For my 6th Portfolio Post I will be analyzing the song, “Strong”, by the boyband One Direction. This song is featured on their album, Four. I personally believe that this song goes against stereotypical gender roles. Men are usually seen as having the masculine traits of being independent, tough, and dominant. However, this song shows that the man needs the woman to be strong. Usually women are the ones portrayed in media as needing to be saved or have a man to depend on. This song is the opposite. The man shows his softer side and states how much he wants to love her.
A few sets of lyrics that I believe are important to this song are:
My hands
Your hands
Tied up
Like two ships
AND
My heart
Your heart
Sit tight like book ends
Pages
Between us
Written with no end
So many words we’re not saying
Don’t wanna wait ’til it’s gone
You make me strong
All of the above lyrics are very poetic, and show the more “feminine” side of the man. He is showing more of a gentle type of love, and is not sexualizing or objectifying the woman. The way he expresses feelings for her is deeper than surface level which is unusual.
The chorus of the song is one of the most important set of lyrics. The chorus phrases just how vulnerable the man is being with his emotions. He states:
I’m sorry if I say, “I need you”
But I don’t care
I’m not scared of love
‘Cause when I’m not with you I’m weaker
Is that so wrong?
Is it so wrong
That you make me strong?
Usually, as I’ve stated above, the woman is stereotypically the one who “needs” the man. However, the man is stating that he needs her, he’s not scared of loving and expressing how he feels, and that he is weaker without her. This song I believe is a good representation of how stereotypical gender roles can be reversed.
Shared by: Abigail Gonnering
Image Credit: NME