We don't have to play by their rules
Leslie recently sent me this note:
I've heard a new song and wondered if you've heard it. It's Ben Lee's "Boy with a Barbie" from "The Rebirth of Venus". Great pop song about role reversal being okay.
Thanks, Leslie!!
Ben Lee is an Australian born singer and actor. Born in 1978, he began career with the group, Noise Addict, at the age of 14. He started his solo career in 1993 and has since released 7 albums. [Wikipedia]
My favorite Ben Lee song is his 2004 single, Catch My Disease. It's on my IPod. This song has been featured in several film and television soundtracks, including the TV series, Grey's Anatomy.
Boy With A Barbie is from Ben Lee's newest album, Rebirth of Venus, which was just released in the States on April 28, 2009.
While not a song directly relating to one who is transgendered, I do feel that Boy With A Barbie belongs on the list of T-Tunes. Those of us who consider ourselves transgendered may relate. Holly Throsby posted a comment on Ben Lee's blog regarding the men and femininity:
Femininity is so alien to most men. Don't you think? And to some women too. That's why I like the synthesiser song about how you had a Barbie when you were in kindergarten, and your appeal to the wisdom of Yoko Ono, and the devotional "Song For the Divine Mother of the Universe" and the one called "I'm a Woman Too".
From the Ben Lee website:
Ben Lee dedicates his seventh studio recording to Venus, the Goddess of Love and Beauty. A bold move for a man, but Ben recognizes that the strongest feminine qualities "such as compassion, nurturing, creativity, spontaneity, intuition, playfulness, tenderness and warmth...are qualities that we all, men and women, need to cultivate." The Rebirth of Venus (February 10th, 2009) was produced by Brad Wood, who also produced Ben's breakout Awake Is The New Sleep (as well as his critically acclaimed debut Grandpaw Would and sophomore album Something To Remember Me By). A portion of proceeds from albums sold will be donated to FINCA's Village Banking program. FINCA offers financial services, not charity, to the world's lowest-income women entrepreneurs. This creates jobs, builds assets and generally improves the standard of living in these destitute communities.
The Lyrics:
I was a boy with a barbie when they teased me it was hard
Just a boy with a barbie from the start
Don't think it meant to break my heart
I was a boy with a barbie this is beautiful and true
I had a crush on every girl I saw they never knew
I've never told a single soul but you
[Chorus]
Boys with their barbies and girls with toy armies
We don't have to play by their rules
I don't know where it started, all these roles and make believe
Just a boy with a totem make believe
Now it seems naive, I kept my heart upon my sleeve
I was a boy with a barbie and the teachers looked concerned
Although they tried to stop me getting burned
I guess they didn't realize it would hurt
[Chorus]
Boys with their barbies and girls with toy armies
We don't have to play by their rules
Boys being prudes while the girls make thier moves
We don't have to play by their rules
So let them wear that dress, let them make that mess
Let em take that fall, let em kick that ball
And thank to the ones that tried to stop my fun
You made me what I am, you made me what I am
You made me a man
[Chorus]
Boys with their barbies and girls with toy armies
We don't have to play by their rules
Boys staying home while their girls on the run
We don't have to play by their rules
Play by their rules
[ Boy With A Barbie Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]
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