On the 5th edition of Outlandish Rock ๐ธ๐ค, we explore the outlandishness behind the song โRape Meโ performed by Nirvana. ย
B
ring on the outlandishness! Outlandish Rock ๐ธ๐ค is a column that falls under the umbrella of Controversial Tunes ๐๐ถ.ย Like its parent column, Outlandish Rock ๐ธ๐ค provides background information and insight into rock and metal songs that raise eyebrows and stir the pot.ย The records featured on Outlandish Rock ๐ธ๐ค can be classic or brand new. On the 5th edition of Outlandish Rock ๐ธ๐ค, we explore the controversy behind the song, ๐ต โRape Meโ performed by ๐ Nirvana.Theme & Lyrics โย
โRape me / Rape me, my friend / Rape me / Rape me again.โ Say what? Good intentions donโt always deliver the intended results if that makes sense.ย For ๐ Kurt Cobain and ๐ Nirvana, ๐ต โRape Meโ had good intentions.ย The fourth track from the bandโs 1993 album, ๐ฟ In Utero, is intended as a message against abuse/sexual abuse towards women.ย However, the song title is bold and unapologetic, while the offensive titular lyric is repeated a lot.ย Yes, Cobain intends anti-sexual-abuse messaging, yet doubling down didnโt necessarily strip the negative energy and courted controversy.ย That Outlandish Rock ๐ธ๐ค can be something else!
Anti-abuse has been confirmed as the intent of Cobain, period.ย That said, many continue to question and speculate that โRape Meโ is metaphorical.ย Could Kurt have been referencing his own personal life in some regard? On the second verse, it seems clearer abuse isnโt being encouraged, but rather a sense of activism and seeking to ultimately take power back from the abuser:
โHate me
Do it again and do it again
Waste me
Rape me, my friend.โ
Final Thoughts ๐ญ
It never gets comfortable hearing โRape Me.โย I understand Kurt Cobain/Nirvanaโs intent, and perhaps, they desired a strong reaction (Iโm pretty sure they did).ย Still, this is one of those Outlandish Rock ๐ธ๐ค records that leaves the listener with more questions than answers.ย Of course, weโll never get those answers, sadly.
๐Nirvana โข ๐ฟ In Utero โข ๐ท Geffen โข ๐ 1993ย
Nirvana, โRape Meโ: Outlandish Rock ๐ธ๐ค No. 5 [๐ท: Brent Faulkner, Geffen, The Musical Hype, Paul Brennan on Pixabay, Pexels, Sebastian Ervi, SHVETS production, Vinรญcius Caricatte]
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