Real Men - Mitski — 99.2/100
Mitski’s first two albums, Lush and RFSNCIB, are both reminiscent of Fiona Apple’s music, and Real Men is one of the tracks that is similar to Apple the most. This track consists of elements that are commonly heard in her songs: piano and drum-heavy with a staccato rhythm with lyrics about patriarchal values. The phrase ‘little boy[s]’ is repeated throughout the song, which is evocative of the iconic line from Fiona Apple’s Paper Bag: “I thought he was a man but he was just a little boy”, which is also similar to the rest of Real Men. In this song, Mitski sings about conforming to more traditionally male expectations such as self-destructive and toxic behaviors. It is not only becoming what society defines a ‘real man’, but also about seeking male acceptance and having internalized misogyny.














