Pussy Riot Shares An Empowering New Anthem

"Does your vagina have a brand?" So opens Pussy Riot's new pop song and razor-sharp counter to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's sexist comments. Specifically, the audio that was leaked, wherein Trump uttered the phrase, "Grab them by the pussy," alongside Billy Bush. In effect, the Russian punk band — along with Desi Mo and Leikeli47 — decided to grab back, releasing a smart and subversive take on the unfortunately still present sexist remarks that are made about women and their bodies. Not just by politicians, but by anyone. The "Straight Outta Vagina" lyrics celebrate femaleness and female sexuality, and prove that both ideals are larger than any negative or demeaning remarks. Or as one of the band members put it, how "vagina is bigger than Trump."

With lyrics like "vagina's gonna win the race" and the description under the video on YouTube ("And the owner of vaginas is not some narcissistic stupid orange ape who’d claim that he could easily grab women by their pussies. The owner of vagina is a woman"), there's no doubt that the song serves as a powerful riposte to Trump. Just weeks before the election, it couldn't come at a more pertinent time. But as stated above, it's not just about him. It's more than that. Here's a look at Pussy Riot's most liberating lyrics:

Does your vagina have a brand?Let your vagina start a bandIf your vagina lands in prisonThen the world is gonna listen

According to The Guardian, Nadya Tolokonnikova — who recorded the song with TV on the Radio guitarist and producer, Dave Sitek — said the phrase "Does your vagina have a brand?” inspired the song. Also, following an anti-Vladimir Putin song, two of the band's members spent 16 months in Russian jail in 2012. Apparently, they are not afraid to make the world listen again, as they sing,

My vagina is tough and dangerousShaking at the major labelsVagina gonna take the stage'Cause vagina got a lot to say

Tolokonnikova has a lot to say about politics. "Politicians are praising ‘strong leadership.’ Trump openly supports the authoritarian methods of Vladimir Putin. And it’s scary. It’s not the world in which I want to live," she explained to The Guardian.

Don't play stupid, don't play dumbVagina's where you're really from

The chorus is an austere reminder that no matter what you say in a locker room, females have indescribable, irrefutable power. Just read these lyrics:

Vagina gonna win the raceVagina gonna play in spaceVagina gonna top the chartsVaginas fill your shopping carts

Vaginas in the art museumAnd people buying tickets just to see ‘emPut your pussy on a dietThen paparazzi gonna start a riot

The repetition of phrases, along with the personification ("Vagina's gonna win the race") and objectification of the female body ("Vaginas fill your shopping carts"), both celebrate and condemn its commodification ("People buying ticket just to see 'em"). In effect, the lyrics put the power back into the hands where it belongs — in the hands of the women. The ones who get to decide what to do with their body parts. Other lyrics include,

We got pussy for daysBack up, pussy don't play

You gon’ always gonna find it when you need itYou gone’ always come back and repeat it

This part of the song seems to be one of the most direct rebuttals to comments like the ones from Trump:

Throw a fit right nowPut up your fist right now'Cause you the sh*t right now

Like the description under the video says, "Female power and female sexuality ... need to be discovered. Discussed. Performed. Lived up." Why? If you asked Pussy Riot, they'd probably say it's "'cause you the sh*t right now." As the song goes,

I rip sh*t like Sinead O’ConnorI wear my vag as a badge of honorI take pride in the way we riseOne love to Maya Angelou, the 8th world wonderHow we do it all sometimes I wonderI could play nice so I can bring that thunderSo sad I gotta end right hereBut this vagina gotta go make them numbers

The lyrics are undeniably powerful and thought-provoking. It's worth taking a listen, especially now during election season.

Images: Pussy Riot/ YouTube