I know I am not the only one who loves to jam out to top 40 hits in the car, or at the club with friends, but if you listen to the lyrics carefully, you might realize that our favorite artists are singing about concepts that promote unhealthy relationships.

Everything from idealization and external validation, to objectification, and toxic habits are featured in these songs. As a girl who is just trying to understand the world and the relationships you have throughout your life, I realized that although these messages may make for entertaining music, they do not really promote healthy relationships.

1. Cheerleader: OMI

Hm. Where to start… well besides the fact that the lyrics assume that women are alive simply to serve men and be their “cheerleaders”, this song promotes receiving external validation from your significant others rather than internal validation. In other words, it’s saying, “I know that I will never cheat on you because you cheer me on” instead of the healthier alternative of, “I will never cheat on you because I think that is wrong.” If this song was promoting healthy relationships, there would be more mutual respect and responsibility in the lyrics, rather than the fact that Omi is basically saying, “thank you for being my servant, because of that I’ll marry you." Maybe we should promote equality in a relationship rather than, “granting wishes like genie(s) in a bottle.”

2. Jealous: Nick Jonas

Do not get me wrong, Nick Jonas is just as good as a soloist as when he was part of the Jonas Brothers, but his recent single does not promote healthy relationships in the slightest. I know we all love listening to “Jealous” and dancing around with friends, but if you listen closely to the lyrics you’ll realize the heartthrob we know and love is objectifying women. In the chorus he sings, “You’re too sexy, beautiful and everybody wants a taste, that’s why I still get jealous.” Okay, so yes it’s sweet— a big strong man gets jealous that other men are looking at his girl, but for someone to say that “everybody wants a taste” OF A HUMAN BEING would have to mean that humans do not have a say in what happens to them. This implies that they are merely pieces of meat for others’ pleasure. Last time I checked, we are people, not animals, so let’s not treat each other as such. Also, the fact that Nick Jonas finds solace when his girl is jealous just like him, also represents the search for external validation through negative emotions. If that’s how “healthy” relationships work, I’m good with staying single forever.

3. Talking Body: Tove Lo

I’m not just attacking men here. Don’t worry, this isn't a feminist rant. The artist Tove Lo, who sings the tune “Talking Body” is ruining our generation’s ideas about healthy relationships just as much. Okay so yes, I admit to jamming out to “Talking Body” in the car on the way to work because it is catchy, but the lyrics are just as objectifying as our favorite male artist’s songs. A newfound trend for women is the belief that monogamy is stupid and boys are only good for sex and "Talking Body" captures this belief perfectly. The lyrics “if you love me right, we f*ck for life” is minimizing relationships to mainly physical attraction. “If you’re good in bed, I’ll stay with you forever” is basically what Tove Lo is saying. A poignant quote from the movie, “Trainwreck” says, “the best you ever had guy is probably in jail” and I like to believe that healthy relationships are emotional as well as physical.

4. Good For You: Selena Gomez

Okay I love Selena Gomez' “Heart Wants What it Wants”. It's brilliant. But, her newest tune, “Good For You”, rumored to be about her ex Zedd, is anything but empowering. How many times does it have to be said before people understand? People do not dress for other people. So listen, Selena I love you, but wouldn’t it be healthier to look good for yourself, not for your boyfriend? Again, our favorite pop stars are seeking external validation from their significant other and when our favorite pop starts do it, so do us common folk.

5. Blurred Lines: Robin Thicke

I know this song is old and the topic of Robin Thicke sounding like a misogynist has been exhausted, but I could not possibly write an article on unhealthy relationships without mentioning this infamous hit. The Guardian already covered this song so I think the best way to explain it’s problems is to quote it straight from the source. "It promotes a very worrying attitude towards sex and consent," explained Kirsty Haigh, EUSA's vice-president of services. "This is about ensuring that everyone is fully aware that you need enthusiastic consent before sex. The song says: 'You know you want it.' Well, you can't know they want it unless they tell you they want it.” This song minimizes consent, and the importance of sex in general. Not to mention the obvious controversy which comes from the fact that Thicke is comparing women to animals… and that speaks for itself.

6. Animals: Maroon 5

If we’re continuing the theme of treating people as animals, why not critique the song that is literally entitled, “Animals”. Besides the fact that this song considers the women the composer likes as his “prey” and as she tries to get away from him, he chases her, this song also ignores consent as a necessity for sex. Instead, this song strongly suggests that if you persistently pursue hard enough, you can get the “animal” to submit to you. This is not a healthy way to view sex, or relationships in general because despite popular belief, consent is not optional. Thanks, Maroon 5.

7. Take Me To Church: Hozier

So I’ll admit it: before my friend pointed out this song’s questionable morals, I was blinded by Hozier’s beautiful melted chocolate-like voice and serene melody. But when I researched the lyrics of this hit, I realized that Hozier is literally singing about worshipping a human being like she is a god. Last time I checked, healthy relationships stem from mutual trust and respect, not the idealization of their significant other.

8. Bad Girls: MKTO

This Top 40 hit reflects no depth towards significant others. In addition, the music video over sexualizes women and represents them as mere “hot body(s)” while MKTO is their “bodyguard”. Let’s not promote the romanticization of toxic people. Yes, I get that the women are intended to be hot and irresistible, but we’re all just trying to be happy and successful. If one becomes attached to a toxic person, that's not really promoting happiness is it? I didn't think so.

9. Dear Future Husband: Meghan Trainor

Okay, so the first time I heard this song, there was a lot of controversy surrounding it. I have to admit, ever since Trainor’s other hit, “All About That Bass” and the discrimination surrounding it I have not been her biggest fan. This song however, takes my distain to a whole other level. Trainor not only demeans women and their purpose, but she also minimizes the equality of the sexes. Yes I am aware that there has been speculation that Trainor’s sexist hit is satire, but if we’re considering the bigger picture, younger kids who listen to Megan Trainor will sing along to these sexist lyrics and believe that this is their purpose in life. We should be teaching children that women and men are equal, because last time I checked it was 2015, and we should take all the equality we can get.

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