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DEL.ICIO.USDid MTV influence what you think is sexy? What about our teens?
A tribute blog to George Michael made me realize how MTV influenced my views of what is sexy. What influenced you? What will our kids/teens decide is sexy?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(I am on vacation but I left this blog with Keith to run while I am gone because George Michael’s concert is tonight. Keith will be monitoring and responding today.)
A few weeks ago I was feeling down that I am not going to be able to attend the George Michael concert (which is tonight) so I started watching some of his old videos on my computer. I was originally just going to do a blog in tribute to George Michael and walk down memory lane with you ladies. But as I started watching them, I realized a lot of things that I think are sexy came out of his videos — and I’m sure from many of the other things I was seeing on MTV as a teenager.
I was a sophomore in high school when the “Faith” album came out in 1987. It had “Faith,” “Father Figure,” and of course “I Want Your Sex” on it — all pretty sexually explicit stuff especially for back then. (Where was my mother? Why was she letting me watch this stuff?)
What videos influenced your perceptions of what is sexy? And what in the world do our teens think is sexy based on the very graphic videos shown today on MTV? Have you ever discussed that with your teens?
Below, I have links to many of the relevant George Michael videos, as well as my thoughts as I watched them for the first time in years. Feel free to add your own commentary or add links to videos you used to think were sexy!
Main link to George Michael videos.
“Careless Whisper.” He looks so young and a little bit effeminate here. He definitely got a slightly tougher look later. I’m still not clear where he stands sexually — is he gay or bi? I thought he was so hot and just totally did not have a clue he wasn’t completely into girls! Should we have known from the double earrings? Used to love the tennis all-white look, but now wondering what’s up with that? Also, I am wondering about the bed in the opening love scene. It looks like it’s from the “Golden Girls.”
“Faith.” OK, we have to start with his butt in those jeans. It is really a very cute butt. Love the way he shakes it while playing. Also like the holes in the jeans. I believe they are acid wash. Also, his highlights look very good in this video. (Again another clue I totally was not catching!)
“Father Figure.” Love her coat in the beginning and the red lipstick. Became obsessed with garter belts and thigh-high hose from that point on even though I had no one to use them on and was way too young to be thinking about that! Wall sex scene may be better than the one in “Top Gun.” (Remember that one— I know you do!) What’s with the white ribbed T-shirt? Did we think that was sexy then? Now, not so much. This about the third video in a row that he’s wearing the gold cross earring — why?
“I Want Your Sex.” More garter belts — opening scene. I was a sophomore in high school for most of these — way too sexually explicit for a high school kid to be seeing. Where was my mother while I was watching these? Tipper Gore must have been having a heart attack. I’m still not sure that writing monogamy on the naked lady while singing about sex was the best way to convince kids to only be with one partner. Pretty sure they missed that message.
“One More Try.” Kind of a minimalist video. Was he trying to save money? It looks like the set is leftover from the “Faith” video. But I do love this song. He’s just plain hot! Please take note of the boxy jacket in silhouette (very “Miami Vice”).
“Kissing a Fool.” Not necessarily one his bigger hits but one of my favorites. It feels very old-fashioned and classy. Guess what — he can sing as well as “shake his ass.” Plus, he’s sporting the “I want your Sex” video heavy beard. (Are you into the beard or not?)
“Freedom.” Why is he bothering to show a sexy model guy? He’s sexy. We want to see him. Not some random model guy. OK, so wait, there’s some bigger point here I’m just figuring out — he didn’t want to just “shake his ass for the boys at MTV” and that’s why he’s not in the video. Whatever, I want to see him, not these models. I totally forgot he wasn’t in this one at all. Great song, but where’s George?
“Sun Going Down on Me” — with Elton John. Nothing too dated here. George looks great (I like a little more hair on him though) but I do have to wonder about Elton John’s outfit. It looks like he’s wearing drapery brocade. Seriously, check it out!
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: Ethics of rearing kids today
Comments
By Numbers Guy
July 31, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this
I honestly don’t think any video ever told me what I found to be sexy. I was sorta born with that.
And really, Theresa, George Michael? Seriously? We all knew he was gay even in ‘87.
By Jeff
July 31, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
MTV never really affected me - more Country/Christian/Instrumental here - so I’ve never seen the big deal.
Though I will give them credit for introducing me to Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park, for which I am (mostly) grateful, ‘sexy’ was DEF something NOT influenced by them.
