Anorexic Beauty

Pulp's song 'Anorexic Beauty' delves into the dark and haunting allure of a woman who embodies both physical perfection and a disturbing fragility. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a woman with 'pastel-white features,' 'high cheek-bones,' and 'scarlet-blooded lips,' evoking an image that is both ethereal and unsettling. This juxtaposition of beauty and morbidity is central to the song's theme, as the narrator is both captivated and repelled by this 'girl of my nightmares.' The use of phrases like 'sultry and corpse-like' and 'erotic and skull-faced' further emphasizes this duality, suggesting a fascination with an ideal that is ultimately destructive.

The repeated references to 'anorexic beauty' and 'feather-weight perfection' highlight the societal pressures and unrealistic standards of beauty that can lead to harmful behaviors and self-perception. The woman in the song is described as an 'underweight goddess,' a term that underscores the worship of thinness at the expense of health and well-being. This critique is woven into the fabric of the song, making it a poignant commentary on the dangerous allure of unattainable beauty standards.

Pulp, known for their incisive social commentary and distinctive Britpop sound, use 'Anorexic Beauty' to explore themes of obsession, idealization, and the dark side of desire. The song's haunting melody and evocative lyrics create a sense of unease, mirroring the narrator's conflicted feelings. By portraying the woman as both a dream and a nightmare, Pulp invites listeners to reflect on the ways in which societal ideals of beauty can distort our perceptions and lead to unhealthy obsessions.