Catchy Katy--"Dark Horse"

Katy Perry's single "Dark Horse," number two on the iTunes charts, is unquestionably catchy (I've been humming the opening beat in my head for about a week now...), but besides the tune, what else is Perry's song throwing your way? By that I mean: what kind of message is "Dark Horse" sending, and is that message something you agree with? 

To help us out with this, let's watch a lyrics video:

via youtube.com

So you probably get a sense that it's about love (happy late Valentine's Day, by the way!). But this love isn't about mutual respect and romance. It's about seduction. It's about being crazy. It's about owning another person.

Katy demands her partner to "make her" his/her "Aphrodite," who is a Greek goddess known for insane jealousy and a tendency to exact revenge. So, not a great start. She then goes on to say "once you're mine / There's no going back." Though this might seem innocent, she removes the person's ability to decide for themselves in an effort to keep in control; this is not the foundation for a healthy relationship. 

Juicy J, in his rap, calls her "a beast," compares her to the cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer, compares her to a drug, and implies if you break her heart she'll go crazy ("turn as cold as a freezer").

Not only does this sound like a very bad relationship to be in--it's based on lust, not respect, kindness, or appreciation of the other person--it's also pushing forward a negative stereotype about women in relationships (that we're all crazy and vindictive).

I'm not saying you shouldn't enjoy the song (I still do!), but it's important to realize what she's saying. And that it's completely okay not to agree with her or believe the song's message. I know it's just a song, but what we watch and listen to matter if we let it shape the way we think of others. So, word to the wise: remember that loving, lasting relationships are built on mutual respect, no matter what "Dark Horse" tells us.

~Emily