So I've heard Ne-Yo's new song "Miss Independent" a few times now and I thought it was kind of catchy. It's message definitely seems to be different from a handful of other rap/r&b songs which seem to sing about women being objects for men's visual and literal pleasure excluding any thought of those women having minds of their own. "Miss Independent" gives off the vibe that Ne-Yo is interested in this "independent woman" strictly based on her mind, intellegence, authority and of course, independence. "There's something about kinda woman that want you but don't need you" translates into "It's nice to find a woman who can stand on her own two feet and you know the reason she is with you is based on feelings rather than for money or material things". "She's got me thinking about getting involved, thats the kinda girl I need" states in other words that she gives off the impression that she will be a good relationship girl as opposed to a fling or one night stand and Ne-Yo seems to like that. Alot of rap songs don't talk about relationships, they just reference "hooking up" because they find the woman they see attractive. "Miss independent ooh the way you shine miss independent" brings the song to an end. Someone telling me that they can tell I'm independent is a great compliment, as well as telling me I shine which is why when I saw the end of this music video for the first time today, as well as the rest of the video I got slightly angry.
The imagery in the video doesn't exactly go hand in hand with the lyrics. The setting is a business office full of woman saying "Good Morning, Ne-yo" with slightly suggestive or seductive smiles and looks. One camara shot shows only a womens legs but you hear her voice saying good morning and Ne-yo stops walking briefly and it looks like he is attempting to look up the woman's skirt and he contines walking to his office past many other woman. He returns the certain looks he gets to many of the woman in the office as he walks by them, usually checking them out as well as he passes by. Now, if he was so interested in this "idependent woman" and thought he wanted to start a relationship with her, why would he look at the other woman the way he did...? Throughout the whole video there are shots of differant woman giving Ne-yo "the look". Camera angles include shots from above which focus on clevage, a shot of just legs and a shot of just a womans back which shows an opening in her shirt with no bra strap to be seen.
What I thought was a step in a positve direction with this song was just shot down by the director and creator of this video, along with the agreement by Ne-yo to do it.
At the end of the video, the "independent woman" who was seen for her mind and authority basically looses all power she had. She sees Ne-yo as they are both leaving work and she apoligizes for "cutting Ne-yo off" in the meeting and he says it's ok because she is "the boss". She askes if there is anything she can do to make it up to him (like it was THAT big of a deal, right...?), Ne-yo asks what once again, "the boss" had in mind as he moves his glance up and down her body and she smiles at him suggestively and walks away and looks back at him. He starts to watch her walk away, looks at the camera and bites his lip like he knows what he's about to get.
So much for being into her for her MIND and independence...!
Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think of "Miss Independent".
*Mol
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4 comments:
I completely agree with what Molly is saying with the contrast between the song "Miss Independent" by Ne-Yo and his music video. Although it is positive that women are shown in the office/workplace and his boss is a woman, the representation of most of the women in the video pretty much negates that positive aspect. I do believe that the song definitely gives off the idea that he wants a woman that's independent and doesn't necessarily need him to survive and whatnot. But, especially in the very beginning of the video, most of the girls don't give ME the impression that they're independent. All of them batting their eyelashes at Ne-Yo as he walks in the door, and then, towards the end, the boss (whose real name I believe is Gabrielle?) is so worried about offending him by "cutting him off earlier". Or maybe it was just an excuse to create sexual inuendo..? Either way I do agree that the song and the music video both give off a contrasting ideal. The visual affect should strengthen the message behind the music, not negate it.
Let's not forget that all these "independent" women are mostly drop-dead GORGEOUS! Seems like the song is suggesting that independence is related to sexual behavior. This is the problem with the music industry.. Everyone loves some type of music. The biggest music is creating lasting impressions on younger generations who look at women and judge them. Lyndsey makes a great point when she says that the visual affect should strengthen the message, not negate it. That's what creates a lasting impression.
I think its about time a rap/ r&b song celebrated a strong woman instead of trying to degrade and show strong woman as "bitches." However, the fact that the video potrays this certain type of females doesn't do justice for the song. Not every women can be perfect, and perform to the standards that put out in the lyrics.
I like this music video in the fact that it shows how ne-yo likes independent girls and ones that work for themselves. I like that because i like to think that im independent. The only thing i do not agree with is how the girls are like hanging all over ne-yo.
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