By DB
July 31, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this
George Michael? Seriously? Uh, no — sorry, strung-out gay singers never lit my Bic. I really prefer my sex symbols to actually have a chance of liking ME! It doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the music, but as far as finding him sexy — nope.
Since I never watched MTV, I guess I can say that it never influenced what I thought was sexy. The few times I watched music videos, I always thought they were boring, and I disliked having my “vision” of a song disturbed. Plus, I don’t enjoy watching other people leer and gyrate their way through mock orgasms, which seemed to be the case with so many of the more unimaginative videos.
However, I have to confess to the guilty pleasure of watching “Parental Control” occasionally. :-) Watching the foul-mouthed boyfriend or girlfriend get booted out about 65% of the time is actually a lot of fun!
By jg
July 31, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
GEORGE MICHAEL IS GAY!?!?! No way!!! Okay next thing ya know someone is gonna say Elton John is gay….
By JJ
July 31, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
MTV is NOT allowed in my house!!!! It’s nothing but pure trash…..
That said, I find absolutely NOTHING sexy about George Michael whatsoever.
I’m not a celebrity worshiper.
By Lynn
July 31, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
That old saying about if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything applies here.
By Becky
July 31, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
He was nice looking at one time, but I never thought he was sexy..
By jct
July 31, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Ahh, Theresa you are bringing back the memories. GM was the only ‘person’ posters that I had in room. Loved him and his music.
I was a senior in HS in 1987. Life was good with GM. He was pretty much the soundtrack of my life starting with ‘Bad Boys’ from the early 80s with Wham!UK.
MTV did not shape what I thought was sexy though. It did however, influence how we danced.
I wish I could attend his concert but I have had other plans way before this concert was announced.
GM was good time music of my youth.
By jct
July 31, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
Oops! In my tra, la, laing down memory lane I forgot to answer the rest of the questions.
MTV (as well as BET and VH1) are blocked in my house. My son can not watch it unless he asks for us to unlock the channel. There are very few shows that we will allow him to watch on those channels.
By new mom
July 31, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
A blog after my own heart….I LOVED LOVED LOVED George Michael. Loved his butt. Anyone else remember the SNL where he (or was it an actor?) said ‘look at my butt! It’s perfectly round!’ And no, I never knew he was gay. I didn’t! He had women in the videos…and it’s not as if he looked like Boy George or something, I wasn’t that dense!
He was also the only ‘person’ poster in my room too…well if you don’t count that darn andrew ridgely lurking in the background of the Wham posters…
Yesterday my 10 mth old and I were ‘sorting’ some old tapes, cds and dvds (well, I was sorting, she was throwing them on my head and laughing) and I found my Faith tape. I’m surprised it was still intact! I smiled, and told little girl that she will need to be a lot older then her mommy was when she listens to it!
As soon as said baby girl gets a bit older, maybe 2 or 3, we’ll be blocking mtv, vh1, and any other channels that we see fit. To know how much worse stuff is today, considering what WE saw as teenagers, I just can’t imagine letting children watch.
By wtf?
July 31, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
No, your not a control freak! Here Keith, heres my blog (column to you), but run this self absorbed, 6th grade level video review, then, totally, monitor it and respond accordingly. Ill monitor from the condo (the sand is too gritty today to take the kids swimming)
By Most of you people are LAME!!!!
July 31, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
You know I have been reading these MOMania Blogs and I have to say that some of you people are well adjusted and logically thinking individuals, but the majority of you people are closed minded idiots that wouldn’t know what open mindedness was if it came out of the ground and bit you on the a$$.
By Julie
July 31, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
I always liked GM’s music, but he never did it for me. I’m sure I was influenced in what I thought was sexy by MTV and media in general. I certainly don’t think there was anything wrong with high schoolers watching MTV in the 80s. It seems like a bunch of stupid garbage shows now though. I wouldn’t let my young kids watch it, but when they’re in high school they probably will. I would have much less of a problem with them watching just music videos -even sexy and suggestive ones -than these shows with foul-mouthed and smart -a** kids on them.
By SJ
August 1, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
Theresa, I did watch MTV obsessively in high school. Never found George Michael attractive. My taste (HA!) ran more toward Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), Axl Rose (Welcome to the Jungle video) and other long-haired rocker boys.
By Becky
August 1, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
Why do you think most of us are lame??
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August 13, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
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