I am definitely one of those kinds of people that uses music for motivation and to get me through tough times. I usually have my iPod on me, and I’ve recently found the joy of being able to download full audio episodes of Keith Olbermann’s Countdown and some other interesting podcasts from iTunes. When I’m sad I fire up the Chicago and Toto. When I’m happy I listen to…well…Chicago and Toto. What can I say? I really love angsty, sad, whiny 80′s type music…
I’ve found as of late that I have a tendency to listen to Pink when I’m trying to clean or get things done – the bold lyrics and beats of her songs gets my blood pumping. When I’m feeling unmotivated or tired and frustrated I normally turn to Will.I.Am’s “It’s a New Day” because it makes me think of the progress the country is starting to make and that gives me the jump-start I need to continue fighting myself.
On FitSugar I’ve now learned that someone has taken this idea of music motivation to a new level – sort of a musical “thinspiration” to go along with pictures. The CD is “Skinny Music” and it is for sale on iTunes and at Amazon.
The Skinny Music website offers testimonials, shirts, music, and lyrics. Before and after pictures beam at you with quotations from people that praise Skinny Music as the reason they’ve lost weight and now have happier lives.
Seriously? This is the way to solve the fattie crisis? Self-hating songs? Hate yourself into losing weight? Fault yourself for your fat causing you to not fit into that pair of skinny jeans hanging in your closet as opposed to being sensible and buying the correct size?
Reading the lyrics of these songs makes me cringe. The songs don’t do much more but promote the idea that you have to be thin to be hot and that life will begin when you are thin. On a similar note the songs also center around the idea that you have to be thin in order to be attractive and worthwhile as a female (as the songs seem primarily about females though some male testimonials are on the site). In particular the track “Who the Hell is That?” bothers me:
(and I said)
who the hell is that? ‘Cause it sure ain’t me!
how’d I get so fat? It’s a shame to see
something’s gone wrong with the photo quality
who the hell is that, cause it sure ain’t meLookin’ hard in the mirror, didn’t like what I saw
had a talking with myself and I laid down the law
gotta make some changes, gotta start right away
I refuse to live my life, looking this way
Granted I’m not a camera hog – I normally do shy away from having my photo taken. That being said – its a horrible way to be! I think what is needed though is assurance that you are fine the way you are…not a shock into thinking you have to change your looks.
There is, however, one song that does sound to be quite positive – even though it is surrounded by songs of self hatred – “Blowin’ You Off at 8″:
you dumped me at 16 now I’m blowin’ you off at 8
You told me I was fat — now honey don’t I look great?
I’ve dropped four dress sizes down, now you’re coming around
if you didn’t want me then, then you don’t deserve me now!I cried and cried and cried the day you put me down
you said I’d gotten dumpy and you stopped hangin’ round
make no mistake about what you see
I didn’t do this for you — I did it for me
She does stress that she did it for herself and not the man…the man who she also realizes is not worthy of her time since he didn’t accept her at a size 16. THOSE, I believe, are things to sing about – taking care of yourself and not settling for anyone who isn’t looking out for you and your best interest.
I’m all for high energy workout/movement songs – no doubt about that. These songs however, this just seems damaging as it reinforces the idea that thin is the only way to live and feel/be “hot.”
What does everyone else think of this?
