hit — The concept’s not far from “Because I Got High,” right? Except Afroman was funnier (which obviously isn’t saying all that much.)

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:45:23 +0000

Actually, one could say the Whisper song’s “naw i’m just playing unless you say I can” caveats are less threatening than Bashy’s “haha hennessy gonna getcha either way LOL,” though both can obviously be read as exceptionally assaultive.

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:51:23 +0000

Wow. Serves me right for listening to this without paying significant attention to the lyrics. I think you’re being slightly disingenuous, Lex. I don’t think that it’s as full-on rapey as Anthony does, but Ian’s on point with the Nickelback comparison, re: undercurrent of ugly misogyny going on here. That said, I stand by my comments on Bashy’s presence, and definitely want to hear more of H-Boogie. This raises some red flags, but it’s certainly no ‘The Whisper Song’.

By: Ian Mathers

Ian Mathers — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:26:08 +0000

I kinda figured the point of my blurb was me explaining why I think there IS in fact something disquieting about this song… and considering I think it’s only about as “rapey” as some of the Nickelback songs I’ve heard, I’m not sure genre or race explain my reaction.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:10:48 +0000

And I don’t mean to suggest everyone should be offended by this track. You’re welcome to ignore or rationalize (female consent – or at least resignation – on the chorus helps) the grossness. But if others acknowledge it, drop the defensive bullshit and deal.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:59:47 +0000

First you say you can’t see the rapeyness “like…at all,” lex, and then you use every half-assed defense one ONLY uses if they CAN hear it. You go for “hey people have been singing about power and control since forever.” Then “just cuz he’s a rapper doesn’t mean we have to bring up rape when he sneers about how alcohol has put you under his submission.” Then “hey girls like to dance to it, you can’t find the subtext gross.” Bravo.

By: lex

lex — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:22:00 +0000

OK, I'm not hearing the rapeyness in this, or in Jamie Foxx's "Blame It", which got the same accusations levelled at it, like...at all. It's obviously about power and control, but...you know, "falling under someone's spell" and "being under your control" has been a pop meme since forever. Just b/c it's a rapper saying doesn't mean we have to get all "you gonna get raped". It's certainly not how all the girls I've seen dancing to it have interpreted it. Didn't review it as spent half the day trying to work out what it reminded me of - have finally got it! This is good, [7] probably, but it's definitely more than a bit like Roll Deep ft. Janee Bennett's "Do Me Wrong". And for that matter, and rather appropriately, this new single: Busta Rhymes ft. Estelle - World Go Round. (I'm glad Anthony pointed out that H-Boogie is Estelle's lil' sis, you can def hear it.)