The Debate: Ne-Yo’s “Because of You” is about Masturbation?!!!
The more I listen to Ne-Yo, the more I realize how incredibly talented Ne-Yo is. Take his lead single “Because of You”…most people have concluded that this Michael Jackson-disco influenced track is about his sexual desire with a young woman. However, when you analyze his lyrical content a bit closer, you will identify that there is a sexual masochism that may have to do more with self-pleasure than pleasing his partner.
“Because of You” compares a sexual fantasy with drugs that has lead to his addiction. But here “you” is himself (read: his penis) as he is introduces us to his problem by stating that he “Want to but I can’t help it /I love the way you feel / just kinda stuck between my fantasy / and what is real.” Masturbation can be used to help bridge what’s real (read: whacking off) and your fantasy (read: whatever that may be). Then he continues by stating that “I need when I want it / I want it when I don’t / tell myself I stop every day / knowing that I won’t” because it takes two to tango, but it only takes one to play alone.
He also confirms his problem in the second verse stating “Think of it every second / I can get nothing done / only concern is the next time I’m gonna get me some / know I should stay away from / cause its no good for me / I try and try but my obsession wont let me leave.” Similar to the first verse, Ne-Yo focuses on the thought of himself, despite the title of “Because of You.” Throughout the record, Ne-Yo focuses on his needs, desires, and pleasure as he rarely mentions pleasuring her…a very selfish act during sex. He only refers to the other party in the chorus, but he is really talking about himself (and his hand).
(Chorus)
“Baby you have become my addiction / I’m so strung out on you
I can barely move / but I like it / and it’s all because of you /all because of you…never get enough / she’s the sweetest drugs”
Cleverly calling “you” as his tool, his hand as “she” and together its a “drug” is where most people think Ne-Yo is stating the obvious. But the connection of the words “thought,” “drugs,” and “addiction” along with focusing what he can do (nothing about her pleasure) brings to light the parallels between self-pleasure and drugs. As stated earlier, you need two to tango, but with drugs and masturbation, it can be a solo activity. And you can argue that anybody can get sex anytime…especially a celeb like Ne-Yo. But I counter that argument, the access to yourself is virtually always available (ask George Michael and Pee-Wee Herman). Like drugs, a lot of people use masturbation for their self gratification to where it may become more harmful than helpful. Masturbation can be linked to depression, addiction, sexual dysfunction, and others.
Ne-Yo sets up the pre-chorus as “I got a problem and I don’t know what to do about it / even If I did I don’t know If I would quit but I doubt it / I’m taking by the thought of it.” Ne-Yo is genius for identifying self-pleasure as a problem. Once again, there is an additional layer in the song that questions it being about sex - a sense of guilt. My question is: if two people are in accordance with act of sex, then why is there guilt? Why is it a problem? No where does Ne-Yo mention that he may be cheating or the girl has a man.
Ne-Yo focuses on the fact that masturbation is unique because it is considered an embarrassing activity, yet a lot of people don’t realize that in can contribute to a lot of problems if it gets out of control…similar to drugs. But – there are no masturbation rehab clinics and it’s something a lot of people won’t confess if it is a problem – but would they really want to?
Posted by thehonorable
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What do you think Ne-Yo’s “Because of You” about? (Please click on a link to vote) 1) Sex 2) Masturbation 3) Other (please comment below) |
I really think the song is just about a crush. You’ve read way too much into it.
thehonorable, were you masturbating while listening to the song?!?…..lmfao. you came from left field with that one homeboy!!!
I think Ne-Yo is an OTHER so MASTURBATION is the only SEX he can have
The-XFacta
wow i think you are totally off.. Wowsers
April Fools??
..this site is great
im really gullable, because now i think “Because of You” is about masterbation. neyo needs to confirm this or tell us wat it is. Or is it obvious that he is talkin about sexual desire?
oooo, this is a good rumor to spread. LOL
Thehonorable and I had this debate and I told him I think it’s just about an addiction to sex. I think he presents a persuasive argument…but the only real solid clue is the
“tell myself I stop every day / knowing that I won’t” because it takes two to tango, but it only takes one to play alone. ”
That definitely sounds like self-pleasure…however…perhaps that just means that he is addicted to all forms of sex, even if it means he’s got to do it by himself lol.
