"Jennifer's Body" is a song written and performed by American alternative rock band Hole, from their 1994 album Live Through This.
| "Jennifer's Body" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Hole | |
| from the album Live Through This | |
| Released | April 12, 1994 |
| Recorded | October 1993 |
| Studio | Triclops Studios in Atlanta, Georgia |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:42 |
| Label | DGC |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | |
Origin and recording
editAccording to drummer Patty Schemel, she and Courtney Love came up with the idea for the song in 1992 while in San Francisco; at the time, Love's husband Kurt Cobain was working with Melvins on their album Lysol (1992).[1] The song was recorded at Triclops Studios in October 1993 during the recording sessions for Live Through This.[1] Schemel recalled that the song was recorded in two takes.[1]
Composition and lyrics
editThe general theme of the lyrics deal with a woman's kidnapping and dismemberment.[2] According to Everett True, the song was thought to be inspired by Jennie Boddy, a music publicist.[3] Its lyrics appear to tell the narrative of a woman in captivity, being held "in a box by the bed", before eventually being murdered and dismembered.[4]
Interpretation
editThe song has been interpreted by feminist scholars as being about literal violence against a woman's body, as well as using "corporeal fragmentation," representing a woman's body being enjoyed "piecemeal in objectified parts."[5] The song's ending with the repeated lines "Just relax, just relax, just go to sleep," have been interpreted by feminist scholars as assuming the role of a male aggressor speaking to his female victim who is either being lulled to sleep, or experiencing death.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b c Hopper, Jessica (April 14, 2014). "You Will Ache Like I Ache: The Oral History of Hole's 'Live Through This'". Spin. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
- ^ Raha 2004, p. 179.
- ^ True 2006, p. 183.
- ^ Burns & Lafrance 2002, p. 116.
- ^ Burns & Lafrance 2002, pp. 114–15.
- ^ Burns & Lafrance 2002, p. 114.
Bibliography
edit- Burns, Lori and Melissa Lafrance (2002). Disruptive Divas: Feminism, Identity and Popular Music. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-81533-554-2.
- Raha, Maria (2004). Cinderella's Big Score: Women of the Punk and Indie Underground. Live Girls. Seal Press. ISBN 978-1-58005-116-3.
- True, Everett (2006). Nirvana: The Biography. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-30681-554-6.