“Nobody Compares,” in relation to “Loved You First,” is about heartbreak and regret. It seems to me that the guy in this song messed up somehow or made a big mistake, and it hurt his girlfriend, so she broke up with him. The guy who was mad at himself for whatever he did obviously still likes this girl and wants to get back together with her, and is convinced that there is nobody else who compares to her. The lyrics,
“No one in the world could stop me from not movin’ on
Baby, even if I wanted to
Now all of my friends say, it’s not really worth it
But even if that’s true”
convince the listener that this guy is persistent and will not give up, even if his friends say he shouldn’t keep trying.
Like we mentioned in class, traditional male gender roles include assertiveness, ambition, and decisiveness (like a boss or leader of an organization). It sounds like the guy in this song is trying so hard to get this girl back by using these traits, so it definitely supports the fact that these are “normal” male roles in society. In addition, the male gaze is supported in the lyrics,
“‘Cause no one ever looks so good in a dress
And it hurts, ’cause I know you won’t be mine tonight”
even though it doesn’t really sound objectifying, it is typical for a guy to want to “show off” that he has a girl, and if her body fits the “typical” American female body image, the guy will most likely feel better about his relationship with her and will receive praise from his friends.
In relation to Sex Role Theory, the “ideal man” in a story or movie usually ends up “getting the girl back” in some way or another. A lot of men in society look up to this way of thinking, and I think a lot of women do as well in all honesty.
Shared by: Elyse Hornung
Image Credit: SoundCloud