To mark the passing of Adam Yauch from the Beastie Boys, Jessica Valenti wrote a piece for The Nation called, “MCA’s Feminist Legacy.”
Even though I’ve heard many of their songs, I didn’t know anything about the Beastie Boys or Adam. I was intrigued to learn that they evolved into feminists with overtly anti-rape messages at award shows and pro-respect for women messages in songs. One of their songs, “Song for the Man,” was inspired by street harassment.
“I don’t really know where to start with this one. Sexism is so deeply rooted in our history and society that waking up and stepping outside of it is like I’m watching Night of the Living Dead Pt. II” all day, every day. Listening to the lyrics of this song, one might say that the Beastie Boy ‘Fight for Your Right to Party’ guy is a hypocrite. Well, maybe; but in this fucked up world all you can hope for is change, and I’d rather be a hypocrite to you than a zombie forever.
One summer I kept taking the 1 train (my personal favorite) and guaranteed on my way to the station I’d see some guy saying some stupid shit to a woman; you know like, “Hey you’re so pretty, don’t be sad; you should smile.”
Anyway, on my way to meet a friend one day this guy was on the train with his buddy. He was making these like, snapping sounds with his teeth at this lady. I think it was his pick-up line. She tried to just ignore them and get off at her stop, which she did. After she left and the doors closed, the guy and his buddy started to rate her on a scale of one to ten. This song is for them.”
Here are the lyrics:
“I don’t like your attitude boy.
What makes you feel
And why you gotta be?
Like you got the right
To look her up and down?
What makes this world
So sick and evil?
I know you don’t know.
What makes you feel
Like you got miracle whip appeal?
Who made you the judge and jury?
Ain’t you never heard of privacy?
What makes this world
So sick and evil?
You figure it out.”
Thank you, Beastie Boys. I wish more people with influence over potential harassers spoke out like this. It makes a difference.
