Rolling Stones (Brown Sugar) vs the Who (the Acid Queen), Essay Example

Thesis Statement

This paper is a compare and contrast analysis for the two songs; Brown sugar by Rolling Stones and The acid queen by The Who based on the way the songs refers to two women who are of immoral influence in the community and also social outcast. The thesis statement of this paper is based on how these two rock group reference two women who are social outcast in the society, the critical question that arises from this songs is; how does it benefit a man to indulge in immorality and a life of iniquity knowingly then go ahead and appraise it?

The theme around the song brown sugar by the Rolling Stones and The acid queen by The Who, are basically appraising immorality in the community, although both bands are respected in the music industry of the rock genre, but which image are they portraying when they appraise such acts of iniquity, which morals standards are they sending to the youthful who are their majority fans (Acid Queen Lyrics Artist) Has the community failed to regulate to stream music which has explicit material to be aired in most local listings.

The Woman as a Literal Character

Comparison

Both of the women in these two songs are social outcasts. They are from different background which both they are rejected from because of their immorality. In African American cultural heritage the term brown sugar is slang for women who are very sexually attractive. This name was actually referred to foreigners and mostly applied to slaves who were bound to cotton fields and were prone to sex trafficking. This is observed on the first lines of the song; “for cotton field gold coast slave ship bound, down in new Orleans market sold, knows he is doing alright scarred old slaver, just around midnight hear him whip women, you taste so good ah brown sugar come, just like a girl should aha brown”

The acid queen is in this song is the symbol representation of the gypsy woman, who is similarly a social outcast and a prostitute, historically these group lives in the outskirt of the society and are associated with bad morals, these group were considered wanders and have no where to call home. Main stream society, due to stereotyping and racism, did not allow interaction and association of these two groups in their culture or anywhere near their social cycles.

These two groups were secretly sought out for sexual advances due to the scandalous “work” as they provided unconventional cures (gypsy) and also sexual recreation for the elite English blood. “close the door and gives us room, for a while leave us, no more a boy will be your boy, he will be young but no boy, I am the acid queen the gypsy, before we start pay, I am the gypsy guarantee, to tear your soul apart” both of these outcast did give the men pleasure and all form of iniquity and because of these the society were very aggressive toward them. They were suppressed and shun in every social gathering the society founded.

Contrast

Brown sugar as the song narrates is of the African American heritage toiling in the cotton field as slaves, the acid queen on the other side is of the Hispanic origin and is a free person a traveler who roams the plain in search of rich immoral men who are after lustful endeavors, they are also closely associated with mystic powers, voodoo and they were claimed to be very shrewd business women who run brothels and other prostitution salons, they are considered cunning and wise (LyricsFreak). Brown sugar were the common illiterate type that suffered all kind of abuse for they did not have freedom and were constant being raped and sexually aggravated by their masters, this is because they were owned and some were sold to very mistreating masters. Both of these women have a “good” to sell but only the acid queen reaps from her trade, as brown sugar is constantly raped and not paid for her services.

The Females as Dual Characters

Comparison

Both these names of these estranged women have similarity for their names originate from certain drugs. Brown sugar is the street name for heroin. This is so because the heroin in the street is brownish in color. The artist compares the sweetness of the drugs when one is high with the sweetness of having sex with a young virgin black girl and how its feels good and rejuvenating. The acid queen (gypsy) the artist refers to her as a drug dealer and also a prostitute. Here the most relation is the addiction that the drug and sex have on the human system. The metaphor in the acid queen is her powerful acidity (queen) as she is sought back in the alleys the same place one find cracks; this is to answer Tommy condition but to her like the way acid tears things apart, she guarantees to tear his soul apart (acid).  This best explains how drugs are closely related with prostitution which all falls in the quick money making rackets.

Contrast

The female figure is the drug that leads to great high in brown sugar, weaker character used to get specific high. Brown sugar is the slave victim to the user.  Female figure is drug dealer who is in control.  Here the user is the slave who is victim to the drug. Unlike the case of the acid queen who is more powerful than the drug and is the drug herself, this is because she is so hostile not caring about the welfare of Tommy whom only sources for fun but is cruelly treated wit no regard, the queen action are aggravated and aims at tearing the soul of Tommy apart just like the heroin drugs does.

Artist’s Response to the Female Character

Comparison

The male figure seeks out the female characters; note how women are attached to the high of sex and drug use; and sex used as a gateway to manhood- note allusions to educating the men (no schoolboy and her mom’s school boy lovers and your boy won’t be a boy no more in acid queen.) in brown sugar the artist sings how “that they have aged and are no school boy and how that the brown sugar taste so good just like a very young girl should” in this the artist also show how sex can be a representation of manhood and this resolves to maturity.

Contrast

In brown sugar the artist seems to have some sympathy for brown sugar, yet recognizes how desirous and addictive the pleasure of both metaphorically and literally.  Acid queen the artist seems to see the gypsy as the more powerful character as the dealer, although a gypsy and prostitute, is the one who has all the power.  She has the drug that is so greatly desired.  She has what they want.  They must be willing to pay the cost –even at the cost of their soul.  No respect for this character looks at how the artist describes her. Heartless, greedy, and manipulative these are just a few of the characteristics that are portrayed by the acid queen.  She doesn’t care for Tommy; she is arrogant. However she is only concerned about the money that she is going to get from the sex trade.

Conclusion

Both this song are actually danced to their lyrics but the concept and the moral bearing in this songs have lot to be desired as they arguable encourage immorality and crudely associate sex with manhood and maturity. However they are also enriching in history and all the same making one know the dangers of indulging to this rational behaviors (LyricsFreak). The songs also clearly show how women use sexuality to manipulate men and have their own way. The moat logical thin thing one ought to ask themselves when listening to this songs what morals are in these songs, are they teaching or demeaning. There is need for the rock genre group to shape the edges for such songs although intended to teach can also harm because of mi-representations.

Work Cited

Acid Queen Lyrics Artist. The Who. [Updated 02/01/2009] http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Acid-Queen-lyrics-The-Who/BFAE9EFE1C3A019648256977002D049A [Accessed March 04, 2010]

LyricsFreak. Abkco Music Inc. Rolling Stones Brown Sugar Lyrics. [2010] http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/rolling+stones/brown+sugar_20117857.html [Accessed March 04, 2010]