She had “All About That Bass” stuck in our heads for months, and now we have an entire album of catchy tunes to incessantly replay in our minds. Landing the No. 1 spot on iTunes, Meghan Trainor’s latest album, “Title,” debuted Tuesday.
As you work your way through the album there are numerous surprises. Each track doesn't hold back or sidestep any explicit stories. This is showcased on the albums title track, “Title.” Trainor says, if her love interest keeps referring to her as a friend, “you might never get a chance to see me naked in your bed.”
Truth be told, Trainor’s upfront language was initially off putting. Lyrics of that nature are present in numerous tracks, such as “Walkashame.” She describes the dreaded morning after by singing, “Don’t act like you haven't been there, 7 a.m. with the bedhead.”
Even her track, “Credit,” follows the same pattern. Trainor sings about her ex-boyfriend's new girl by saying, “She should be thanking me and sending me some flowers / I taught him everything; now he can last for hours.”
However, once you reach past the initial awkwardness of having personal details of Trainor’s escapades leaked into your ears, a sincere message is revealed. Each track explicitly says what most artists sugarcoat, and what most girls are afraid to admit. Trainor actually seems to be advocating for female empowerment, and discrediting slut-shaming.
At first it seems odd that Trainor would dare say lyrics such as the ones listed above, but who is to say it is wrong of her? She utilized her personal experiences for her art form, just as every artist does. She just had the confidence necessary not to tap-dance around it.
Her use of female empowerment is evident in the track, “Dear Future Husband.” She blatantly says what she believes a marriage should be and touches on society's view of women entitlement.
“You got that 9 to 5, but baby so do I, so don’t be thinking I’ll be at home and making apple pies," Trainor sings. It’s clear to see that she believes in gender equality, and is a brilliant example of a modern-day feminist.
Although the message behind the album is commendable, she doesn’t feel like a new artist. In fact, a few tracks sound very similar to Ariana Grande. Whenever she happens to rap in her tracks, you may just picture Nicki Minaj spitting a few lines.
A few tracks are worth replays, but overall, the album is something to jam out to for a day before you put it on the back burner as a result of pure annoyance.
Although the album may not be everyone's forte, it is clear to see that Trainor has the chops necessary to break into the music business successfully.
This clearly won’t be the last time she receives a No. 1 slot on iTunes, or any other music site for that matter.
Reach the reporter at dpharias@asu.edu or follow @dpharias on Twitter.
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