In One Direction’s song #5, “Last First Kiss,” they are taking on a very masculine yet romantic role. Basically, the main character in the song (the guy) is nervous to admit his feelings to the girl he likes. This song tells the audience that even though the majority of mass media portrays men as strong, resilient, and aggressive, this song contradicts that and shows how vulnerable this particular guy is. The lyrics state:
I wanna be last, yeah, baby, let me be your last
Your last first kiss
I’m afraid you’ll run away if I tell you
What I wanted to tell you, yeah”
and prove that he is confident and assertive with his sense of self (the lyrics indicate that he wants to tell the girl how he feels), but his outward identity may seem like he is afraid to tell her. On a side note, I really like the unique wording they use in this song; “last first” doesn’t really make any sense, but in this context, the guy wants to spend the rest of his life with her and is most likely implying marriage here. He doesn’t want the girl to have another first kiss with someone new ever again, rather, he wants her to commit herself to only him forever. The lines,
“Maybe I just gotta wait
Maybe this is a mistake
I’m a fool, yeah
Baby, I’m just a fool, yeah; oh, oh”
proposes an idea to the audience that the guy wants to get down on one knee and ask this girl to marry him, but he is nervous (as most guys are) and is telling himself to wait because he’s afraid she’ll say no.
In relation to class, this song totally fits the stereotype of media tending to rely on formulas and themes that audiences have positively responded to before. Songs about love make money, especially a happy ending, and reinforces the idea of marriage being the ultimate goal for the common person.
In accordance with the Sex Role Theory, this can relate to “hegemonic masculinity” because of the social norm of the man proposing to the woman. Is it typical to see a girl bend down on one knee? No. In this song, it is apparent that the male wants to perform this action to the girl, thus reinforcing the social norm in our society – the ideal, respected man takes charge and proposes to the female.
Shared by: Elyse Hornung
Image Credit: One Direction Wiki Fandom