Beyoncé’s so fine, I almost hate to do this…
I know that it’s normally AJ who’s slapping wrists and shouting “Bad!” around here, but I have to say something about this, but first a quick show of hands, how many of you think Irreplaceable is your jam? Admit it ladies, this song comes on and you’re cranking radios up and rushing dance floors across America.
I’m not hating on Beyoncé here, but I really have to ask this question: Why are women latching on to Irreplaceable as the new Black Woman National Anthem? It’s crazy. Are people not hearing the same song I’m hearing? or are people so shortsighted that they overlook the most serious error in this song’s lyrics? An error so blatant, that it automatically makes the women who crank this song and sing it look like total morons.
No disrespect, I’m just saying…
Okay, so maybe “total morons” was a bit harsh, but it got your attention right? Good. I want to point out and reiterate firstly that I am not hating on Beyoncé. She’s doing her thing, making her money and living her life. I’m pretty sure that she didn’t write the song alone, so I’m not “targeting” her. The song has been at the top of the charts at this point for 8 weeks (since Dec 16, 2006 according to Wikipedia). Hooray, I’m happy for her. Now that that’s out of the way…
WTF?
You read that right… 8 weeks. What the hell? That’s like 2 months of women across America (black, white and every color between) getting up and acting a fool for this song. Actually, it’s probably more like teen aged girls across America getting up and acting a fool, they are the major buying force for pop music in this country. I’m thinking that a grown woman will appreciate what I’m about to say and understand why I’m so upset.
What’s my problem, anyway?
Okay enough suspense, here’s my boggle. The song is about a woman fed up with her man’s crap and the conversation had when he arrives home to find his belongings packed and outside. Simple enough? Not so fast. My problem is this:
Let’s assume you’re a successful woman and you’ve got your act together and you’re doing your thing… While we’re at it, let’s assume that you’re a dime. Why do you have this broke negro sitting up in your house to begin with? Umm… why aren’t you dating someone who is also about his business and on the same level as you? What are you doing with these disposable dudes in the first place? In the immortal words of Riley Freeman, “Game recognize game and you’re looking real unfamiliar right now…”
Every time I see a chick singing this song in a club or in a car, I shake my head at their low standards for themselves and the men they let lay up on them. And these girls (and I say girls, because a woman would know better) are thinking this song is empowering! What strange sort of empowerment is that? You want real empowerment, find a man who is on your level and about his business and who will add to your life, someone who is really irreplaceable. Raise the bar and only the best will get over.
One more Beyoncé shot for the road!
Shouts out to SinRo, who wrote about this a number of weeks ago and inspired me to put my two cents in.
I’m not bashing you ladies. I’m just trying to enlighten. It’s time to drop this Ghetto Anthem ladies, there are plenty of better songs out there. I’m sure some of you will disagree and that’s cool, chime in and let me know how you feel and let’s chop it up and discuss this.
As with most pop music, the song is good at first, but then the radio stations and music channels (MTV, BET, and VH1 too) run a good thing into the ground. It’s gotten so bad, it’s even being played in gyms (mine unfortunately) I did notice a collective groan when the instructor put it on for a cool down song. I agree with a lot of the points Antuan made. Her first mistake was getting involved with a “Regal”(thanks to AJ for introducing me to that term:-) I think the song should have been called Replaceable. Plus, why would she want to find another man like the one she’s trying to get rid of? Or maybe she should just take some time off from the dating scene? I guess those songs wouldn’t sell as well
lol…that’s hilarious people….you guys made some good points antuan and audra. i think that we all have been in situations in relationships where we all have been with someone who just didn’t treat us quite right….and you wanted to get out, but you just couldn’t let go…so when you finally muster up the strength, you can be strong about it and let oh boy or oh girl know….don’t sit up here and act like you are the ONLY fish in the sea- because you aren’t. someone actually told me once that i wouldn’t find anyone better than him…and now he’s “to the left to the left” LOL and i couldn’t be happier!!! BISH!!
