Good day, ladies!

I'm introducing a new series: Lyrical Clownery. Every post in this series rates a popular song on a scale of "Pickme" tendencies. The post will break down sections of lyrics (both good and problematic) with consideration of the song's video and backstory. The result is a final rating out of five. It is not scientific.

The rating system:

🤡 = Nonexistent or negligible Pickme clownery.

🤡🤡 = Put down the neon makeup, sis. You were so close.

🤡🤡🤡 = Do I hear circus music?

🤡🤡🤡🤡 = If you juggle one more ball, I swear--

🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 = Complete clownery.

Why do we have this series? Because we are both overtly and covertly influenced by media. If we listen to the radio or other playlist of our choice daily, the lyrics of songs will dance in our heads. A percentage of us may embrace the ideals of songs (to a small or large degree) or resign ourselves to cold "realities" (e.g. pickmeism). This is because of the rampant misogyny and pandering to LVM/NVM in music. Prime examples include many Ariana Grande songs, as they talk about scrambling to please a man. Or, Ariana waxes poetic about a man who is nice to her once in a while. Meanwhile male rappers often regurgitate a variant of "b_tches ain't shit" or other anthem of degradation, violence, or dehumanization of women. Female rappers can be empowering (e.g. Saweetie's mention of investments and goals in "Icy Girl") or they can drink the libfem Kool-aid of hypersexualizing themselves according to the male gaze.

Disclaimer: OBVIOUSLY elements of these lyrics are up to consumer interpretation. This is only but one perspective. I am not personally critiquing the artists, the cleverness of the lyrics, nor denying the ample pressure in the music industry to be "sexy" to stay relevant. Look at the Britney Spears' sexualization by the media when she was singing songs as a minor. I am also not denying the many blatant camera shots/lyrics pandering to the male gaze. This is a systemic issue perpetuated by the patriarchy. I am also not saying anyone should stop listening to artists they love, or that we are mindless sheep. Just listen closely and think critically when consuming your media of choice.

Today's song to be analyzed is "Baby, I'm Jealous" by Bebe Rexha featuring Doja Cat. Lyrics are taken from the Genius website.

Side note: If you have seen the video, it is beautifully choreographed and yet completely absurd. Bebe is obviously a gorgeous, talented woman, and made an absolute 🔥 song with Doja Cat. These ladies look like literal goddesses and they are lamenting about flaky, fickle dudes. Remember, it is not you, as crappy male behavior can target any woman.

Lyrics taken from Genius website ( https://genius.com/Bebe-rexha-baby-im-jealous-lyrics )

[Intro: Bebe Rexha] Baby, I'm jealous Jealous [Verse 1: Bebe Rexha] Went from beautiful to ugly 'Cause insecurity told me you don't love me All it takes is a girl above me On your timeline to make me nothing

The feelings of rejection are real and very hurtful. But what is she going to do about it?

[Pre-Chorus: Bebe Rexha] This is me, a woman in dichotomy I love me until I don't

Oh boy. 😬 So many of us have been there, darling. But, how are you going to love yourself?

[Chorus: Bebe Rexha] Baby, I'm jealous Of the pictures that you like Baby, I'm jealous Of the girls with lighter eyes Baby, I'm jealous (Ooh) And I know that it ain't right But I'm jealous, jealous (Haha) The jealous kind

It's ironic how the girls with lighter eyes get told (verbally and non-verbally through insta "likes") men prefer darker eyes! Women across the world are force-fed beauty standards telling them to be the opposite of whatever they are ("Brown skin? Be fair? Pale, pasty skin? Be tan!").

Can jealousy happen irrationally, as a matter of personal insecurity? Sure. And personal insecurity can be addressed with a professional. Someone here recently (brilliantly!) pointed out insecurity in the context of a relationship can signify deeper problems. A relationship should feel secure, not like you are constantly off-balance. Your man should cherish your presence and not signal sexual lust for other women. If you feel jealous or insecure in a relationship, chances are he is overtly or subtly showing he wishes he could cheat, or is only lukewarm about you. The reality is many of us have been a "placeholder" to men who were actually way less kind, considerate, respectful or clever than we believed they were. It is sad, because it was an empty, soulless agreement. We did not achieve the actual desired human connection, but tried to force by "making" him into a better man 🤡. If man really likes, loves, and cherishes you, you will never have to wonder.

