Music Review: Ashanti "Rain On Me"
Ashanti
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JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
Rain On Me
Album: Chapter II
Year: 2003
As a feminist, domestic violence, rape and abortion issues are important to me. Unfortunately, I feel today's political climate is beginning to stifle women's voices. Aside from the obvious (Roe vs. Wade which seems to be an issue more than ever), I wonder about the general attitude towards women. If people think abortion is wrong without any exceptions, what about other relationship issues like rape? Rape plays into abortion also. Is it only considered a 'little casual sex' or that the woman was asking for it?
What about when she is crying every night, ashamed of her body and blaming herself? What about the many nightmares she will have at night, seeing him on top of her, pounding into her and holding her down? What about, long after the nightmares have stopped, she will to screen television shows and movies as to avoid the violent act as to not deal with the emotional turmoil that is sure to follow. Nine times out of ten, she has dealt with being angry with this man who raped her (likely to be a boyfriend or a close friend). He was not the dark stranger in the night as she was taught. She is also of afraid of dating for fear of her own safety. Going over to a new guy friend's house is a cause for concern.
I'm feminist for this reason (and another one which I won't get into here). While I feel that thinking (no matter who is in office) will be around, I just feel that this needs to be out there. There's a lot of ignorance regarding rape in general and I had to speak up about it. I really, really had to get that off my chest. I'm off the soapbox now.
There are not many songs out there addressing rape (other than Tori Amos' "Me and A Gun" and Fiona Apple's "Sullen Girl"), domestic issue seems to get at least some time. In "Rain On Me," Ashanti sings about being involved in a relationship with domestic violence. In the first verse, she is looking at herself in the mirror knowing that she needs to leave her boyfriend. She is dealing with depression because of the situation. This is her second time being in a relationship like this, but this time she's afraid for her life. (" I'm looking in the mirror at this woman down and out...I don't want to be this woman the second time around/'Cause I'm waking up screaming/no longer believing/that I'm going to be around").
She finally seeks her faith to guide her out of this relationship ("Rain on me
Lord, won't you take this pain from me/I don't wanna live/I don't wanna breathe"). She is wishing to be re-born perhaps as a stronger or new person.
In the second verse, she reveals that she cries herself to sleep every night, agonizing about what she is going to do. However, she is tired of having low self-esteem and being tense all the time ("See, I don't wanna hug my pillow late at night no more/I'm tossin' and turnin' and thinkin' about burning down these walls/I don't want to fuel this fire no more, no more, no more").
In the bridge, she knows she has to get out and seems to ready to leave ("'Cause sometimes I can't sleep at night/and this here it just don't seem right/sometimes I just wonder why I almost let my life go by").
The songwriting of the single has a strong point. It doesn't read like a "10 Signs You Should Look Out For in A Partner" brochure. There's some effort to talk about the emotional aspects of domestic violence rather than only a list of personality qualities found in an abuser. However, she doesn't make a break from him. Instead of the unnecessary pre-choruses which only repeat the previous verse's ideas another verse could have been added. It could've been how she felt leaving him.
Also, I understand I brought up hot topics. You're free to speak your mind but don't resort to personal attacks or name-calling. I'm as passionate about the topic as other people are who feel differently from me. However, please be respectful of my opinion as I will be of yours.
Album: Chapter II
Year: 2003
As a feminist, domestic violence, rape and abortion issues are important to me. Unfortunately, I feel today's political climate is beginning to stifle women's voices. Aside from the obvious (Roe vs. Wade which seems to be an issue more than ever), I wonder about the general attitude towards women. If people think abortion is wrong without any exceptions, what about other relationship issues like rape? Rape plays into abortion also. Is it only considered a 'little casual sex' or that the woman was asking for it?
What about when she is crying every night, ashamed of her body and blaming herself? What about the many nightmares she will have at night, seeing him on top of her, pounding into her and holding her down? What about, long after the nightmares have stopped, she will to screen television shows and movies as to avoid the violent act as to not deal with the emotional turmoil that is sure to follow. Nine times out of ten, she has dealt with being angry with this man who raped her (likely to be a boyfriend or a close friend). He was not the dark stranger in the night as she was taught. She is also of afraid of dating for fear of her own safety. Going over to a new guy friend's house is a cause for concern.
I'm feminist for this reason (and another one which I won't get into here). While I feel that thinking (no matter who is in office) will be around, I just feel that this needs to be out there. There's a lot of ignorance regarding rape in general and I had to speak up about it. I really, really had to get that off my chest. I'm off the soapbox now.
There are not many songs out there addressing rape (other than Tori Amos' "Me and A Gun" and Fiona Apple's "Sullen Girl"), domestic issue seems to get at least some time. In "Rain On Me," Ashanti sings about being involved in a relationship with domestic violence. In the first verse, she is looking at herself in the mirror knowing that she needs to leave her boyfriend. She is dealing with depression because of the situation. This is her second time being in a relationship like this, but this time she's afraid for her life. (" I'm looking in the mirror at this woman down and out...I don't want to be this woman the second time around/'Cause I'm waking up screaming/no longer believing/that I'm going to be around").
She finally seeks her faith to guide her out of this relationship ("Rain on me
Lord, won't you take this pain from me/I don't wanna live/I don't wanna breathe"). She is wishing to be re-born perhaps as a stronger or new person.
In the second verse, she reveals that she cries herself to sleep every night, agonizing about what she is going to do. However, she is tired of having low self-esteem and being tense all the time ("See, I don't wanna hug my pillow late at night no more/I'm tossin' and turnin' and thinkin' about burning down these walls/I don't want to fuel this fire no more, no more, no more").
In the bridge, she knows she has to get out and seems to ready to leave ("'Cause sometimes I can't sleep at night/and this here it just don't seem right/sometimes I just wonder why I almost let my life go by").
The songwriting of the single has a strong point. It doesn't read like a "10 Signs You Should Look Out For in A Partner" brochure. There's some effort to talk about the emotional aspects of domestic violence rather than only a list of personality qualities found in an abuser. However, she doesn't make a break from him. Instead of the unnecessary pre-choruses which only repeat the previous verse's ideas another verse could have been added. It could've been how she felt leaving him.
Also, I understand I brought up hot topics. You're free to speak your mind but don't resort to personal attacks or name-calling. I'm as passionate about the topic as other people are who feel differently from me. However, please be respectful of my opinion as I will be of yours.