Well first and foremost, I know that my own interpretation of this song probably isn't what the song is actually about, but here is mine:
So basically first and foremost, this song talks about deception, but not necessarily of betrayal. There are roughly two characters in the story that this song is telling, one of which is the narrator, and the other is just another person. When I heard this song it immediately reminded me about being transgender. Now I don't mean that transgender people are lying about who they are with their gender, but rather the fact that they are lying about not transgender, but rather cisgender. When transgender people get pretty deep into their transition, an opportunity often presents itself where they look indistinguishable from other cis people and can choose to loose that part of their public life. This is mainly done because of discrimination they face when being publicly transgender, as well as the desire to live the normal life they deserve. So when I heard this song talking about
"I can tell you lies,
You can't get enough
Make a true believer of
Anyone, anyone, anyone."
It reminded me of the option cis society offers the transgender community. They want transgender people to lie about who they really are, and often can pass to everyone as cis, so nobody sees any different than the gender they feel. Objectively this is not a bad thing, but it still creates a destructive and degrading narrative of transgress that leaves transgender people stressed out and on edge. They are hurt about this situation they've been put in, to choose a normal life where they have to essentially hate the part of them that does exist inside their identity, to appease the others around them, which is why she states "I COULD tell you lies. I COULD call you up, as almost a contemplative way. As if to say that it is an option to take, but not necessarily one the singer wants to take.
The part about:
"I can call you up
If I feel low
I can feed your dirty mind
Like I know, like I know what you want"
Reminds me of how its an option to distance yourself from the openness of the identity and get the respect and the love and the normalcy that being transgender often corrupts. The second part of that reminds me of the fetishisation of transness that is highly pervasive all over the world. Everyone has seen at least one instance of advertizing of "Tranny Porn" on their time on the internet. It's one of the most popular catagories of porn out there, and yet the hatred and disgust of transgender people is so tangible outside of that The recent estimates of murder rates amongst transgender women is about one out of 12 women. It's scary to exist as this volatile and hate mongering identity, so when someone wants you for who you are, even if not in the best intentions, you feel almost obligated to do so. Even if they see you as a freak, at least they want you as your authentic self, not just as a lie.. So there are two differentiating options for transgender people, blend in with cisnormative society, or be this freakish sexual tool for someone's use and then disposal? And then go back to getting hated on by everyone. This song just kinda really solidifies that concept in an idea of the narrative of transgender life.
Well first and foremost, I know that my own interpretation of this song probably isn't what the song is actually about, but here is mine:
So basically first and foremost, this song talks about deception, but not necessarily of betrayal. There are roughly two characters in the story that this song is telling, one of which is the narrator, and the other is just another person. When I heard this song it immediately reminded me about being transgender. Now I don't mean that transgender people are lying about who they are with their gender, but rather the fact that they are lying about not transgender, but rather cisgender. When transgender people get pretty deep into their transition, an opportunity often presents itself where they look indistinguishable from other cis people and can choose to loose that part of their public life. This is mainly done because of discrimination they face when being publicly transgender, as well as the desire to live the normal life they deserve. So when I heard this song talking about
"I can tell you lies, You can't get enough Make a true believer of Anyone, anyone, anyone."
It reminded me of the option cis society offers the transgender community. They want transgender people to lie about who they really are, and often can pass to everyone as cis, so nobody sees any different than the gender they feel. Objectively this is not a bad thing, but it still creates a destructive and degrading narrative of transgress that leaves transgender people stressed out and on edge. They are hurt about this situation they've been put in, to choose a normal life where they have to essentially hate the part of them that does exist inside their identity, to appease the others around them, which is why she states "I COULD tell you lies. I COULD call you up, as almost a contemplative way. As if to say that it is an option to take, but not necessarily one the singer wants to take.
The part about:
"I can call you up If I feel low I can feed your dirty mind Like I know, like I know what you want"
Reminds me of how its an option to distance yourself from the openness of the identity and get the respect and the love and the normalcy that being transgender often corrupts. The second part of that reminds me of the fetishisation of transness that is highly pervasive all over the world. Everyone has seen at least one instance of advertizing of "Tranny Porn" on their time on the internet. It's one of the most popular catagories of porn out there, and yet the hatred and disgust of transgender people is so tangible outside of that The recent estimates of murder rates amongst transgender women is about one out of 12 women. It's scary to exist as this volatile and hate mongering identity, so when someone wants you for who you are, even if not in the best intentions, you feel almost obligated to do so. Even if they see you as a freak, at least they want you as your authentic self, not just as a lie.. So there are two differentiating options for transgender people, blend in with cisnormative society, or be this freakish sexual tool for someone's use and then disposal? And then go back to getting hated on by everyone. This song just kinda really solidifies that concept in an idea of the narrative of transgender life.
At least that's my take on it.