As if none of you have figured, we have a MASSIVE Anouk fan on this website! I'm not sure I even need to point fingers because her love for the singer-songwriter is made known so often (particularly on our " Free-for-all Friday" posts) that you'd have to be a newbie not to have noticed (hello if you are!). So in honour of one of our most vocal members, here's Anouk's latest single, the controversially titled, Wigger.
Being the mother of mixed-race children , Anouk offers a very personal, and informed, take on the subject of race and identity. The guitar-led song is bound to stir-up controversy, as not only does it deal with a subject that make some uncomfortable, but Anouk isn't subtle with the lyric either, leaving little room to hide from its meaning.
The Dutch Diva was obviously aware of how the song and the title may ruffle feathers, so decided it best to tackle the subject head-on in a Facebook post:
Goodmorning!A few weeks ago, I wrote a song Wigger. I played it back and thought, maybe a few people are gonna freak. But why really ? The word "Wigger", what does it mean. I have been hearing this word much more frequently than before. It gets people pissed. But I mean is it derogatory ?
If you search Wikipedia, then the definition in a nutshell is, "a white person who is inspired by black culture". So Is that bad or weird? We do after all live in a world where we are inspired regardless of skin colour or gender!
We do after all live in a world where we are inspired regardless of skin colour or gender!
So I've come to the conclusion it's all bulls**t. I am what I am.
A true blond, proud wigger and honestly it suits me better then anyone else, doesn't it
Have a beautiful day!
source: Facebook
I applaud Anouk for the somewhat brazen attitude, and appreciate the message more so because it's mined from her own life experiences. Much like the Facebook post, the lyric to Wigger are a little on the nose*, but it was actually the right way for Anouk to have gone about writing them. After all, we don't need ambiguity or vagueness when trying to make a statement or convey a message- it'll only dilute and distract.
I'll be interested to hear what you guys think of Anouk's take on race and the dreaded "cultural appropriation". I for one welcome the discussion she's bringing to the table.
*I'm not implying she's incapable of subtlety.
Thoughts?
