About a month or so ago, news hit that Ciara’s video for the song “Ride” would be banned from BET because of its provocative nature and sexualized images of women. Almost immediately Ciara began to go on interviews supporting her video and expressing her confusion for BET’s decision. I have to admit, I am equally confused.
Isn’t this the same channel that played Nelly’s “Tip Drill” video with a scene of a girl having a credit card being slid down the crack of her ass? Isn’t this the same channel that plays R. Kelly and his uber sexual music on a regular, even after there was video footage of him pissing on an underage girl? Isn’t this the same channel that plays rap videos that display video vixens with their ass and breasts hanging out? The answers to these questions are yes, yes, and oh yeah, yes!
Why is Ciara being singled out suddenly? Now, I know what you are thinking. No, I am not the president of the Ciara fan club. I actually was never a huge fan of hers and think that her singing is mediocre at best. My issue with BET is one of prejudice. You do not get to decide who is being less sexual based on their gender.
Take R and B singer Trey Songz. When he dropped his first album years ago, he was not nearly as sexual as he is now in his music and his performances. In fact I once interviewed Trey Songs for SingersRoom around that time and I questioned him about his lack of album sells and he replied something to the extent of him “trying harder” and “never giving up”. Commendable indeed but in his “trying harder” he made a realization. Once he realized that sex sells, he kicked the over sexualized images and lyrics up ten notches and now he is selling albums and his career has taken off.
A few months ago Trey did a performance where the entire scene consisted of him performing lude acts. He also dropped a single titled “I invented Sex” and the video was raunchy. No less raunchy than Ciara’s “Ride” video, yet BET keeps it in rotation. It seems to me that the R and B game and BET in specific think that it is acceptable for men to be hyper sexual but not women. Why not give everyone the same rules and an equal playing field? If BET wants to have certain standards and criteria for its viewers, which are mostly youth then I think that is great. I think it is commendable and the right direction to go into actually. In doing so make sure that these standards are applicable to everyone and not just who you pick and choose and sort through like you are avoiding the rotten grapes on a vine.
Check out This Video Of Trey Songz More Recent Performances as well as some of his most recent music videos. I could not find the video for his other provocative song “Neighbors Know My Name”.
This is why I don't watch BET or 106 & Park: too much double standards and a whole bunch of nonsense to show for it.
The only BET exception I make is BET Centric, only because the videos are a lot more toned down (for the most part). Sometimes, in watching a song's video, I'm turned off by the song. I don't know why. I just know that it's a shame that our people are willing to degrade each other for a dollar. I could see if they used some of that money to come back to the community to make better schools or rebuild houses, but, what do you do?
All I know is I miss old music that had a point without all of the raunchiness. Not that I'm mad at it, but, at least put the stuff in perspective: what's the bigger picture (other than a lot of money)?
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