Blog 5

Nora Hovanic
WS 200
J. Ryan
25 April 2008
Blog 5

I choose to blog about the song title Dear Mr. President, by PINK. I had heard this song before because I own her 2006 album title I’m not dead. I do listen to PINK on my own time and I do believe she is an empowering singer/songwriter for today’s women. She takes topics of abuse, sex, feminism, politics, and other social concerns and puts the frustrations of them all into words. She is an artist that I know plenty of girls will play loudly getting themselves ready to go out on a weekend night. It is music that not only gives you energy, but also makes girls ready to feel like they can empower boys.

Although not all of PINK’S material is fast paced and filled with “loud” lyrics. She has many songs with a softer tone that are still just as empowering. The song I have choosen goes as follows…

Dear Mr. PresidentCome take a walk with meLet's pretend we're just two people andYou're not better than meI'd like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestlyWhat do you feel when you see all the homeless on the streetWho do you pray for at night before you go to sleepWhat do you feel when you look in the mirrorAre you proudHow do you sleep while the rest of us cryHow do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbyeHow do you walk with your head held highCan you even look me in the eyeAnd tell me whyDear Mr. PresidentWere you a lonely boyAre you a lonelyHow can you sayNo child is left behindWe're not dumb and we're not blindThey're all sitting in your cellsWhile you pay the road to hellWhat kind of father would take his own daughter's rights awayAnd what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gayI can only imagine what the first lady has to sayYou've come a long way from whiskey and cocaineHow do you sleep while the rest of us cryHow do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbyeHow do you walk with your head held highCan you even look me in the eyeLet me tell you bout hard workMinimum wage with a baby on the wayLet me tell you bout hard workRebuilding your house after the bombs took them awayLet me tell you bout hard workBuilding a bed out of a cardboard boxLet me tell you bout hard workHard workHard workYou don't know nothing bout hard workHard workHard workhow do you sleep at nighthow do you walk with your head held highdear mr. president,you'd never take a walk with meHmmm,would youHow do you sleep at nightHow do you walk with your head held highDear Mr. PresidentYou'd never take a walk with me

(You can also biew this video at youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm5AO4S04r4&feature=related )

When I heard this song for the first time, I remember that I wasn’t paying much attention to it. That was until I really listened to some of the lyrics. The one in particular that caught my mind was, “What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay.” I mean wow, how true is that? Once I went back and really paid attention to what the whole song said I was blown away. I couldn’t believe any singer had the audacity to address not only a male in this tone, but the President. I know that there are issues in the song that address so many people of today, and they are things that so many people want to say, but no one ever can.

I Believe PINK really touches feminine issues in this song by saying, “How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye” or “What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay,” and “Minimum wage with a baby on the way.” These are all stressing issues that women face today. Mothers deal with not having right to there sons and husbands that are soldiers, and women deal with gay and lesbian rights. There also plenty of single mothers that can hardly afford to feed their children when a man (or the father) is nowhere to be found. PINK also touches on many social issues by reciting, “How can you say No child is left behind We're not dumb and we're not blind,” or “Let me tell you bout hard work Building a bed out of a cardboard box.” Thousands of Americans have been upset by No Child Left Behind, and thousands of Americans sleep on the streets. PINK boldly asks, “What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street, Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep… How do you sleep while the rest of us cry.” She is noting mainstream issues society needs to look at. She doesn’t make a reference of how to change them, but she is trying to point them out to the person most able to change them.

I personally enjoy PINK’S messages in her songs. I am on board with the things she is saying, and the message she is sending across. I am not certain if there were more song lyrics for feminists if it would change the way feminism is viewed. Although I do not think it could hurt.