Dearest Ne-Yo,
I used to like you.
“Miss Independent” was once my personal anthem, and I sang it loud and proud, feeling each word with every fiber of my being. “Cause she walk like a boss/Talk like a boss/Manicured nails to set the pedicure off/She’s fly effortlessly….” You CLEARLY knew what you were talking about.
I even followed along with you as you crooned “One In A Million.” Lines like, “Sure enough your glow/It makes your soul stand out from all the rest” and “There’s a million girls around/But I don’t see no one but you” had me convinced that you knew how to properly woo a woman.
Some of your musical collaborations remain on my list of favorites, and I deeply respected your expertise (and confident swagger) when you were an advisor for team Cee-Lo on season two of “The Voice.” You seemed like a sincere gentleman who knew a thing or two about love, sex, and relationships.
THAT Ne-Yo worked for me. I was into it.
However, while driving home from work today, I heard lyrics that I literally found so grossly misleading and unrealistic that I literally turned up the music to make sure I was hearing it correctly:
“Girl let me love you
Until you learn to love yourself
Girl let me love you
And all your trouble
Don’t be afraid, girl let me help.
Girl let me love you
Until you learn to love yourself
Girl let me love you
A heart of numbness, gets brought to life
I’ll take you there.”
WHAT.
THE.
F*@K.
The entire time I was straining to listen, I found myself mentally chanting, “Please be Chris Brown. Please be Chris Brown. PLEASE, good Lord, be Chris Brown.” But, deep down, I knew that one of my greatest fears was about to come true. Another one bit the dust, and Ne-Yo, an insightful lover, was feeding dating bullshit to the masses. And the damn song had a catchy beat. MOTHER F-ER.
I mean, “Let me love you until you learn to love yourself.” REALLY? How’s THAT relationship working out for you, Ne-Yo. Because, as any one with any sense knows, a true, healthy, lasting, and loving adult relationship is only possible when the two people involved love and respect themselves first. Otherwise, you get a lop-sided lovers mess. A victim and a hero. One person giving more than the other. False feelings of love.
And, now, there are all of these impressionable young women out there, listening to your new tune and thinking, “I may not love myself yet, but maybe there’s another Ne-Yo out there who can get me there.” NOOOOO!
So, please. I am begging you. Write one more song. And call it something like, “I Love You For YOU” or “Thanks For Loving Yourself First” and set the record straight. Because, really, the LAST thing this world needs is another Chris Brown chanting how he can “Transform Ya” and “Make it so new/make you never wanna go back to the old you” while he throws chairs through windows and punches his girlfriend.
Please and thank you.
xo
La Petite Provocateur
Open-minded and brutally honest oversharer with a weakness for sweet smiles, loud laughter, drive, passion, and tattoos. Oh, and a great ass never hurt, either.
As a New England native who is now living the California dream, I have a great blend of East Coast and West Coast mentalities. And, while I am (happily) in a committed relationship nowadays, I have plenty of dating and relationship stories and insight to share.
Check out my blog to read some oldies but goodies or, better yet, track me down on Twitter Twitter and Facebook to keep up with latest shenanigans. xoxo
xoxo
La Petite Provocateur
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