Either way…the song is still kind of perverted!
I GUESS ONE WHO DOES MASTURBATE WOULD KNOW BEST!!! LOL….
y’all got jokes. hahahaahahha. y’all funny
What would Neyo boyfriend I mean girlfriend say about this.
ok…i officially feel dirty and am now going away less of the person i was before i ventured into the dark depths of ne-yo’s nether regions–no matter how intellectual the original intention.
That was a real stretch for this topic dawg, it just sounds like(when you analyze Neyos lyrics deeply) that he’s not really feeling the feelings in the song he writes and makes generic statments.
This is incredible. How did you know? lol
Some one should interview him and ask if is he talkin about playing with himself playing with himself… lol
wooooow…. lmao , yo i couldnt stop laughing when i was reading that.. and at the same time im like u made alot of valid points… but whats more amazing is how u got there? i think that read said more about YOU than ne-yo… so i have a few questions for u before i can make a judgement if the song is really about masturbation or not…
1. do you usually find that “most” songs are about masturbation in some way?
2. had u been looking at ne-yo’s leaked pictures just before u wrote that?
3. has it been a while since u masturbated and do u think its possible that had u masturbated prior to listening to the song u would have had a different opinion
4. where u high? lmao….
*walks off to listen to Usher’s song confessions* lol
1. naw…this is the 1st song I have ever concluded that was about masturbation.
2. naw…i dont look at Ne-Yo’s pictures. I think Ne-Yo is a great songwriter and that’s it. I am not a homo, so I never thought of Ne-Yo in that kind of way. The lyrics just kinda intriguided me.
3. lol. this question is funny. i dont have a masturbation log, but i have a very active personal/sex/dating life - i have no problems or complaints in my personal.
but i was sitting on the 405 freeway in the middle of traffic and the song came up random in my ipod. to be quite honest, i don’t even like the song THAT much. but i decided to listen to it all the way through and it just kinda hit me. then i played the song on repeat like 40 times in a row. after that, i discussed with some friends (including reecie) and they thought it was crazy, but kinda valid.
4. i wasn’t high, but i was bored as hell.
5. for the record, “no homo” (c) Cam’ron
i knew that when i published this article, it would get alot of jokes and attention. i am confident in myself, so it’s no problem. but at the same time, i am happy i wrote it because its a funny article and i just wanted the readers to kind of think out of the box. and i believe that make HM Blog so unique, we publish our opinions on pop culture and we want everyone to join us for the discussion.
now, i wish i could interview ne-yo and ask him, and i am pretty sure he would say that its about sex, but why not ask him?
for the record - i am a grown man and i am not afraid to admit that i masturbate. but in college, i took a sex educational course and learned alot about masturbation (that’s where I know all the information about the act), along with STDs, HIV, pregnancies, the woman’s body, the male’s body, chemicals, genetics, g-spots, addictions, the effects drugs have on sex, etc. i wasn’t the smartest cat in college, but i paid attention in that class!
“i took a sex educational course and learned alot about masturbation (that’s where I know all the information about the act)”
please elaborate….just kidding. what did the class teach you that the “act” couldnt?!? Im sure you were “acting” before you went to college.
oh yea - i was acting before college! but i thought it was a shameful act until i learned more about it in college.
but the course discussed how the effects of masturbation, why people do it, the effect society has on it, the psychology behind it (women vs. men), and the pros/cons of it. it was interesting…i didnt realize that it was that layered.
google it - lol.
wWAYYY off…an argument can be made from the other side that would be just as valid. someone could say he is talking about his obsession with sex. He was interviewed in an article in XXL, he is addicted to sex. So tone down the conspiracy theory
(no t-pain)
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i can see what u mean by that.. but i highly doubt it.. really i dunno why u took the time to write this article .. get a life
I only think this songs is just about love where do you go off saying this is about masterbation, o.O, you read way into this song, get a life. LOL
materbation, are yu fucking stupid
I think this song is about him loving to fuck a woman so much he cant stop having sex with her. Yall bicthasses listen too hard. P.S. To any mothafucka who think he gay FUCK YOU he is too much of a fuckin freak to be a faggot ass nigga. He hot too with his reciding hairline YES I SAID IT
I would watch Shaffer masturbate any day! lol at myself ……but dammit, i would!!!!