I have to admit that when I first heard Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” (sometime last year, I think) I absolutely loved it. Then I saw the video and my approval was solidified. I especially liked the part in the video that Beyonce takes off the guy’s jacket and necklace from around his neck. However, after having to analyze this video/song for my African American studies class, I have to admit….its horrible! The song is extremely contradictory and not freeing at all. On one hand, Beyonce is saying she doesn’t need him, and she is kicking him out. It makes listeners (especially female) sympathize with her and want to say “You go girl!” But, on the other hand, it makes women who prefer not to center their lives on relationships, or women who would never even buy a man a McDonald’s cheeseburger, roll their eyes.
In the song Beyonce talks about how she knows the man is cheating on her and that she is not putting up with it. She reminds him that he is not irreplaceable, therefore, she can (and does) have another man just like him “in a minute”. She lets him know that she is done buying him things and that he can no longer live at her house.
After really listening to this song and watching this video, I realize this is the epitome of the contradictory messages that young women are fed today. On the one hand, she knows a guy is bad for her so she is kicking him out. That’s one point for the self-empowering feminist. On the other hand, she is determined to replace him and the entire song is about how quickly she can replace him. That’s minus one point. Then she kicks him out. Does the point get taken away or added? I am very traditional in my approach to relationships. I don’t think a woman should ask a man on a date. I think the man should pay for dates. I think a man should have a job whether a woman has one or not. And I would not, under any circumstances, allow a man to live with me. However, that is also because I don’t believe that people should cohabitate. I think that people should live together only within the sanctity of marriage. But, that’s beside the point.
The question is: Is this a praise or mockery of feminism? While one can argue that it is encouraging to women that she got the courage to kick the man out and took his car back and his jacket and his necklace. On the other hand, is this what feminist want? To be in the position to take care of a man, and then do it? Doesn’t she feel dumb for buying him all of that stuff like a sugamama? In saying that, I don’t mean Beyonce in particular. I mean the character she is playing must feel dumb. I mean, Beyonce herself has a song on the same album as the one this track appears on that is aptly titled, “Sugamama”. In it, she promises a man to be just that.
Moving on, in the music video, Beyonce spends half of it nearly undressed. Only the lyrics, “I can have another you in a minute” contradict the supposed message more than Beyonce being half-dressed. From a feminist and a womanist standpoint (although I don’t profess to be either), there has to be irritation. But, then again, some feminists take pride in what they call the “sexual freedom” of women. This is, the fact that women can have sex as much as they want without facing emotional repercussions. I disagree…but then again I would never try it.
In short, Beyonce’s video shows a confused young woman who is willing to live with a man that she clearly shouldn’t trust, take care of that same man financially (she even calls him a cab at the end), and promptly find another one. Two points for feminism…I guess.
I was more disappointed in not only the Beyonce video, Irreplaceable, but also with the response videos. I can’t help but wonder who has enough time on their hands to spend it remaking a music video? I guess we all have our own personal timewasters. Mine was watching those YouTube posts.
The male version was more repulsive than the actual song. I think he took it to an unnecessary level of seriousness. He even says , “its my name that’s on your last”, therefore implying that were married. And he has another girl in the shower? This is a prime example of backlash to feminism. Beyonce’s song was a lot lighter than the male version. His was very focused on the sexual…then again Beyonce was half-dressed the entire time.
Either way, the song was ridiculous and made more so when hundreds of people decided to remake it.
Male:
Female:
