YouTube - Christina Aguilera & Lil Kim - Can't hold us down
What are your reactions to this song? What about the song itself--the beat, melody, poetics-how do you like it?
Here's the lyrics:
So what am I not supposed to have an opinion
Should I be quiet just because I'm a woman
Call me a bitch cos I speak what's on my mind
Guess it's easier for you to swallow if I sat and smiled
When a female fires back
Suddenly big talker don't know how to act
So he does what any little boy will do
Making up a few false rumors or two
That for sure is not a man to me
Slanderin' names for popularity
It's sad you only get your fame through controversy
But now it's time for me to come and give you more to say
This is for my girls all around the world
Who've come across a man who don't respect your worth
Thinking all women should be seen, not heard
So what do we do girls?
Shout out loud!
Letting them know we're gonna stand our ground
Lift your hands high and wave them proud
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down
Nobody can hold us down
Nobody can hold us down
Nobody can hold us down
Never can, never will
So what am I not supposed to say what I'm saying
Are you offended by the message I'm bringing
Call me whatever cos your words don't mean a thing
Guess you ain't even a man enough to handle what I sing
If you look back in history
It's a common double standard of society
The guy gets all the glory the more he can score
While the girl can do the same and yet you call her a whore
I don't understand why it's okay
The guy can get away with it & the girl gets named
All my ladies come together and make a change
Start a new beginning for us everybody sing
This is for my girls all around the world
Who've come across a man who don't respect your worth
Thinking all women should be seen, not heard
What do we do girls?
Shout out loud!
Letting them know we're gonna stand our ground
Lift your hands high and wave 'em proud
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down
[Lil' Kim:]
Check it - Here's something I just can't understand
If the guy have three girls then he's the man
He can either give us some head, sex her off
If the girl do the same, then she's a whore
But the table's about to turn
I'll bet my fame on it
Cats take my ideas and put their name on it
It's aiight though, you can't hold me down
I got to keep on movin'
To all my girls with a man who be tryin to mack
Do it right back to him and let that be that
You need to let him know that his game is whack
And Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera got your back
But you're just a little boy
Think you're so cute, so coy
You must talk so big
To make up for smaller things
So you're just a little boy
All you'll do is annoy
You must talk so big
To make up for smaller things
This is for my girls...
This is for my girls all around the world
Who've come across a man who don't respect your worth
Thinking all women should be seen, not heard
So what do we do girls?
Should out loud!
Letting them know we're gonna stand our ground
Lift your hands high and wave 'em proud
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down
This is for my girls all around the world
Who've come across a man who don't respect your worth
Thinking all women should be seen, not heard
So what do we do girls?
Should out loud!
Letting them know we're gonna stand our ground
Lift your hands high and wave 'em proud
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down
Spread the word, can't hold us down
I agree with all the words that she is saying when shes singing. A guy should not be grabbing girls butt's because he likes the way it looks and girls can wear what they want as long as they have respect for themselves and can hold their ground. Sometimes when girls dress like she is in the video, she may be judged as a slut. When in reality, she's not and she just likes to wear those kinds of clothes. She's a beautiful women and all these words are very true and guys need to stop looking at us girl like pieces of meat and show some damn respect!
ReplyDelete-Jessica Becker
I completely agree with Lil Kim... She makes a great point in this video. Comparing the stereotypes for men and women being promiscious. Christina Aguilera makes a great point too; and I like how the song tries to bring women together to fight these stereotypes. They definitely CAN'T HOLD US DOWN!
ReplyDeleteIronically my friend is going through a rough time with a boy and she has been listening to this song for inspiration. The lyrics are phenomenal and give great meaning. It has a great beat and melody to it definitely a joy to listen to. Her opening lyrics are so powerful and true. We are entitled to opinions we are supposed to loud no one should hold us down. :)
ReplyDelete(Meghan Vold)
Thanks. I'll have to incorporate this video into my Women and Creativity class next semester. When was it made?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with her concept of the song. It address the obvious double standard between men and women. I love the fact that she is singing with a message that our young women can follow. I feel women should not date a man who does not respect them and their opinion. We were all born with a mouth for a reason & we should be respected and treated just as equal as men.
ReplyDeleteI love the point that Christina Aguilar and Lil' Kim are giving off in this song. They are basically saying how they aren't going to let men hold them done from anything and everything. I love how independent they are and how if they have something to say about a situation they will say what's on their mind no matter what a guy thinks of it. They also say in one part of the song how a man isn't a man when he has to go around starting rumors and that is the honesty truth. A respectful gentlemen should listen (but doesn't always have to agree) to a women's opinion whether he agrees or disagrees, just like a respectful women would do or should do. If he disagrees with you he doesn't need to go running around like a little boy and be causing problems just cause you gave your opinion and spoke up and he disagrees. Everyone has a voice for a reason and everyone has their own right to their opinions.
ReplyDeleteThis was my first time ever hearing this song, I never even heard anything about it but I would have to say that it is a good song for females. It delivers a strong message to females for them to stand their grounds and speak what is on their mind. In the video Christina was walking pass and the dude thought that he could touch her butt without her saying anything. Like the lyrics say, "thinking all women should be seen and not heard," men expect for a women to walk around looking "sexy" but aren't able to speak on what they believe as if they were a guy. Also Lil Kim made a good point when she said, "if the guy have three girls then he's the man; if the girl do the same, then she's a whore." How could men be able to have more than one partner but when it comes to a female they get viewed differently? As Lil Kim said, "but the table's about to turn," meaning that things are about to change when it comes to the way women is viewed. Women should stand up for what they want and stop letting men walk all over them while they just stand back quietly. This video was put together well according to the words that were spoken in the song. They had the girls against the guys, showing guys that whatever it is that they can do then so can females.
ReplyDeleteShaletta M. Hanson
I agree with this song. Nobody can hold us down. Usually pop singers are all about songs with men and there afection towards them. Christina and Lil kim are trying to make a point. Girls arnt going to take being stompled over by guys. They are going to stand their grounds. I especially like the beat to this song because its strong and goes with what she is trying to say.
ReplyDeleteTracy Wagner.
Not only is aguilera saying what she is going to do but if you watch the music video she is showing it. Shes showing that just because they are wearing the clothes shes in doesnt mean that she should deserve to get her but touched. Also she has the women on one side and men on the other, showing that when women come together they are strong.
ReplyDeleteTracy Wagner.