Lily Allen's 'Hard Out Here' video is meant to encourage a dialogue on gender inequality. Allen has returned from her musical retirement to debut 'Hard Out Here' as the first single from her Greg Kurstin-produced album, set for release in early 2014.
Allen sings in her typical saccharine tone, but the subject matter is a little more overt. With lyrics like, "I don't need to shake my ass for you because I've got a brain" and "forget your balls and grow a pair of tits, it's hard out here for a bitch," the song is sure to stir up a fair share of controversy.
The video is equally audacious. It begins with Allen getting liposuction as her agent chastises her for "letting herself go" and ends with Allen getting her groove on surrounded by a band of scantily-clad dancers. The singer also uses the video as a vehicle to poke a little fun at Robin Thicke, whose summer jam 'Blurred Lines' was the target of some feminist rage earlier this year.
Girl Power Pop Anthems
Lily Allen's 'Hard Out Here' Video Aims to Empower Women
Trend Themes
1. Gender Inequality in Music - The controversy surrounding Lily Allen's 'Hard Out Here' video highlights the ongoing issue of gender inequality in the music industry, presenting an opportunity for disruptive innovation to promote equal representation and empower women in music.
2. Feminist Music - The release of Lily Allen's 'Hard Out Here' and its provocative lyrics and imagery signifies a trend of feminist music emerging in the industry, creating a space for disruptive innovation that challenges traditional gender roles and promotes gender equality through music.
3. Social Commentary in Music Videos - Lily Allen's 'Hard Out Here' video serves as a prime example of the trend of music videos becoming a platform for social commentary and criticism, opening up opportunities for disruptive innovation in using visual storytelling to address important societal issues.
Industry Implications
1. Music Industry - The controversy and discussion surrounding Lily Allen's 'Hard Out Here' video presents an opportunity for the music industry to embrace disruptive innovation and take steps towards addressing gender inequality and promoting diversity in the industry.
2. Feminist Movement - The emergence of feminist music like Lily Allen's 'Hard Out Here' signifies a trend within the feminist movement, creating opportunities for industries and brands to engage with this empowered demographic and cater to their specific needs and preferences.
3. Media and Entertainment - The trend of music videos becoming a platform for social commentary, as seen with Lily Allen's 'Hard Out Here', presents an opportunity for the media and entertainment industry to leverage disruptive innovation in content creation and delivery to engage with and educate audiences on relevant social issues.