Upon seeing this video for the first time, I can't stress how pleased I was. Yes, Taylor, bask in my compliment. But really, this video showcases a very nice side of the lovely Momsen. Much less dark and depressing, the video itself is very much reminiscent of a mainstream act's video. How and ever, it still surpasses anything of the kind. A bold statement about feminism is brought forward, with 'Not A Whore' across one of the bikini-clad ladies, and with a porn star's chest being fondled, you can easily get the picture. Also, 100,000 views in 10 hours says something; says a lot since the days of Blender and Blonde Rebellion. God, I loved those days.
The video, set on a beach, features a band clad in black, and Taylor in colourful outfits, along with several other ladies in bikinis. Distancing herself from the band, in a sense, like always she becomes the centerpiece of our attention. Straight away there's provocative images of ladies. In particular, after seeing the video once before, the lady in the background who isn't moving, just standing in the back of the main band shot. Hold yo shit and watch her, son. Also, this leads into the section that recurs featuring two gold-covered women all over each other, holding stashes of money. Again son, hang onto yo shit and watch them.
As the video continues nicely, the lady in the background still keeps still, while Momsen flashes her eyes and women in bikinis play with water-guns. The sun shining down, the ladies about, all you need know is a fat one. Maybe it's worth noting how ideologically picked these women are, as they're all skinny and have pronounced features. How and ever, the two golden-clad ladies are featured getting intimately intimate, with cut-scenes of the band playing.
The women themselves in this video look at the camera quite provocatively, however one gets the feeling that it is like they are staring at you, into you, rather than looking for some sexual encounter. Also noted is the fact that there is a girl lying on the ground next to the band playing, who simply lies there waiting to be stared at, almost. Feminism and the sexual exploits are showing.
Noticed here is the fact that while the video for the song plays, the only men in the video are the three in the band. The rest are big-breasted, nice-bottomed women, and although I can't say what the video is trying to achieve, I get the feeling that maybe this is what we are supposed to see. Feminism is predominant here, take note.
After an interlude of fondling breasts in the sea and near-kisses, the lady in the background who stool still as a statue turns around, and 'Not A Whore' is written across her back. She is the only women in the video who hasn't partaken in the stereotypical activities of every other video out there; wet clothes and provocative imagery. A brave statement, hitting home.
The camera crew are filmed at this stage, and it's like we're watching a video being made. A stereotype of women half naked being sold to the masses is being filmed, and we are watching it happen. The camera crew love it, the band loves it, Taylor loves it (in the video of the video). Whether this is an accurate view or not is debatable, but as far as this viewer can say, it sounds accurate.
Towards the end, the two golden women hold up a sign: 'Is this what you want to see?'. Of course, every horny male with some brains realizes that this is exactly what they wanted to see, and the underlying message is clear. The stereotype of women half naked for our pleasure is manipulated here. They haven't done anything necessarily dirty deemed by today's standards, aside from the odd lick here and there, but of course it drives us men mad. Don't lie, it does. Staring at the screen, it's like they're staring accusingly at you.
At the end do I see a bit of twerking?
People can argue that the title means a certain or other thing, but I believe the only one who knows is the one who wrote it. When listening to the song without a video, back in the days when it was released, it certainly sounded like a song about the fucked up state of things in general. Never did it cross anyone's mind (that I heard) that feminism was a part of it. Whether this was added later or was prevalent in the writing sessions, of course, is known by one person; the writer. I won't argue for or against any opinion.
It's pretty obvious that our eyes are drawn to certain things during the video. Probably deliberate. Certain shots of girls' rear ends promote this, along with other shots of women. Again, the men are there simply 'just because'. The band themselves aren't a part of the video in a sense. They're there because they can be, in essence. They don't promote the feminism or any other ideas. Even in the shots in the water Momsen isn't necessarily a part of the action going on. She stands back and does her own part.
The idea of the video of a video being made is an interesting one. Seeing everyone happy at this degradation of women makes one think. If this is reading too deep into a concept that isn't there, tell me, but really it seems obvious when you watch the video a couple of times.
Another aspect that hits home the ideas is the explicit stating of such ideas. It has to be stated that the lady in the bikini is Not A Whore; it has to be stated that the golden women are fondling each other for our viewing pleasure.
A small factor in the promoting of the video: bewbs. Sweet, sweet bewbs. Many. Jenna Haze is in this video, nuff said.
Upon seeing this video for the first time, not much thought was given to any of these ideas. Maybe Taylor liked getting off on this kind of thing. Maybe that's what was supposed to be thought, as the next time the video was viewed, knowing the ideas behind it, it was very different. I felt a little disappointed (maybe) in the fact that the Pretty Reckless had (almost) gone mainstream with the video with the beach and the half-nakedness. At the end it's obvious that this isn't true, and it is a very different way of approaching the topic of feminism and (possibly) the fucked up state of the music industry.
As always, Taylor and the Pretty Reckless deliver well. Although the song itself is not reviewed here, it's a banger. Will they ever stop delivering? Of course not. That's down to opinion and this reporter will probably never stop loving. Script.
Check that, 123,000 views after another hour.
For anyone that wants to see it here it is:
Momsen, as always, looks fine. XXXX
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