Friday, December 05, 2014

Typical Girls by The Slits

Don't create
Don't rebel
Have intuition
Can't decide
Typical girls get upset too quickly
Typical girls can't control themselves
Typical girls are so confusing
Typical girls, you can always tell
Typical girls don't think too clearly
Typical girls are unpredictable, predictable
Typical girls try to be
Typical girls very well
Typical girls try to be
Typical girls very well, well
Typical girls are looking for something
Typical girls fall under spells
Typical girls buy magazines
Typical girls feel like hell
Typical girls worry about spots, fat
And natural smells, stinky fake smells
Typical girls try to be
Typical girls very well, well
Don't create
Don't rebel
Have intuition
Don't drive well
Typical girls try to be
Typical girls very well
Can't decide what clothes to wear
Typical girls are sensitive
Typical girls are emotional
Typical girls are cruel and bewitching
But she's a femme fatal
Typical girls stand by their man
Typical girls are really swell
Typical girls learn how to act shocked
Typical girls don't rebel
Who invented the typical girl?
Who's bringing out the new improved model?
And there's another marketing ploy
Typical girl gets the typical boy
Who invented the typical girl?
Who's bringing out the new improved model?
And there's another marketing ploy
Typical girl gets the typical boy, typical boy
The typical boy gets the typical girl
The typical girl gets the typical boy
The typical boy gets the typical girl
The typical girl gets the typical boy
Are emotional
 


5 comments:

Aaron said...

I am impressed. The slits is an awesome name for an all chick band and this song does not disappoint. What I like most about this song is its critical stance on how conditioning has effected women but it does so without being so out of control angry like most punk songs. I don't jive with punk music cuz usually their anger is too blinding and ugly. But these chicks seem to be able to criticize without overpowering rage. I wonder if their slits are ever washed though.

Unknown said...

I'm somewhat divided on this. On the one hand I see Aarons point and agree there's a level of conformity that deserves criticism. On the other hand is it possible that these women are in their own way misogynistic by 1) latching on to overgeneralizations and stereotypes while applying them to individuals (which is the core component of all prejudices and "isms")
2) placing negative connotations on some "feminine" behaviors that are in and of themselves neutral (like being emotional) and therefore degrading their own gender and
3) suggesting that all women should be atypical which then "atypical" becomes the new "typical" and we're back at square one. The key to human harmony is tolerance and non judgment of differences and similarities... not to have everyone behave as you would like. The band name is rad but I feel it too is misogynistic by taking a pejorative term used to degrade a group of people. Then again, it would be a similar think to an all black band calling themselves the "n*****s", which can be empowering.

I disagree with Aaron that a song is better when it's emotional ally bland. Why, you wouldn't know what to to with a genuine, warm emotion.

Pirate Aggro said...

Excellent replies. Very insightful. And I also believe that this band plays with stereotypes while also questioning them. There is a band called "That's Racist" which is a rad name for a band of musicians of color. But in an interview I heard lots of stations wont play them because they wont say their name or refer to them only as T.R. With a name like The Slits I'm sure there were lots of Holier than thou types who inadvertently played their music having no idea that slit was a term for female genitalia. And if some Holier got suspicious and said "does slit refer to your vaginas?" They would say "WHAT!! YOU FRIGGIN PERVERT!!! WHERE IS YOUR MIND I THOUGHT YOU WERE A HOLIER? HERE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT VAGINAS." The he Holier would say "Oh my gosh I am so sorry! I don't know what came over me. I need to go talk to my pastor. Excuse me."

Unknown said...

I can imagine that any station that is willing to play the punk crap from the slist wouldn't have aissue with the name

Aaron said...

Yes I agree that ultimately they are perpetuating the very thing that they claim to be criticizing. But there is some truth I their words. But immature truth. But most punk bands are not even this insightful. Also I want to taste their slits