Le Theme - Birds of Prey (2020): Empowering Emancipation (part 3)
(part 1) (part 2) (part 4)
MODERATE SPOILERS
Black Canary
Yet again, the lyrics line up damn well with the story as Black Canary sings (her actor) Jurnee Smollett-Bell’s version of James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” at the Black Mask Club.
This is a man's world This is a man's world But it wouldn't be nothing Nothing without a woman or a girl
After Sionis’ attempt to bring Mr. Keo and the Golden Lions into his fold failed, Black Canary’s singing takes the forefront while the scene jumps between her performance on stage and Sionis’ attempts to pretend he isn’t losing his shit.
This is a man's world It wouldn't be nothing Without a woman or a girl He's lost in the wilderness He's lost in bitterness He's lost in loneliness He's lost This is a man's world It wouldn't be nothing Without a woman or a girl
Now, let’s address the song. On third viewing (yep), I realized the message the movie’s sending. While the world is designed for males, it simply would be significantly less if females opted out (we’ll get back to this). That’s the first point. The second point is that males (Sionis especially) are lost. Very lost. Why that is? ‘Eh, the song doesn’t seem to cover it and the movie doesn’t either (directly atleast). Not like it’s important to the movie, though. So let’s carry on.
After she finishes, we get the following.
Harley (V.O.): Canary's been singing at Roman's club for years. Sionis: *clapping* Come on! *looks at crowd* Harley (V.O.): He calls her his little bird, Black Canary: *puts the mic away uncomfortably and forces appreciative smiles* Harley (V.O.): and he's got her wrapped right around his fancy little finger.
Yeah, we’ll get back to this.
Harlequin Joins the Club
The very next thing is an exchange between Black Canary and Harley.
Black Canary: *walks up to bar* Bartender: Here you go, Canary. *gives her a drink* Black Canary: *sounding tired* Thank you. (…) Harley: *drunkenly* Singer lady woman! *points and smiles* Black Canary: *looking bothered* Harley: You’re really, really good. Black Canary: *exhaling* Yeah. *sighs before sipping drink* Harley: *slides up in her space* Know what a harlequin is? Black Canary: *looking frustrated* Janky-ass clown with bad eye makeup? Harley: Oof! …Ouch! Black Canary: *smiles playfully* Harley: *looking down, smiling* A Harlequin's role is to serve. An audience. A master. *looks away for a bit* You know, a harlequin's nothing without a master. Black Canary: *looks at her* Harley: And no one gives two fucks who we are beyond that. *drinks her shot and turns her back to bar, looking at Sionis laughing with a group* Black Canary: *looks her over and looks over at Sionis chattering* Yeah, I don't know who you think I am, lady, but I'm not her. *drinks* Harley: Puddin' and I broke up. Black Canary: *gives long look* Harley: *makes brief eye contact* I haven’t that to anyone. Yeah. For good this time. And for the first time in a long time, *looks at her with a smile* I’m all on my lonesome. *holds back tears* It’s great. Black Canary: *proceeds to leave the bar* Welcome to the club. Harley: *sadly* Thanks.
Immediately after, some dude at the bar who clearly heard everything tries to cheer butter her up with drinks. Next shot is him holding her up against a wall in the alley while she’s mostly unconscious. Black Canary walks out, he puts on an act saying “We’re all good here”, and she continues on to her car only looking back once. We then see Harley drunkenly say “I don’t wanna go home” before a van backs into the alley, which Black Canary notices in her rear view mirror. Just before they put her in the van (and totally rape and/or kidnap her), the second guy asks “Isn’t that [redacted]’s girl?” To which the first answers with a smile, “Not anymore.”
Enter Black Canary and Marva Whitney’s “Unwind Yourself”. The two get a beatdown (with no help from drunk Harley) and Sionis witnesses it from a window above. Before we even get to that part, let’s focus on the lyrics for a sec.
Unwind yourself Come on and turn that soul loose Come on baby Unwind yourself Turn your soul, soul loose Well, if you can't groove And you can't move Well then baby Well then baby That's no groove No, no Find yourself (…) Oh don't be scared It won't break Turn her loose And let it shake Let it shake now
Yeah, this is definitely a track Black Canary needed to hear after a stressful day at work. Remember her conversation with Harley earlier? Remember how tired she seemed? Remember her song before that? Remember how uncomfortable she seemed after finishing? Somebody doesn’t like their work situation. And thanks to Harley and two fuckheads, she gets to relieve some stress.
Also thanks to Harley and two fuckheads, “Songbird” gets unwillingly promoted to the more dangerous servitudinal position of Sionis’ new driver. Why? Because Sionis has an “amazing idea” after saying “All these years, I thought she was just a pretty face and a fine set of lungs.” ...And a certain Harlequin broke the previous driver’s legs. >.>
During the after scene of her strolling to her apartment building, the lyrics of The Three Degrees’ “Collage” lets us into Black Canary’s head.
Red for the light, gotta stop this thing Find a song to sing that is everything That I meant to say, I meant to say
Simply put, things started moving too fast in a direction she didn’t want it to and she wanted to hit dem breaks but they didn’t work. 🤷🏿♂️
Black Canary & Cassandra
While making way to her apartment, Black Canary stumbles on Cassandra sitting on the steps just past her own while her foster parents are arguing loudly in it.
Cassandra’s Foster Father: You’re the one who wanted the kid! Black Canary: *looks in general direction* Cassandra’s Foster Mother: I never wanted her! Black Canary: *scoffs; approaching Cassandra* Let me guess. Parents? Cassandra: *head down* Foster parents. *briefly looks away* Black Canary: Right. *briefly looks away* Black Canary: Sorry, kid. *touches arm casket* Cassandra: *recoils arm* Sorry about your face. *looks at her* Shit, *both smile* you do have something on your face. *looks ahead* Black Canary: *laughs* You should've seen the other guy. Cassandra’s Foster Parents: *still arguing* Black Canary: *stares in general direction again; exhaling* Uh… *looks at Cassandra: *walks away* Cassandra’s Foster Father: I want that kid Black Canary: *stops, turns around* Cassandra’s Foster Father: out of my fucking house! Black Canary: You know, kid, not every day is gonna be like this. Cassandra: *looking in general direction; looks at Black Canary* Black Canary: You just gotta hang in there. *pulls out wallet and approaches; puts dollar bill on staircase pillar* Get something to eat. *backing up and looking in general direction* Stay outta that. It's not worth it. *walks away* Cassandra: *sits up and leans forward carefully before snatching dollar bill; opens and nods with smile of approval; quickly refolds and hides in arm casket* Cassandra’s Foster Father: Don't talk to me like that.
So Cassandra turns out to have a rather shitty living situation with foster parents who clearly don’t want her around and argue very loudly. She also hides things in her casket instead of putting them in her pockets like a safe-feeling kid would. Why’s her arm in a casket again?
Black Canary turns out to be even more caring than we thought. With comforting Cassandra and all. But wait,… only upon third viewing did I realize something. Black Canary’s been in a similar boat. We’ll get back to this.