most smart women will not put up with men who are scrubs like the one beyonce refers to in the song….but every now and then in life, you get caught up with some doofus (who has everything together financially, etc. and can put up a front, but once you get to know them, they’re still trifling), and then they cut the fool, and you have to make a switch…
yes, on the front end, people need to make better choices when choosing a prospective mate, etc. i believe that beyond “everything he owns being in the box to the left,” she’s speaking more about women being proactive and not staying around in mentally and physically abusive relationships. For some, it will be a self-esteem booster. You never know- there could be some battered woman who gets strength from that song. There are some women who feel that they just need some representation of a man so they put up with anything…and that’s another article topic…I already KNOW I can find someone else, but I still like the song.
you know people like drama. the song tells a story, and before i ever saw the video, i had this image of what i thought was going on in the song….i don’t think there are necessarily any better songs out there….really there are no more r&b singers left. hey that’s a good topic….where have all the true crooners gone?
That’s all good and well Jenkins, but I think you’re stretching it a bit with the logic. We still don’t know what the dude is doing living in her house to begin with! This song as a self-esteem booster is at best a bandaid fix. Like the song says, she’ll have another one in a minute and next month, she’ll be singing the same song.
I know every now and then we all make mistakes and need to do some house cleaning, but I’m gonna have to say that there are some things that you should be able to see coming and some things that you bring on yourself. A moochy dude who can’t house, feed or clothe himself has no place in your life as well. A real man should be about his business.
Geez, it’s no wonder that a stand up dude can’t find a quality chick… they’re all layed up with guys like they dude in this song.
Thank you
It is sad that it took a male to point out the reasons that this should not be a anthem for “GROWN WOMEN”. Besides the fact that this song was actually written by a male, it seems to me that the female was doing the caking. Last time I checked I have and never plan on caking any dudes in mylife time. That is part of the problem now. Cater 2 You was cool on so many different levels that most dudes are not understanding. But this song is why dudes today just think they are the world’s greatest.
What is up, Kenya Joi? I’m glad you could join us.
BTW, Cater2You was the shit. If a chick sang that song to me, you’d best believe, she’d be well taken care of as far as I’m concerned. Irreplaceable, on the other hand, just makes me turn my nose up a these girls.
To take off on a tangent, I was wondering why is it that most of these hood anthems are about negative situations. Why won’t women latch onto a song that gives them hope for something good instead of wallowing in the negativity of failed relations.
Is it just me, or do women seem to masochistically enjoy being unhappy?
Not speaking for all but not really sure. I think it may have to do with the fact that as women, we can be too damn caring. We have to understand the fact that we can not change a man. He has to want to change because that is what he wants or at the end of the day you are really the person that he wants to be with. I also think that this has a lot to do with women not stepping back. It is ok to be by yourself. At the end of the day if you don’t know yourself how can your really attract that ONE.
Personally, I am sick of the song. If I’m listening to the radio which I rarely do, and it comes on, I turn the station. It really is stupid to me and most people should realize that if they actually listen to the lyrics. She is pretty much making herself look stupid because she bought him a car, he’s living in her house, etc… Of course she can find someone else like him because he is basically living for free. As Audra stated, the song should have been named “Replaceable” because that is what she is saying. If he was irreplaceable, she wouldn’t be able to find anyone like him. I think the song would have been much more positive if the title was actually fitting of the lyrics.
I meant to say the song would be more fitting if the lyrics matched the title!
KENYA!!! what’s up girl!! where you been?? holla at me!!
well people, this is the foolishness that sells, so of course it’s all a marketing strategy….she isn’t buying S. Carter cars and junk…so she’s just selling to her market of females that don’t think anymore of themselves than to take care of some sorry man- who is going to cheat on them and treat them like crap. That’s why most of the songs on the radio should be strictly for entertainment purposes.
You can’t take everything seriously, but every song usually is meaningful to someone. you can’t stop the media, just turn the freakin station like you already do. someone needs to make some better music- we need to get back to the good ol’ days- hopefully history will repeat itself and get us some marvin gayes, some donny hathaways, and some minnie rippertons….ok so maybe we can fast forward a little LOL