Melanie Martinez's "Sippy Cup," the third track and final single from her debut album, Cry Baby, released on July 31, 2015, is a song rife with metaphors, dark themes, and, consequently, controversy. It serves as a continuation of the narrative established in her earlier song, "Dollhouse," delving deeper into the dysfunctional family dynamics of the character Cry Baby. The song and its accompanying music video explore themes of alcoholism, infidelity, murder, and the deceptive nature of appearances. While praised for its artistic vision and catchy melody, "Sippy Cup" has also faced criticism for its potentially triggering content and perceived problematic messages. This article aims to unpack the meaning behind the lyrics, explore the visual narrative of the music video, and address the controversies surrounding the song.
Unveiling the Story: From "Dollhouse" to "Sippy Cup"
"Sippy Cup" directly follows the events of "Dollhouse," revealing what "goes down in the kitchen." The song unveils the aftermath of Cry Baby's mother murdering her father and his mistress, driven by her husband's infidelity and her own struggles with alcoholism.
Decoding the Lyrics: Metaphors and Meanings
The lyrics of "Sippy Cup" are laden with metaphors that contribute to the song's overall message. The "sippy cup" itself symbolizes the attempt to disguise or mask unpleasant realities.
- "Syrup is still syrup in a sippy cup": This central metaphor highlights that simply changing the presentation of something doesn't alter its fundamental nature. In the context of the song, the "syrup" represents alcohol, and the sippy cup symbolizes the mother's attempt to conceal her alcoholism and the darkness within her family.
- "Kids are still depressed when you dress them up": This line emphasizes that external appearances cannot mask internal struggles. Putting on a facade of normalcy doesn't negate the underlying pain and dysfunction.
- "Blood still stains when the sheets are washed; sex don't sleep when the lights are off": This powerful imagery suggests that the trauma of the murder and the infidelity will continue to haunt the family, even after attempts to clean up the mess. The mother can't forget that she killed him, and he can't abuse her anymore.
- "He's still dead when you're done with the bottle": Although the mother in the story tries to drink her grief and remorse away, her husband is still dead and there’s nothing she can do about it.
The Music Video: A Visual Representation of Trauma
The music video for "Sippy Cup" provides a disturbing visual representation of the song's themes. It depicts Cry Baby's mother, intoxicated and enraged by her husband's infidelity, murdering him and his mistress.
- The video opens with Cry Baby asleep while her mother drinks Red Rum in the kitchen, visibly intoxicated.
- The husband arrives with another woman, both drunk, leading to the mother's violent reaction.
- She ties them to chairs and murders them with a kitchen knife, covering the bodies with a white sheet.
- Cry Baby discovers the scene, and her mother puts her to sleep with chloroform.
- Throughout the video, scenes of Cry Baby with angel wings in a white space are interspersed, leading to debates about whether Cry Baby dies at the end.
Controversies and Criticisms
Despite its artistic merit, "Sippy Cup" has drawn criticism for several reasons:
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- Triggering Content: The music video contains scenes of violence, alcoholism, and drug use, which can be triggering for viewers who have experienced similar traumas.
- Problematic Lyrics: Some lyrics have been interpreted as shaming or putting down women, particularly the lines:
- "You call that ass your own, we call that silicone": This line has been criticized as body-shaming and contradictory to Martinez's stated stance against shaming women who have had plastic surgery.
- "Pill diet, pill diet, if they give you a new pill then you will buy it. If they say to kill yourself, then you will try it. All the makeup in the world, won't make you less insecure. You got weights in your pockets, when you go to the doctor's. Your favorite candy's cotton, that's why all your teeth are rotten": These lines have been accused of shaming women who engage in unhealthy behaviors to meet societal beauty standards, rather than offering a message of support or awareness.
- Use of Ableist Language: Some critics have pointed out the use of ableist language in other songs by Melanie Martinez, although not explicitly present in "Sippy Cup," which contributes to a broader concern about the artist's sensitivity to mental health issues.
Interpretations and Fan Theories
"Sippy Cup" has inspired numerous interpretations and fan theories, adding to its mystique and appeal. Some popular interpretations include:
- The song is about how trying to hide something will not work, as you will always have the truth running through the back of your mind, and the fact that you must face the reality.
- The "corpse in the cradle" lyric can be taken literally, referring to the bodies hidden in Cry Baby's cradle, or metaphorically, representing the death of Cry Baby's childhood innocence due to the trauma she experiences.
- The line "your favorite candy's cotton that's why all your teeth are rotten" could refer to the cotton ball diet, an eating disorder where people eat cotton balls to feel full, or to the abuse of oxycodone, which can cause tooth decay.
Melanie Martinez's Artistic Style and Recurring Themes
"Sippy Cup" is characteristic of Melanie Martinez's distinctive artistic style, which often combines childlike imagery with dark and disturbing themes. Her work frequently explores themes of:
- Dysfunctional Family Dynamics: Martinez often portrays families with hidden secrets and underlying issues, challenging the idealized image of the perfect family.
- Loss of Innocence: Many of her songs depict the loss of childhood innocence through exposure to adult themes and traumatic experiences.
- Societal Pressures and Insecurities: Martinez critiques societal expectations and the pressures they place on individuals, particularly women, to conform to certain standards of beauty and behavior.
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