I just always viewed the lyrics for 'The Man' as tounge-in-cheek. Like she's not saying she wants to be a literal man, but the ambiguously praised/hated person in charge. That in & of itself is a challenge to approach lyrically.. as the phrase 'the man' has both been used both as a compliment & a derogatory sentiment at different times in culture.
"The phrase "the Man is keeping me down" is commonly used to describe oppression. The phrase "stick it to the Man" encourages resistance to authority, and essentially means "fight back" or "resist", either passively, openly or via sabotage"
Like, she knows that the phrase is loaded, though. I think the lyrics speak specifically to this dichotomy.
"I’d be a fearless leader
I'd be an alpha type
When everyone believes ya
What's that like?
I'd even argue she addresses & realizes some of her financial privilege in the song.
I do find the song's message messy, but ultimately well-intentioned & clever. Maybe it is actually too clever for it's own good, thus adding to its issues in communicating its message. I think Taylor was trying to 'stick it to the man' in a certain way with the song (by wanting a woman to be 'the man'), but obviously her message doesn't land for many. I do think song is a bit more complex than many are giving it credit for, though.
That said, it's still not a fave for me on Lover, so I gave it like an 8. Personally, though, I am happy Taylor is trying to approach some of these topics & use her voice. I'll take messy communication of bigger ideas over silence in important era of change any day. At least it generates some thought & discussion. She's one of most important woman in pop, so I'm happy to have her speaking up in any capacity on issues that are important to me.
I guess in some respects 'The Man' reminds of another messy song.. one I don't particularly like, but that was possibly creative & cleverly well intentioned : '7 Rings' (another controversial BPG rate bomb). Some people take the song/video completely at face value & hate its message. Others have the mindset that Ariana was being tongue & cheek about the over-the-top emptiness of consumer culture.
Maybe Ariana & Taylor both fail at their messaging in these mentioned songs & deserve all the draggings & criticism levied at them. For me though, I think their both two of the most creative & smartest people in pop, so maybe there is more layers to their art that I miss on my first pass throughs of their latest bop.
edit: (Sorry, I just saw #42 revealed... so this write-up is a bit out date now. Oops.)
"The phrase "the Man is keeping me down" is commonly used to describe oppression. The phrase "stick it to the Man" encourages resistance to authority, and essentially means "fight back" or "resist", either passively, openly or via sabotage"
Like, she knows that the phrase is loaded, though. I think the lyrics speak specifically to this dichotomy.
"I’d be a fearless leader
I'd be an alpha type
When everyone believes ya
What's that like?
I'd even argue she addresses & realizes some of her financial privilege in the song.
I do find the song's message messy, but ultimately well-intentioned & clever. Maybe it is actually too clever for it's own good, thus adding to its issues in communicating its message. I think Taylor was trying to 'stick it to the man' in a certain way with the song (by wanting a woman to be 'the man'), but obviously her message doesn't land for many. I do think song is a bit more complex than many are giving it credit for, though.
That said, it's still not a fave for me on Lover, so I gave it like an 8. Personally, though, I am happy Taylor is trying to approach some of these topics & use her voice. I'll take messy communication of bigger ideas over silence in important era of change any day. At least it generates some thought & discussion. She's one of most important woman in pop, so I'm happy to have her speaking up in any capacity on issues that are important to me.
I guess in some respects 'The Man' reminds of another messy song.. one I don't particularly like, but that was possibly creative & cleverly well intentioned : '7 Rings' (another controversial BPG rate bomb). Some people take the song/video completely at face value & hate its message. Others have the mindset that Ariana was being tongue & cheek about the over-the-top emptiness of consumer culture.
Maybe Ariana & Taylor both fail at their messaging in these mentioned songs & deserve all the draggings & criticism levied at them. For me though, I think their both two of the most creative & smartest people in pop, so maybe there is more layers to their art that I miss on my first pass throughs of their latest bop.
edit: (Sorry, I just saw #42 revealed... so this write-up is a bit out date now. Oops.)