[Verse 2: Bebe Rexha] I'm jelly, jelly, jelly, jelly, jelly on a plate Sunny side up, I got egg on my face Waist trainer for a tinier waist But I can't help it if I like the way food taste

Bebe describes the stress of trying to compete with photoshopped pictures, personal trainers, individual fat distribution, and uh, the need to eat and possess internal organs? Apparently a toddler's waist is 20 inches. Women seriously are out here wanting to train their waists to 22, 20, 16 inches and justifying it as "corsets support my back!" Unless you are instructed by a healthcare professional to wear a support garment, I would guess waist trainers decrease your natural core strength. In the video, Bebe seems to be showing us the ongoing absurdity through how she suffers from the waist trainer.

[Pre-Chorus: Bebe Rexha] This is me, a woman in dichotomy I love me until I don't My apologies for looking on your history I'm trying to let it go

Which is worse, a man liking and sending heart-eyed emojis to an OnlyFans Insta girl, or a woman taking a peek at his unlocked cell phone? "Sorry I caught you doing something disrespectful! Obviously I'm the wrong one here!" 🙃

[Verse 3: Doja Cat] That chick, can't be that chick Baby, I'm a bad bitch If he fiendin', he'll prolly get a catfish Keep him dreamin' to pull up on a nap, shit

YES  💅

I don't even be askin' him, "Who that chick?" Yuh-huh, who that chick? Nah That's pitiful, that's so average, why? Some women want men and some girls want bwoys Tell lies until they buggin' and they pants on fire, uh

Call it out! You shouldn't be asking who that girl is. A man who will make you feel insecure enough to ask is not worth it. It's not worth questioning your desirability. Faking a "cool girl" attitude and pretending to be unbothered to keep a man can be soul destroying.

I stole ya man He got freedom to chase what he likes

Aaaiiee no. 🤦‍♀️ In the words of Auntie Deb, a man cannot be stolen: https://youtu.be/pXH-UIwI7aw Unless Doja kidnapped him? 🤭 (FDS does not condone stealing men, period-- don't fight me).

I know you're mad But he ain't even worth none of your time It's such a drag I'm not being spiteful, but he's trash Won't be the last To let you know, but he gon' show you

Ok, this part is very FDS-aligned.

[Outro: Doja Cat & Bebe Rexha] I'm jealous of her (Yeah) Need ya number (Ba-baby, I'm) She doesn't love ya Boy, lemme show ya (Baby, I'm jealous) I'm jealous of her (I'm jealous, I'm jealous) Need ya number (I'm jealous, I'm jealous, ba-baby, I'm) She doesn't love ya (I'm jealous, I'm jealous) Boy, lemme show ya (I'm jealous, baby, I'm jealous)

"She doesn't love ya and lemme show ya" sounds kind of Pickme...

Before we move to our final rating, let's take a peek at the notes from the actual artist (s) on Genius:

We were in the studio and we started up this hook about being jealous because I was feeling jealous of other girls. And then I started talking about my love, my body, and my love/hate relationship with my body, and then seeing these perfect girls on Instagram and then being like, ‘Oh, I don’t look like that.’ I feel like a lot of people are probably ready to hear about being jealous of other females and feeling a certain way because it’s a lot.

Is the message "empowering" by telling other women the experience is universal?? Is it telling libfems to keep doing the Pickme Dance? "Haha, sis, I totes know! My bf looks at half naked "models" too! Let's gather our silly female hurt feefees into a song and not further bother our men :>" Or, are we leveling up?

From an interview on Elle ( https://www.elle.com/culture/music/a34473507/bebe-rexha-baby-im-jealous-interview ):

It's based off a real story. I was dating this guy and one day, I was feeling a little insecure and decided to do the deep dive on Instagram. I saw him liking all these girls on Instagram—modelesque, super-fit, wide-eyed, beachy—perfect-looking girls, in my eyes. That made me somewhat insecure and I was like, "Am I not what he likes? Am I not his type?"

I got super jealous and went to the studio. I was speaking to my co-writers about it. They were like, "Let's write a song called 'Jealous.'" We wanted to make it empowering. The whole album was kind of based off of insecurities and accepting them.

Dare I ask your status with the guy behind the song?

[Laughs] We're still very good friends.

Lmao, I bet she dumped him.

Final rating: 🤡🤡/5

Honestly, the "he's trash" line and the implication Bebe may have dumped him have saved this song. The pickme rating stands, as some lines are questionable.

What are your thoughts? Which song should be featured next?