Roxann Yus | 11/11/22
I am pleased to report that phallic imagery has been cancelled. Now, explicit language is totally in fashion thanks to our queen of the scene, Scene Queen.
"Scene Queen is best enjoyed when life is a paradox and you’re ready for the status quo to slut-drop in the twerkle pit."
BIMBOCORE VOL. 2 almost needs no introduction considering how explicitly playful its title is, as well as how successful taster tracks such as Barbie & Ken have been. I can remember very clearly where I was the first time I heard Barbie & Ken (yes, I am aware that a vivid memory of one’s placement usually follows something that startles the world, but this startled my world). I hadn’t listened to much of Scene Queen prior to this, but I followed her on Instagram as she posted campy motifs of the single’s artwork, alongside snippets of an expertly theatrical and hilarious music video. Naturally, I had to find a moment of peace and soulfulness to sit down and listen to Barbie & Ken in all of its insanely fabulous mockery of both of those things. After all, Scene Queen is best enjoyed when life is a paradox and you’re ready for the status quo to slut-drop in the twerkle pit.
Pink Whitney in fact addresses all of this and dedicates its artistry to “burning down the establishment”. It’s strikingly heavy, just like favourites of mine from early this year, Pretty In Pink and Pink Panther, and of course, in a similar fashion, merges angry-music-for-toxic-men with campy, pop-infused changes of pace and lyrics. The EP begins off extremely strong, showcasing exactly what Scene Queen is here to do. And that, in fact, is to mock toxic masculinity linked to heavy music and sexist attitudes towards women in the industry as well as society, encourage femininity in the face of everyone’s discomfort, and be in full possession of sexuality and direction.
Next track, Pink G-String, had already been well-acquainted with me and my Spotify as I’d played this track an endless amount of times prior to BIMBOCORE VOL. 2’s release yesterday. In fact, I expect to see Scene Queen in my Spotify wrapped, especially since I had a notification the other day to say that she’s been my favourite new artist in 2022. Yes, I think Spotify are trying to tease us this year. Maybe they’re taking a page out of Scene Queen’s bible?
And if you haven’t yet noticed: yes, Scene Queen has an intimate and intrinsic relationship to the colour pink, the colour that features in all of her cover artwork this year, her iconic outfits on stage, as well as the inspiration to white noise’s colour palette too. Shout out to br0kenbrainz on Instagram for curating one of the most iconic Scene Queen looks we’ve ever seen. It features Scene Queen’s bimbo branding, a word that’s been re-empowered to simply mean powerful, beautiful and completely unbothered by what society bestows upon women. It’s pretty much an uno-reverse of historical label-making by injecting positivity and control into a word that attempted to take that all away.
In fact, all of BIMBOCORE VOL. 2 aims to re-evaluate common and unjust conceptions of women, whether that be in conjunction with sex, drugs, lifestyle, emotions, or occupation. But in no way is this an explicit thought and aim for Scene Queen throughout the writing process, rather, she views life naturally in this way. Life is to have fun and make fun of yourself. Pink Cocaine in no way glamourises drug use either; it actually offers a different perspective of drug taking. They’re not essential to having a good time, but rather, they can be a coping mechanism for many women experiencing depression to escape that five-point list above.
"It’s a parody of men’s tactics to scapegoat their own toxicity through the upset behaviour of a woman."
Barbie & Ken also re-evaluates conceptions of women, particularly in reference to their emotions. Have you ever heard a man call a woman unreasonable, crazy, or psychotic? This song plays into all of that and grants justice to all the women who’ve ever been brainwashed into thinking that’s who they are in their relationship. It’s a parody of men’s tactics to scapegoat their own toxicity through the upset behaviour of a woman.
Throughout all Scene Queen’s masterful comedy is a demand for equality and respect. This EP is a message to say: ‘I can make this music too, I can talk about whatever the f*ck I want, I trust my vision and I want to make you all laugh’. From years invested in the art of drag, I truly believe that comedy is the most influential means to promote change, acceptance and healing.
Check out BIMBOCORE VOL. 2 on Spotify now!
Edited by: Roxann Yus
Cover image from: Hopeless Records (unknown photographer)
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