“Macho Man” suggests guys identify with the perfect model of a man in society through the masculine body’s expectations. “The body always in demand” represents the body that society expects from a man. Appearance is the main focus in the song and the video clip as if a man would only be defined by his appearance.
The body language of the dancers demonstrates their irresistible physical traits as men. They touch their bodies as if their bodies were merchandise. The song represents the stereotype of the perfect model of masculinity: “Every man wants to be a macho man to have the kind of body always in demand.” Failing to have an ideal body can lead males to doubt about their self-esteem in a negative way. Since body shaping takes time and discipline, guys can be frustrated, annoyed and guilty for not fitting into society’s expectations. The efforts to aspire to the ideal body are seen in the video clip with “joggin’ in the mornings, workouts in the health spa, muscles grow,” and lifts of weights. The lyrics and the images give the illusion that if they aspire to match the characteristics of a macho body, then they will see themselves as irresistible divines like Hercules. “Baby, it’s too much, my body,” claims that the man thinks his body is so hot that no girl can resist him.
The dancers show such confidence in their moves because they assume that their bodies are worthy of admiration: “Body, don’t you tease my body, body, you’ll adore my body, body, come explore my body.” Individuals’ self-perceptions can be damaged by a wrong vision of masculinity demonstrated in the song because the macho man’s body stereotype is constructed on a restricted identity of a man’s body. Ideals about the body are impossible and unrealistic to achieve because these are from opinions that always change from century and person.
“Macho Man” suggests guys identify with the perfect model of a man in society through a masculine behaviour. The lyrics describe the stereotype of a man being though. At the “Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey” part of the song, the dancers punch like boxers. The example of boxing movements demonstrates a physical aggressiveness image representing the toughness encouraged by traditional masculinity. Also, the definition of a macho man, according to society’s expectations, is someone who has power. As a result, another stereotype dictating the behaviour of men is to be a leader: “Always look so boss, he’s a king.” Men are supposed to have a job that reflects their power. The song seems like a subliminal message that enters the mind of guys and insists on “I gotta be a macho.”
As can be seen in the video clip, one of the dancers was either a builder, police officer, cowboy, or soldier. All these “traditional masculine” jobs are assigned to men because these jobs give the status “you can best believe that, he’s a macho man.” The harmful part of the behaviour encouraging the stereotype of being powerful is to think that you are superior and have the tendency to discriminate others. When the ego takes all the place in relationships, people tend to be unrespectable and forget their values. Relationships and environment can become toxic. Moreover, the lyrics create the illusion that “every man ought to be a macho, macho man to live a life of freedom.” This last sentence from the lyrics suggests men must follow masculine norms to have the privilege of freedom. However, men are already prisoners of the stereotype “macho man” with so many manhood norms.
Fight Clubs/Night Clubs 