Does This Mean I Can Like It Guilt-Free? 10 Songs Whose Sexual Politics Are More Troubling Than 'Blurred Lines.'

By Joanna Robinson | Videos | September 17, 2013 |

By Joanna Robinson | Videos | September 17, 2013 |

Debate raged all summer over Robin Thicke’s infectious yet troubling song “Blurred Lines.” Is it a “date rape anthem?” A harmless bit of lyrical fluff? If you love dancing to it, does that make you sexist? But Jimmy Fallon and The Roots like it! Jimmy Fallon and The Roots are cool, progressive dudes! Then, of course, Miley Cyrus rubbed herself all over Thicke and I think we all recoiled a little in horror. Just a little.

So now that the hubbub of summer is over, where do the chips fall? Will Thicke’s song be remembered in a fun, gimmicky way? “The Macarena”/”Mambo #5”/”Thong Song” of 2013? Do the lyrics (I know you want it/I know you want it/But you’re a good girl/The way you grab me/Must wanna get nasty) give you the heebie jeebies? CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE IT WAS BANNED FROM EDINBURGH UNI? By students. But still, I’m surprised.

The folks at Flavorwire, in their infinite wisdom, put together a list of songs that are worse (sexual politics-wise) than “Blurred Lines.” Hmm, does that make this better? I don’t know; check them out and let me know what you think. They did include the original date rape anthem, which I’m sure most of you end up crooning at least once every Christmas. Say, what the f*ck IS in her drink? Food for thought.