MUL 2010 Music and Gender
Introduction:
The song “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyoncé is one of the songs that has been widely associated with the fight for gender equality and feminism. Recorded in 2011, the song is empowering, focusing on the strength and capabilities of women in a world dominated by men. The song is culturally and socially relevant and has not only received critical acclaim but also has a strong backup in terms of its music. As noted by music critic Ann Powers in her NPR article, "Beyoncé's War Cry: ‘Run the World (Girls)’ – the song which can be seen as the call to power and has sparked many discussions regarding the roles of women and men (Hobson, 2011). Furthermore, Beyoncé’s ‘Run the World (Girls)’ and Feminist Pop’ has also pointed out that the song’s aggressive lyrics and energetic beat is perfectly in line with the kind of empowering songs that are a part of the feminist narrative today.
Listening Guide:
The song begins with a drum rhythm and the chorus line, “Girls! We run this mother!” This can be considered to be a very good strategy since it creates a powerful and dominant mood right from the beginning of the song. The verse adds a new rhythm in the song with Beyoncé singing in an assertive and commanding manner while backed by powerful drumming which propels the song forward with a sense of purpose and vigor. The pre-chorus has a breakdown section where the tempo of the song is a little less and gives a build up to the chorus. Here, the vocal performance by Beyoncé gets more forceful, thus adding more weight to the song’s primary theme of female strength. During the bridge, the song has a chant, ‘Who run the world? Girls!’ This part supports the message of the song and shows that women are powerful when they are together. In the same way, the outro repeats the main concept of the song, thus providing closure and a strong ending that reinforces the message of the song to listeners.
Visual Material Evaluation:
The music video for “Run the World (Girls)” is also great and supportive of the song’s theme since it has powerful and dynamic visuals. The video was directed by Francis Lawrence, where Beyoncé is seen as the commander in-chief of an army of women who perform various dance sequences in the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world. The women standing and holding their ground in the song also support the message of the song that is power and endurance. The combination of the dark military inspired visuals and the elaborate and synchronized moves make for an interesting story that can be easily followed and appreciated to the tune of the song. The video aspect is essential to comprehend the lyrics’ meaning fully since it shows the women’s strength and togetherness (Beyoncé, 2011). The video is helpful in supporting the message of the song, which makes it valuable in order to examine the song as a part of gender discourse.
Conclusion:
“Run the World (Girls)” was written with the goal of empowering women, and it has metamorphosed into a rallying cry for the women’s rights campaigns globally. Despite the fact that gender is the most focused theme in the song, its explicit and self-assured tone plays the role of an appeal to strength and determination across different age and gender groups. The song has been accepted as a cultural symbol in the struggle for women’s rights, and its message remains valid in the modern world, where the issues of gender and power are still actual. “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyoncé is a powerful and important song that has a significant meaning to women, which is why it can be considered a significant piece in the discussion of gender issues in music.
References
Hobson, J. (2011, May 20). Beyonce: Girls Run the World (Cue the Apocalypse!). Ms. Magazine. https://msmagazine.com/2011/05/20/beyonce-girls-run-the-world-cue-the-apocalypse/
Beyoncé. (2011). Beyoncé - Run the World (Girls) (Video - Main Version). In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmMU_iwe6U
