THEY | 3 or 4 BOPS

On the 5^th edition of 3 or 4 BOPS (2022), we select awesome songs that are associated with THEY in some form or fashion.  

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h, sometimes it’s better to keep things lite on the fat and calories ! That’s the goal of the miniature playlists gracing The Musical Hype.  On 3 or 4 BOPS, we select a topic or theme, choose three or four relevant songs, and provide a lit , electrifying blurb. 3 or 4 BOPS shouldn’t take too much time to consume – typically 5 minutes or less! On the 5^th edition of 3 or 4 BOPS (2022) we select awesome songs that are associated with THEY in some form or fashion.  Without further ado, let the BOPS begin!

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1. Kim Petras, “They Wanna Fuck”

Slut Pop (EP) • Amigo / Republic • 2022

“Every time I look in my phone got these boys tryna get in my zone / They don’t wanna leave me alone, they just wanna fuck mе through the phone.” Da-yum! “They Wanna Fuck” appears as the penultimate joint from Slut Pop, the 2022 EP from pop musician Kim Petras. Throughout the EP, the German transgender singer goes ‘below the belt.’  The sex-positive vibes run rampant from start to finish.  Obviously, with an f-bomb in the song title, sex is the modus operandi.

The question is, exactly who “wanna fuck” according to Kim Petras? Well, all the boys, of course – what did you expect!  See exhibit A, the chorus:

“Them LA boys, they wanna fuck

Them New York boys, they wanna fuck

Them Euro boys, they wanna fuck

Them Dubai boys, they wanna fuck

Them Christian boys, they wanna fuck

Them Tokyo boys, they wanna fuck

Them good ol’ boys, they wanna fuck

Them crazy boys, they wanna fuck.”

As you can see, participants include American boys, international boys, Christian boys, and “Them good ol’ boys.” Ultimately, “They Wanna Fuck” is silly – very tongue-in-cheek.  Even so, it’s ‘irresistibly delicious’ thanks to that undeniable beat and ample personality from Kim Petras.

Appears in :

• Kim Petras, “They Wanna F#¢k”: After Dark No. 13 (2022)

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2. Michael Jackson, “They Don’t Care About Us”

HIStory – PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE – BOOK 1 • MJJ Productions Inc. • 1995

“Skinhead, deadhead, everybody gone bad / Situation, aggravation, everybody, allegation / … All I wanna say is that they don’t really care about us.” The 1995 Michael Jackson album, HIStory – PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE – BOOK 1, is by far the most controversial of his career.  Arguably, the most controversial song is “They Don’t Care About Us”. “They Don’t Care About Us” is a politically and socially charged record.  Jackson had already recorded socially conscious music in the past, but this song caught flack namely for one reference, which has been considered anti-Semitic.

“Beat me, hate me, you can never break me

Will me, thrill me, you can never kill me

Jew me, sue me, everybody do me

Kick me, kike me, don’t you black or white me.”

Notably, lyrics that play up Jewish stereotypes or are perceived as insensitive to the struggles Jewish people have faced have been slammed for years.  On “They Don’t Care About Us,” the ‘intent’ isn’t bad, but the resulting lyric is problematic.  The solution? Censorship, of course! Notably, the drum programming is accented loudly on the reference to Jews to mask it.  Everyone who’s analyzed the song knows it’s there, of course. Even beyond the anti-Semitic lyric, it’s not like this enjoyable pop record is lighthearted listening.  Jackson provides the soundtrack to those who have been oppressed, particularly the black man.  It’s a protest anthem.  Still, even if Jackson overshot it with the Jewish reference, he made his point loud and clear.

Appears in :

• Michael Jackson, “They Don’t Care About Us”: Controversial Tunes No. 13 (2022)

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3. Sofi Tukker, “Fuck They”

Treehouse • Ultra • 2018

“I don’t give a fuck about they.” Sofi Tukker ( Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern) don’t hold back on “Fuck They”. “Fuck They” is a standout from their 2018 full-length, debut studio album, Treehouse. Selected as one of the 100 Best Songs of 2017, this little-f-bomb fueled song is, well, fun as a four-letter word, of course!

After the initial detonation of ‘the bomb,’ a sick, danceable beat anchors the feisty joint. Hawley-Weld offers up cool vocals that still manage to pack a punch. Her upper register vocals help to amplify the energy.  Also, it doesn’t hurt that she drops those bombs left and right. Halpern gets into the action eventually employing some good ole call and response.  As Sophie continues to emphasize that she “don’t give a fuck about they,” Tucker adds, “Who’s they,” “They don’t even give a fuck,” and “Who’s they anyway.” Yeah, there’s a whole lot of f#¢kery you might say, but hey, it’s infectious. 

Appears in :

• 25 Colorful Songs, Clearly For Under Consent [of the] King

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4. Russ, “What They Want”

There’s Really a Wolf • Columbia • 2017

“What they want, what they want, what they want / Dollar signs, yeah, I know it’s what they want.”  There’s Really a Wolf marked the debut album by do-it-yourself, rapper and singer  Russ, who has carved success in the industry slowly but steadily.  “What They Want” serves as the crowning achievement from his debut LP.

Ultimately, “What They Want” is a relatively brief, simplistic record with minimal production.  Nonetheless, it’s charming, unveiling the rationale for its success.  Russ touts his self-made status – his “start from the bottom.”

“I Been at this shit for nine years, now they start to call

I’m a DIY pioneer, they try to get involved.”

Appears in :

• 15 Songs Where Want, or Lack Thereof, is Real

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THEY: 3 or 4 BOPS No. 5 (2022) [: Amigo, Brent Faulkner, Columbia, MJJ Productions, The Musical Hype, Republic, SHVETS production from Pexels, Ultra, Wilson Blanco from Pixabay]

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