I still don't like Christina Aguilera's new image, but I will admit again that I really like the lyrics of her new song "Can't Hold Us Down" featuring Lil' Kim. I can remember times when I've had conversations about gender roles, and some points made during this song were definitely made during my conversations... excuse my spur-of-the-moment-feminism...

So what am I not supposed to have an opinion / Should I be quiet just because I'm a woman / Call me a bitch cos I speak what's on my mind / Guess it's easier for you to swallow if I sat and smiled // When a female fires back / Suddenly the target don't know how to act / So he does what any little boy will do / Making up a few false rumors or two // That for sure is not a man to me / Slanderin' names for popularity / It's sad you only get your fame through controversy / But now it's time for me to come and give you more to say // This is for my girls all around the world / Who've come across a man who don't respect your worth / Thinking all women should be seen, not heard / So what do we do girls? / Shout louder! / Letting them know we're gonna stand our ground / Lift your hands high and wave them proud / Take a deep breath and say it loud / Never can, never will, can't hold us down // Nobody can hold us down / Nobody can hold us down / Nobody can hold us down / Never can, never will // So what am I not supposed to say what I'm saying / Are you offended by the message I'm bringing / Call me whatever cos your words don't mean a thing / Guess you ain't even a man enough to handle what I sing // If you look back in history / It's a common double standard of society / The guy gets all the glory the more he can score / While the girl can do the same and yet you call her a whore // I don't understand why it's okay / The guy can get away with it & the girl gets named / All my ladies come together and make a change / Start a new beginning for us everybody sing // This is for my girls all around the world / Who've come across a man who don't respect your worth / Thinking all women should be seen, not heard / What do we do girls? / Shout louder! / Letting them know we're gonna stand our ground / Lift your hands high and wave 'em proud / Take a deep breath and say it loud / Never can, never will, can't hold us down
Check it - Here's something I just can't understand / If the guy have three girls then he's the man / He can either give us some head, sex her off / If the girl do the same, then she's a whore / But the table's about to turn / I'll bet my fame on it / Cats take my ideas and put their name on it / It's aiight though, you can't hold me down / I got to keep on movin' / To all my girls with a man who be tryin to mack / Do it right back to him and let that be that / You need to let him know that his game is whack / And Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera got your back // But you're just a little boy / Think you're so cute, so coy / You must talk so big / To make up for small lil' things / So you're just a little boy / All you'll do is annoy / You must talk so big / To make up for small lil' things
This is for my girls... / This is for my girls all around the world / Who've come across a man who don't respect your worth / Thinking all women should be seen, not heard / So what do we do girls? / Shout louder! / Letting them know we're gonna stand our ground / Lift your hands high and wave them proud / Take a deep breath and say it loud / Never can, never will, can't hold us down / Spread the word, can't hold us down