‘I AIN’T NO SIZE TWO:’ FEMINIST CONVERSATIONS AND CONTROVERSIAL MESSAGES IN MEGHAN TRAINOR’S EMPOWERMENT SONGS ______________________________________ A Thesis presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri-Columbia _______________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts _______________________________________ by ERIN SCHLABACH Dr. Maya C. Gibson, Thesis Supervisor MAY 2017 APPROVAL PAGE The undersigned, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, have examined the thesis entitled ‘I AIN’T NO SIZE TWO:’ FEMINIST CONVERSATIONS AND CONTROVERSIAL MESSAGES IN MEGHAN TRAINOR’S EMPOWERMENT SONGS presented by Erin Schlabach, a candidate for the degree of master of arts, and hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. ____________________________________ Professor Maya C. Gibson ____________________________________ Professor Tina L. Bloom ____________________________________ Professor Michael J. Budds ____________________________________ Professor Judith Mabary ____________________________________ Professor Stephanie Shonekan ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the musicology faculty at the University of Missouri for encouraging me in this project specifically as well as the entirety of my time in graduate school. Dr. Budds, Dr. Mabary, and Dr. Shonekan have each assisted me in learning and growing as a musicologist in countless ways. I would also like to thank Dr. Bloom for her support and advice throughout the thesis writing process. I could not have completed this work without the many meetings and conversations that were had with Dr. Maya Gibson. As the head of my committee she pushed me to think more deeply and broadly while refining the work I was presenting. I am lucky to count her as a teacher, mentor, and friend. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................. II LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... V CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1 PREFACE ........................................................................................................................ 1 SITUATING TRAINOR ........................................................................................................ 5 SITUATING MYSELF ......................................................................................................... 7 LITERATURE SURVEY ...................................................................................................... 9 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................ 13 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................... 16 Methods of Analysis ................................................................................................ 19 CHAPTER ORGANIZATION AND OUTLINES ....................................................................... 23 Chapter 2. ‘Every Inch of You is Perfect:’ Meghan Trainor’s Formation of a Body Positive Brand ........................................................................................................ 23 Chapter 3. ‘Treat Me Like a Lady’: Trainor’s Example of Women’s Roles in Romantic Relationships .......................................................................................... 24 Chapter 4. ‘Let’s Talk About the Word Deserve’: The Demonstration of Agency in Trainor’s Music ........................................................................................................ 25 Chapter 5. “I’m A Lady”: Meghan Trainor’s Continuing Evolution of Femininity ...... 26 CHAPTER 2. ‘EVERY INCH OF YOU IS PERFECT:’ MEGHAN TRAINOR’S FORMATION OF A BODY POSITIVE BRAND ........................ 28 “ALL ABOUT THAT BASS” ............................................................................................... 32 Genre Influence ....................................................................................................... 34 Lyrics ....................................................................................................................... 37 Music Video ............................................................................................................. 42 “ME TOO” ..................................................................................................................... 43 Genre Influence ....................................................................................................... 48 Lyrics ....................................................................................................................... 49 Music Videos ........................................................................................................... 50 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................ 51 CHAPTER 3. ‘TREAT ME LIKE A LADY:’ TRAINOR’S EXAMPLE OF WOMEN’S ROLES IN ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS ..... 53 “LIPS ARE MOVIN” ......................................................................................................... 55 Genre Influences ..................................................................................................... 55 Lyrics ....................................................................................................................... 56 Music Video ............................................................................................................. 58 Genre Influences ..................................................................................................... 60 Lyrics ....................................................................................................................... 61 Music Video ............................................................................................................. 64 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................ 67 CHAPTER 4. ‘LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WORD DESERVE:’ THE DEMONSTRATION OF AGENCY IN TRAINOR’S MUSIC .................................... 68 “NO” ............................................................................................................................. 70 Genre Influence ....................................................................................................... 72 Lyrics ....................................................................................................................... 76 Music Video ............................................................................................................. 78 iii “BETTER” ...................................................................................................................... 79 Genre Influence ....................................................................................................... 81 Lyrics ....................................................................................................................... 82 Music Video ............................................................................................................. 83 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................ 86 CHAPTER 5. “I’M A LADY:” MEGHAN TRAINOR’S CONTINUING EVOLUTION OF FEMININITY .......................... 87 “I’M A LADY” ................................................................................................................. 89 COSMOPOLITAN MAY 2017 COVER AND INTERVIEW ....................................................... 92 COMPLEXITY OF INTERSECTIONALITY ............................................................................. 94 FINAL THOUGHTS .......................................................................................................... 96 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................. 97 APPENDIX A: SELECTED MEGHAN TRAINOR CHART HISTORY ...................................... 97 APPENDIX B: LYRICS OF SONGS EXAMINED ................................................................. 98 APPENDIX C: MUSIC VIDEO PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS .......................................... 105 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 118 FEMINIST FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................... 118 STUDIES ON MUSIC ..................................................................................................... 119 STUDIES ON MEDIA AND MUSIC VIDEOS ....................................................................... 122 CRITIQUES OF TRAINOR .............................................................................................. 123 INTERVIEWS WITH TRAINOR ......................................................................................... 126 CULTURAL AND SOCIAL COMMENTARIES ...................................................................... 127 MUSIC VIDEOS ............................................................................................................ 130 ICONOGRAPHY ...........................................................................................................