“Hush, Keep it Down, Voices Carry”

I love this song and this video. I’m also a huge fan of Aimee Mann, who has gone on through the years to have quite a successful solo career as a musician.

There are so many things to love (and even hate) about this video: the awful but true stereotype of the 80’s “Yuppie” (been there, done it, horrid people), the very obvious disrespect the boyfriend has for his girlfriend’s career, the “mocking” of her aspirations, his apparent exasperation with her that she just won’t “stop” for HIM, his toxic aggressiveness towards her, and lastly, in the final scene, which still gives me chills: when he notices her hair isn’t quite “right” and in that moment, when she realizes that she will no longer stay silent anymore, cannot stay silent anymore and quite literally stands up, sings, and makes her voice heard, much to his embarrassment and consternation.

He tries his best to “stop” her — but — and this is the best part: she won’t let him. She’s had enough. She’s bursting out with the one thing she knows will earn his ire: her voice, her dreams, her wanting and needing to be HEARD.

It’s just brilliant.

And, it’s also still sad to say, unfortunately, so very true for so many women.