©️ J. Maricevic, 2024
When I think about Marilyn Monroe’s iconic performance of “Happy Birthday” for JFK at Madison Square Garden, I imagine her reclaiming that moment with the same boldness I explored in pairing Jimmy Soul’s “If You Wanna Be Happy” with my artwork …
In Soul’s song, he humorously advises men about who to marry, and why, mocking the fragility of the ego—those individuals who fear partners that might shadow one’s persona, challenge one’s desire to maintain dominance, or masculinity/femininity at large.
Lines like, “A pretty woman makes her husband look small … causes his downfall … then she starts / To do the things that will break his heart,” lay bare these insecurities, framing women as either assets to control or threats to avoid to the insecure partner.
But what exactly will “break” the “heart” Soul refers to? Is it the beauty—inner or outer—that draws attention? Or is it the partner’s independence, challenging the desire for control? Perhaps it’s simply the refusal to conform to rigid gender norms, a defiance too unsettling for a fragile ego to handle.
Yes, listening to Soul’s song through a 2024 lens exposes its reliance on outdated gender norms. Yet, I interpret it as Soul critiquing the objectification of women, highlighting how insecurities reduce them to beauty and compliance. This perspective became the foundation for my art, challenging those same insecurities and reframing them as empowerment.
If Marilyn had paused that night, looked straight out into the audience, and said, “Happy F*ing Birthday,” followed by a drop of the mic—it would have been her moment to rewrite the narrative crafted for her. Marilyn’s defiance would have mirrored the questions my art and the song now provoke—about gender dynamics, beauty, power, and what it means to own your voice and your story. But, Marilyn didn’t drop the mic, so I did it for her—“…hfbd—that’s what she [should’ve] said.” I hope you enjoy.