I Kissed A Girl And I Resent It

11 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Clouthier

Print this article Font size -16+

I have a confession. It’s kinda embarrassing but I’m going to tell you anyway: I like trashy pop music. Yes, I do. My heart is moved by Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love”. Natasha Bedingfield puts snap in my step. I’ve taken solace under an Umbrella and like Lollipops. I know. Terrible.

Even I have limits, though.

A new tune is at the tops of iTunes and it is wickedly catchy: I Kissed A Girl And I Liked It.

So I do a little sleuthing and wouldn’t you know that the girl, Katy Perry, singing this trashy tune is the daughter of two preachers. Preachers kids, they always go to extremes. Remember Footloose? (And, oh, by the way, Kevin Bacon is 50 years old. Yes, you’re getting old, too.)

Anyhoo, so I’m watching So You Think You Can Dance last night and Katy Perry sings her tune on the show:

Here’s the problem: This is a family show. Children, mostly girls, who aspire to be dancers watch the show because the dancing is amazing. It’s a milder form of American Idol, really. I have the same issues around these shows:
1. The advertising should be kid appropriate.
2. The content should be kid appropriate.
3. At all points through the show, the producers should keep in mind who is watching the show.

If adults want to listen to “I Kissed A Girl”, fine. Even teenagers can work their way around the topic. But I do not want to have to have a conversation with my eight year old about why a girl would kiss a girl. The lyrics are ribald and obvious, and, clear. Subtle lyrics can be vaguely addressed, but these lyrics beg for an explanation. Pardon me, but I’m not interested in explaining sexual orientation quite yet and the subtleties therein.

I know. I can change the channel and I do. But come on! When something purports to be “family” programming, it shouldn’t be a big deal to leave the room to go to the bathroom for a minute. No commercials on “ED” or douching. No profanity. No violence. And no sexual provocation.

Maybe I’m an old fuddy duddy. Probably so. It is hard enough to raise children with some form of sustained childhood without being exposed to every adult idea at 8.

Cross-posted at MelissaClouthier.com