Misogynistic songs

‘What’s the most misogynistic song you can think of?’

Johnny didn’t have an answer off the top of his head but he suspected that this was pretty much a rhetorical question anyway and that Steve was ready with an answer of his own.

‘Um, that Robin Thicke one is pretty bad isn’t it?’ Johnny ventured.

‘You’re right, but it’s not as bad as this one.’ Steve produced his mobile phone and hit the play button.

‘Why the hell have you got that on your phone?’

 Johnny asked recognising the song but not the band, it was Westlife or Boyzone or one of those bland post Take That boy bands.

‘I dunno it was part of some compilation album. But listen, it’s so offensive to women.’

‘It’s offensive to my eardrums but that’s a love song, how on earth can it be misogynistic?’

‘Well the whole premise of the song is that women are at their best when they are silent.’

‘Is it?’

‘Yeah, listen,’ Steve sang along with the lyrics ‘you say it best, when you say nothing at all.’ He looked at Johnny who remained blank faced.
‘So in other words shut up woman, be good and quiet.’

‘Really? Really?’ Johnny looked at Steve with his eyebrows raised. ‘That’s not what he means and you know it.  He’s saying actions speak louder than words. Listen,’ It was Johnny’s turn to sing along now. ‘The touch of your hand says you’ll catch me whenever I fall. See actions speaking louder than words.’

‘Ha, that’s what they want you to think, you’ve fallen for it. Yeah there’s all that romantic bumf but the main message of the song is women should been seen but not heard; look pretty woman but don’t bother me with your romantic witterings. If you wanna talk football fine, but none of your I love you stuff.’

‘Maybe you’re projecting your own sexism onto the song.’

‘Bollocks, it's not me being sexist, I’m just seeing through the bullshit. Millions of men around the world use this song to shut their women up. It’s sexist I tell you.’

Johnny had had enough. He could argue that there were millions of songs out there that demeaned women but when Steve was in this mood no reasoned and well-thought through argument could change his half-cocked ideas.

‘I suppose that’s one to look at it,’ Johnny said ‘and another way to look at it is that it’s your round.

Steve sighed collected the glasses and made his way to the bar, both of them humming the Ronan Keating song.