Recently, someone from my staff used the lyrics from Britney Spears’ song, Piece of Me in her message. I hadn’t heard the song until that moment. And, of course, everyone in the audience reacted as though the media starlet was beneath their sophisticated indie-rock palette. Yet, ALL of them knew the words.
The song makes an interesting point about being used and feeling empty. In the minds of 17 year olds, Britney Spears’ rise to stardom is what they all want (minus the public humiliation) — massive celebrity, unimaginable wealth, and iconic beauty and attractiveness. The song’s point is about how selling yourself to stardom goes somehow tragically hand-in-hand with the public’s appetite for enjoying others’ humiliation. Here’s a sample of the lyrics:
I’m Miss American Dream since I was 17
Dont matter if I step on the scene
Or sneak away to the Philippines
They still gon put pictures of my derrière in the magazine
You want a piece of me?
You want a piece of me ?
Im Miss bad media karma
Another day another drama
Guess I cant see the harm
In working and being a mama
And with a kid on my arm
I’m still an exceptional earner
you want a piece of me?
The message was one of the best-received by our high school audience I can remember. Of course, as the primary teacher, my own ego was a little damaged by Bethany’s ability to keep everyone enraptured.
No Comments Yet