Why I Prefer "All About That Bass" over "Treasure" (and various other 'feel good' songs)

"All About That Bass" was one of those songs that I saw circulating the interwebs before I ever heard it on the radio. After seeing it thrust at me by various sites, I took the plunge and proceeded to listen to it on replay for a good hour or two. Its about the beauty of each person, regardless of appearance (though it does cater to those of larger sizes).

"Treasure" was a song I first heard on the radio, not long after which it seemed to be on every radio station ever. I didn't care for it at first, but then it grew on me. It was about women being beautiful...right?

While promoting the beauty of people (mainly women, in the case of "Treasure"), the two songs do it fairly differently. And that's where the problem is.

"All About That Bass" focuses mainly on pointing out that everyone of every size is beautiful. There is one line that could be mildly offensive (the one mention of other skinny girls, but we'll move on). Beyond that, this song is a body acceptance, feel good song. No matter what you look like, you're beautiful. The music video for the song is amazing too. Super adorable, with many POC and many girls/guys in various sizes. Kudos to Meghan Trainor.

"Treasure" also tries to point out the beauty of women. 'Wonderful, flawless,' etc. All great compliments. But can I point out that in the music video, we don't even see a woman for the first half? And when one does finally show up (and yes, it's only one woman), while she is beautiful, she is 'the norm': society's standard of beauty. Thin waist, larger hips, 'curvy in all the right places'. There is such under-representation of ladies in this song about ladies. 

Moving on. "I know that you don't know it, but you're fine." This. This is why I don't enjoy this song as much as I did. This one line is what makes me dislike this song. How do you know that [your lady] doesn't know it? Does she tell you? Not every woman walks around with the confidence to say that she thinks she's beautiful. You know why? The moment you declare things like that, you have people hounding you about being conceited and full of yourself. 

The way this song (and the many others with themes similar to this, "What Makes You Beautiful" and the classic "She Don't Know She's Beautiful"), suggest that women need to be reassured by men that they are beautiful. Those songs are suggesting beauty based on outward appearance, not on the actual person themselves. Walking in and turning heads because of your body should not be the most important thing you point out about a woman. Ever heard of personality?

That's why if you ask me what my favorite song is, I'll tell you it's "All About That Bass". I like this feel-good song. It's a woman telling every type of woman and man out there that they're beautiful. Not only that, but Meghan calls out magazines and the way they alter pictures of people to make them 'more attractive'.  This song says that it's ok to be any size, any shape, any anything, because you are beautiful

And let's be real. "Cause I got that boom boom that all the boys chase, and all the right junk in all the right places" is one heck of a line.