Gritty punk rockers Mean Girls have recently started adopting a hard political stance with their music, and they now take aim at consent with the music video for “Not Yours”.
Women are constantly told that they don’t have ownership over their own bodies, a sad reality captured by the band’s new visual offering, taken from their recent Split Personalities EP.
“I’m so f*cking sick of not owning my body and having to hide it so that no one takes it,” hits hard as an opening line, speaking to the frustration so many of us feel. Too often, we’re made to believe that it’s our responsibility to prevent assault, and “Not Yours” confronts this damaging narrative head-on.
The track is carried by vocals charged with overt repulsion, now paired with a punchy video to match. A show of solidarity reminds viewers of the importance of speaking up, and standing up, against what’s wrong.
The video features some familiar faces from the Gauteng scene, as each character passionately recites the song’s lyrics. While the message is undeniably serious, the video also incorporates vibrant shots of people enjoying a live show alongside dynamic, spirited movements from participants. This contrast, combined with the nifty blending of DIY aesthetics and clearer, more polished shots, gives the visualiser a distinct, human edge.
Mean Girls have brilliantly leveraged their platform as “Not Yours” flips the narrative on bodily autonomy, much like Amyl and the Sniffers’ hit track “Jerkin’”. The personal is always political. Remember that.
