Indie Arie-"Video"

[Verse 1]
Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't
Depend of how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

[Chorus]
I'm not the average girl from your video
And I ain't built like a supermodel
But I learned to love myself unconditionally,
Because I am a queen

I not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be
India.Arie

[Verse 2]
When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it's suppose to be
And I know my creator didn't make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my Lips, my eyes, I'm loving what I see

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]
Am I less of a lady if I don't where panty hose
My momma said a lady ain't what she wears but what she knows…
But I've drawn the conclusion, it's all an illusion
Confusion's the name of the game
A misconception, a vast deception,
Something got to change

Now don't be offended this is all my opinion
Ain't nothing that I'm saying law
This is a true confession
Of a life learned lesson
I was sent here to share with y'all
So get in when you fit in
Go on and shine
Clear your mind
Now's the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go on and love yourself
‘Cause everything's gonna be alright

[Chorus]

[Out]
Keep your fancy drink, and your expensive minks
I don't need that to have a good time
Keep your expensive cars and your caviar
All's I need is my guitar

Keep your cristol and your pistol
I'd rather have a pretty piece of crystal
Don't need you silicone, I prefer my own
What god gave me is just fine…

[Chorus]

This song has been around since I was in middle school. Every time it would come on the radio, I would feel instantly better about any insecurity or worry about myself. Every line of the song carries such a strong, empowering message. I think Indie Arie really breaks a lot of the main narratives we've been talking about in class. Men as the sole provider, men as "buying" women into love, etc. Another big one, is that she breaks down the narrative of women wanting to look like the media and striving to be those perfect, air-brushed images you seen in magazines. In the lines, "And I ain't built like a supermodel/
But I learned to love myself unconditionally/Because I am a queen," she seems to accept her body and how she looks. She's not always worrying about being thin or about ways to perfect herself, she's content with how she is. That's a huge narrative in today's society. I think women are seen as the gender that is never satisfied and always dieting, always watching their figure, and constantly worrying about their body. However, I think men are just as self-confidence (maybe theirs is more internal) and women are a lot more accepting of their bodies than society thinks.

I also think the lines, "Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't/ Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't" break the narrative of doing everything for a man. I like that she's singing about doing the things she wants to do. A lot of times, I feel like we do things and dress up for the opposite gender or for potential love interests. I think in today's world, it's more accepting to think of women as the creatures always doing that. Society says we dress up to impress men, but why can't we just dress up or shave our legs because it makes US feel happy? We can, and we do!