Prey
Naomi G
Contemplative pop single “Prey” is an attempt to reclaim greater tenure as a woman knowing her worth in a relationship. The track, invocative of Banks’ chilling despair on some notes and The Weeknd’s midnight sentiments on others, resolves itself by criticizing structural behaviors that oppress women and upholding virtues that are necessary to curb patriarchal pressures.
As Naomi G puts it, “I wanted to empower young people who are faced with unwanted or unhealthy sexual attention that causes them to psycho-socially feel like ‘Prey’. This song is an anthem of power to those who have been gaslighted, dominated, manipulated, harassed and controlled based on their gender and looks. This song is a movement about saying no quickly and firmly, whilst understanding all the microaggressions that be before getting into any kind of deception.”
“Prey” is a brooding synth-pop jam that begins with motif-roving synths whose presence comes in forcibly and dips out in an exhale after the purposeful exercise of each line. A minimal percussion drives it, morphing into a choppy, playful, and hard-hitting stomper that’s enough to catch listener’s attention.
The resulting musical concoction builds up into a riveting climax where dark pop, trap and hip-hop accents come together seamlessly, complementing pop feminism in its own terms.
[Verse 1]
Your war’s in your head tonight
Mine is out for all to see
Ahh Ahh
It burns right through your heart
Casualties fall at your feet
Ahh Ahh
[Pre-chorus 1]
Don’t you run away
Don’t you run away
All this push and pull
Do you take me for a fool
[Verse 2]
Don’t think you’re gonna strip of my clothes
It’s the ending I forebode
Take the harm off
Take the foul off
Why’s your charm just like a net you cast
Your manipulation
It’s a fad
But my mind is like an ocean
Four corners you can’t understand
Come and understand yea
[Pre-chorus 2]
Don’t you run away
Don’t you run away
All this push and pull
Do you take me for a fool
[Chorus]
Your sweet nothings are bait
You lie in wait
Caught up in a chase to prick me like a spindle
You’ve got a hundred warm bodies in your bed
Mine ain’t gonna make it feel any warmer
I’m not your prey
I’m not your prey
I’m not your prey
I’m not your -
I’m not your prey
I’m not your prey
[Climax]
You’ve got that soft spoken violence
That sweet taking asylum
For the lack of keepsakes in your thoughts
I want your touch if it’s honest
If it doesn’t slip in that poison
If it’s not in disguise
Gotta rely on my third eye to evade you
Cause you’re listenin' to that chemical
Easin' me into that weaker role
Turning me to an animal
Mixed in with your dirty laundry
Put it on me
Cut my head off so my parts can look like hers
Tell me again how I’m not like other girls
