I ❤ Usher. I just wish he’d use his powers for good.
This is a completely useless dissertation, for no one in particular, that just needed to get out of my head.
On my ride home, I heard part of Wale’s “Matrimony,” which features an incredibly catchy hook from one Mr. Raymond. I then flipped to another station to happen upon Usher’s own “Good Kisser” which was followed by Maxwell’s “Pretty Wings.” The stark contrast between the latter two struck me:
“Kisser” — a pop/R&B song that is (again) catchy and I probably know more words to than “Wings” — a bittersweet R&B/soul ballad that is far less misogynistic, sexist and degrading to women.
Full disclosure: The misogyny of Usher’s (and most R&B/pop) songs have probably come into focus more now that I’m not only a purveyor of pop culture but a pop (of a young woman-to-be) myself. (Further disclosure: I did mind before, but now I mind more.)
The first time I heard the aforementioned “Matrimony” — which touches upon rather deep subjects for a radio song (kudos, Wale)— Usher’s hook had exactly that effect: it hooked me. His vocal gifts shine atop the infectious beat, singing:
If there’s a question of my heart, you’ve got it
It don’t belong to anyone but you
If there’s a question of my love, you’ve got it
Baby don’t worry, I’ve got plans for you
Baby, I’ve been making plans, oh love… for you
Not only is his voice in full glory, it was actually saying something rather lovely for a change. Sure, call into question the need for “Baby” to have a man making her plans, but it is miles ahead of his recent slew of hits:
- I Don’t Mind: “Shawty, I don’t mind If you dance on a pole/ That don’t make you a ho…”
- Good Kisser: “Don’t nobody kiss it like you… You do it so good, you fuck my mind/ You pull it out, then you open wide…”
- Scream: “…I wanna take off all your clothes and put something on ya… Now relax, and get on your back”
…to name a few.
I will not (and can not) deny the affinity I had (/have) for “Hot Tottie,” the sheer ridiculousness of his and R. Kelly’s “Same Girl” and the pure have-to-dance-to-it(-ness?) of “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” (ft. Pitbull) and “Yeah!” (ft. Lil Jon, Ludacris). (Sidebar: My dissertation on Ludacris coining the term “Ursher” is yet to come. No it is not.)
However, I was hard-pressed to remember a song by or featuring Usher — back to his & Alicia Keys’ “My Boo” (which was more than a decade ago) — that wasn’t about his sexual prowess, his “club” exploits (Who said you can’t find love in the club, Usher? You, in “Love in This Club,” you’re the only one fixated on it) or how women seem to only exist for one reason.
With a career that now spans three decades, he’s obviously found his niche and no one expects him to suddenly turn away from his pelvic-thrusting moneymaker. (Hey, Marvin Gaye followed up “Let’s Get it On” with “Got to Give It Up” and “Sexual Healing.”)
Usher is an obviously talented artist, singer, songwriter and dancer with a knack for writing memorable melodies. It would just be great if while we’re all singing along to them, his lyrics found “shawty” with other aspirations that didn’t begin and end with Usher. “Yeah, man.”
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