So, this is what happened.
I heard Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines' (who hasn't?) and had one of those visceral reactions that you aren't sure what to do with. My fists clenched. My stomach churned. That acrid taste of vomit reached up into the back of my throat.
Then I saw the music video and actually barfed in my mouth. Actually.
The extreme objectification of women, the laissez-faire attitude about crossing women's boundaries ("you know you want it"?!?) and Thicke's smug expression were absolutely unbearable. Something had to be done.
Many rad folks have been critiquing Thicke and his shitty, smash hit. The ways in which it legitimizes sexual assault, degrades women and further upholds rape culture have been written about all over the place. And still the song has continued to top the charts and burrow into our ears. So I wanted to do something different.
Rather than write about all of my outrage, I instead went to my pal Mary with the inkling of an idea. She, using her extreme intelligence and amazing vocal skills, took Thicke's song, rewrote it, and envisioned a way better, sexier music video. Our friend Brendan shot and edited our vision, and all of our friends danced in it.
To quote Mary:
Art is powerful, and we are in awe of rad artists who write political rhymes. Writing this song and making the video is one of the ways we're doing our best to promote enthusiastic consent and sex positivity in a shitty, heteronormative, patriarchal culture that objectifies women, normalizes rape and blames survivors for their assault because they had "blurred lines" or because something they said, did, or were wearing made their perpetrator "know they wanted it."
We don't want to have to listen to Robin Thicke tell us he knows we want it over such a damn catchy beat. We wanna dance to music that's sexy and radical.
The woman is a fucking genius. I can't say it any better. So, I will leave it at that.
Enjoy! Please consensually get down to our version as often as you see fit.
See the original vid here, and download the song to play at all your sexy parties here.
(Lyrics & Credits below)
Ask First from Brendan Anckaert on Vimeo.
Meet Our Body Image Heroes
Lyrics
Everybody listen up
Everybody listen up
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
If you can't hear what I'm trying to say
If you can't read from the same page
Just watch this video
Baby and then you'll know
To respect your lover's lines
So he is popular, played on the radio
Makes money in rape culture by degrading you
But we don't have to take it
Hey, hey, hey
No we can recreate it
Hey, hey, hey
Just let me demonstrate it
And that's why you need to ask first
No way to know I want it
No way to know I want it
Unless I say I want it
Ask first
Consent is sexy
Shows you respect me
I'll tell you what I need
Ask first
No way to know I want it
No way to know I want it
Unless I say I want it
Ask first
Cause if you grab me
I'll get nasty
I'll break your fucking knees
Why do fucking dudes think
a skirt means I want their dick?
I can get myself off
Keep your penis in your pants, Robin Thicke
Are you compensating?
Hey, hey, hey
You think you're x-rated?
Hey, hey, hey
This what you teach your babies?
Hey, hey, hey
So he is popular, played on the radio
Makes money in rape culture by degrading you
But we don't have to take it
Hey, hey, hey
No we can recreate it
Hey, hey, hey
Just let me demonstrate it
Hey, hey, hey
And that's why you need to ask first
No way to know I want it
No way to know I want it
Unless I say I want it
Ask first
Consent is sexy
Shows you respect me
I'll tell you what I need
Ask first
No way to know I want it
No way to know I want it
Unless I say I want it
Ask first
Cause if you grab me
I'll get nasty
I'll break your fucking knees
One thing I ask of you
Could I be the one who goes down on you?
Love the taste of you, the smell of you
But if you're not into it that's cool too
So just let me know if you want me to
Or tell me other things you like to do
Strap ons, butt plugs, back rubs and lube
If it's consensual then it's all cool
If you're not feeling it, babe it's fine
Then we can just go out to dine
Take you to the movies or for a swim
And you don't owe me a single thing
You know I love when you ask what I want
And what I want now is your mouth on my cunt
Suck hard, lick soft, slip your fingers in
I want them all, but thanks for checking in!
Pass the vibe, get down, get up
Does that feel good? Does that feel good?
Baby like it should
Hey!
Don't worry, I got dams, condoms, gloves to use for later
It's good to come prepared, I like when sex is safer
Here's my confession
Hey hey hey
I like these check ins
Hey hey hey
'Fore we get sexin'
And that's why you need to ask first
No way to know I want it
No way to know I want it
Unless I say I want it
Ask first
Consent is sexy
Shows you respect me
I'll tell you what I need
Ask first
No way to know I want it
No way to know I want it
Unless I say I want it
Ask first
Cause if you grab me
I'll get nasty
I'll break your fucking knees
Everybody listen up
Everybody listen up
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Credits
Dance Dance Revolutionaries:
Alia
Beige Taupe
Brendan Anckaert
Cat
Emily "Bass Face" Davidson
J. Mary Burnet
Kaitlyn Ruth
Kaleigh Trace
Ma'am Stash
Rebecca R.
Smarzipan
Swayback
Tamara Huxtable
Vee
Directors: J. Mary Burnet & Brendan Anckaert
Videographer & Editor: Brendan Anckaert
Written & Performed by: Kaleigh Trace & J. Mary Burnet
Thank you One Block Barbershop and Venus Envy!