“Crazy Stupid Bitch” (Annika Grace song)

AnnikaGrace_CrazyStupidBitch_cover_crop — Annika Grace, “Crazy Stupid Bitch” cover (cropped)

One might be excused for thinking a song called “Crazy Stupid Bitch” is an example of internalized misogyny when written by a woman. But Annika Grace calls to attention in her song the ways people tear each other down in myriad ways, dehumanizing each other across a spectrum of criteria by which we’d never want to be judged. If we want something for ourselves, we’re selfish. If we have sex outside traditional relationships and for pure curiosity or enjoyment of course one must be a person of low character. Whatever transgresses arbitrary norms that don’t really match most people’s actual experiences and against which many if not most of us will find ourselves failing to meet if we’re frankly honest with ourselves. Grace, in identifying this crassly judgmental and destructive mentality and put it into language that is plainly absurd and lacking in creativity both critiques and diminishes the power of that way of relating to people. That she chose to do so in a simple, succinct pop song with spare production and lightly processed vocals is a way to present a complex and nuanced social issue in a highly accessible and direct way. Listen to “Crazy Stupid Bitch” on Soundcloud and follow Annika Grace at the links below.