For my comparative essay I decided to take next songs: No Doubt – “Just a Girl” (1995) and Colbie Caillat – “Try” (2014). I was thinking a lot about the topic of these songs. It seems to be that they are about gender or sexual identity, because each of these songs is about girls imagine. But after listening to the lyrics several times I understood both of songs describe gender identity. These songs are about girls but very different images of girls.
The first song by band “No doubt” tells us about typical American girl of middle 90: she has her own inner world and is ready to present it to the whole world but at the same time she is full of fear and doubts. She needs help of a strong person, probably strong self-confident man because she is a small nice girl. We can see it in lyrics: “This world is forcing me / To hold your hand” (No Doubt 5-6) Also I see a kind of inner conflict that the girl might feel. She repeats a lot of times that she is just a girl, little girl and has not any rights but on the hand she is not happy because of her own helplessness: 'Cause I'm just a girl I'd rather not be/ 'Cause they won't let me drive/ Late at night I'm just a girl, / Guess I'm some kind of freak (No Doubt 18-19-20-21). Also, I feel a conflict between lyrics and music. Lyrics are so tender and nice but music is strong and too loud. In my opinion, it says about difficulties in personal self-determination. The second song by Colbie Caillat appeared in 2014 and it speaks about another type of girl. First of all pay attention to the date of release. It is modern image of woman: she is strong herself and she is full of enthusiasm of being popular. “Get your sexy on / Don't be shy, girl.” (Colbie Caillat 6-7) This girl uses great make up and holds her “handgun” in the pocket. She is ready to steal men's hearts and walk along the life with head held high. She is really thinking about expression she makes. And is ready to do all her best to be the one. Put your make up on/ Get your nails done/ Curl your hair/Run the extra mile/Keep it slim so they like you, do they like you? (Colbie Caillat 1-2-3-4-5) Other people must admire her and do everything for this girl. It is seems to be the main life goal to be beautiful, popular and self-confident, to have a great success in men's world. But in the middle of the song we can notice the main question addressed to all women in the world: “Do you like you?”(Colbie Caillat 10) In my opinion this question is very important for everybody. But while men are working and changing the world, women are thinking about their appearance and their impression on others so I address this question firstly to women. Beauty and sexual energy usually depend on your inner world and self-confidence. If you feel that you are perfect, you should not use make up to prove it. Your eyes are shining with beautiful light you are active, tender and really attract the others. It is a simple secret: Be yourself, Love yourself and everybody will be happy to be with you. In the end of the song we see a permission to be oneself and live one's own life without thinking of other people opinion. Famous woman Coco Chanel said: “I do not care what you think about me. I do not think about you at all”. I think she was totally right.
In conclusion, I would like to say that both of these songs despite the date of release uncover real image of a woman: mild, tender, beautiful lady who try to look gorgeous and cold, but needs help and care because somewhere in her soul she is just a girl.
Works cited
Colbie Caillat. “Try”. Gypsy heart, 2014. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXoZLPSw8U8
No doubts. “Just A Girl”. Just a girl, 1995, www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHzOOQfhPFg
