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I didn’t expect a thorough review of Katy Perry’s album [“Editor’s Pick,” Vol. 18 #7], but I was surprised that you didn’t mention some strong reactions caused by her song “I Kissed a Girl.”
Some (and I am among them) see it as exploitative. This song reminds me of one of those porn movies featuring “lesbians” but directed at straight men, from the clichéd lyrics (“Us girls, we are so magical/Soft skin, red lips, so kissable,” “Good girls don’t do that”) to the wink at the straight male audience: “I hope my boyfriend don’t mind it.”
Perry is probably describing her own experience, shared by many other women, and she certainly has the right to write a song about it. I just expected curve’s review to be less superficial, due to the fact that its audience’s perspective is more than likely to differ from that of the mainstream audience that made Perry’s song such a hit.
—Emery Brown, Chicago
Editor’s Note: Well, Emery, don’t think we didn’t discuss it, but in my 20-plus years of dating and sleeping with other women, I’ve learned that a whole lot of us hard-core dykes once started out as girls trying to titillate boys in some way, often to test the waters before jumping headfirst into the lesbian pool. Honestly, girls are magical, our lips are much softer and if Katy Perry wants to test the lesbian waters, baby, I’m ready with my rubber ducky.
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Reader Comments:
Well, just so you know, she has never actually kissed a girl. She didn't write this song to turn on guys, she wrote it because she felt like writing a song. Do you have to experience evertyhing that you write about? And the odds are, she wasn't the one who directed her OWN music video, since she's still new in the field. Whatever she portrayed in the video was just some one else's idea of how her song should be turned visual.
I happen to think it's a huge boon for us girls that here is an artist that started out life as a Christian music act and has appropriately graduated to he place amongst us girly girl-kissers. It's a relief, as a (ug, labels) girl who once ran with the "Jesus Freaks" (a nod to DC Talk and the others that have dominated the young Christian music scene of years past) and dated boys, who found herself, shockingly, to be a lesbian; that this woman (whatever her ulterior motives) would come out on the scene after her "appropriate" past and bring up not just one, but 2 issues close to many a confused het's heart: Women who kiss other women, and women who wonder why their boyfriends act a little...gay? On the second point: with the number of misguided and accidental lavender marriages out there, her lyrics just sound more to me like a girl who'd benefit from an exploration into the pink. Ya know?
We discuss Katy Perry often - on our podcast . . . we prefer to think of her as our resident punching bag. In a word, she's a douche. For those who feel the same, feel free to check us out: www.thelesbianpodcast.com (Our favorite Katy Perry moment, thus far, is the face plant she did into the cake at the MTV Awards)
i think this song is pretty harmless and people are just reading into to much.
The song is harmless, albeit catchy, but it's one of the reasons bi girls & bi-curious or bi-chic (as I call them) get such a bad rap. Most bi-girls aren't really bi anyway, they do it to get attention & to make themselves seem more attractive to guys. It's stupid.
I liked the song, so shoot me. And as the editor pointed out, lots of us started out sleeping with women to make ourselves seem "daring" to our boyfriends/husbands. But their little plan backfired once we realized that women have more fun parts than guys do. Just my 2 cents.
www.ComeTogetherGiftBaskets.com
I love the song. I like to play it extremely loud in my car and scream out the lyrics. My girlfriend hates it though. Her exact opinion for the song is "it's obnoxious." I think it's a cute song, and it's fun to sing. :)
"Most bi-girls aren't really bi anyway, they do it to get attention & to make themselves seem more attractive to guys."
Stereotype much?
Sorry, but I wholeheartedly do not agree that most bi girls "aren't really bi anyway."
I'm a 40 year old bi girl who has been obsessed with and attracted to girls before I ever even had a boyfriend or kissed a guy. I first had sex with a girl at 17 and had my first girlfriend at 18. I'm in a relationship now with a man but have had more relationships with girls than boys.
And I've known plenty of other bi girls who also do not fit your stereotype.
"Most bi-girls aren't really bi anyway, they do it to get attention & to make themselves seem more attractive to guys."
Massive stereotype, and one that has helped to make my development as a bisexual teenger so much harder than it needed to be... I can't believe I have to deal with this bull from the gay community as well as the straights! I'm so sick of everyone thinking that all bisexual girls are either straight girls looking for attention or gay girls who won't admit it, that bisexuals are sluts who'll do anything that moves, or that they're flakes who can't "decide" which sexuality they are.
"Bisexuality is a blessing and a curse, but viewing it as a schizophrenia will make you insane.... I am not a whole person with split desires: I am a whole person with desire. As everyone is, regardless." Agavé Powers.
*sorry about the rant, I just get so frustrated about this... :(
I personally like the song ...most days depending on how i feel... what bothers me about perry's album is with the songs like in and out and you're so gay where she's useing stereotypes to trash her ex for both gay guys and women but yet is getting all this praise from the gay community for i kissed a girl and because you can dance to her music... she's a good singer i just wonder where the line is on her first album and where she get's a little insulting