Sadomasochism okay, Sex is not?

Driving down Ford Road, Rihanna's S&M came on KIIS FM as I surfed through radio stations. I've always liked Rihanna. I mean, come on, she's sexy, talented, and always sings like she's trying to seduce me. Her style is crazy and she's drastically altered her hair style at least 47 times. (click here to see them all).  But when the chorus came, I heard this:

"I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it,

(beep) in the air, I don't care, I love the smell of it.

Sticks and stones may break my bones,

But chains and whips excite me"

First off, what a sexy hook. But I got really pissed off when I heard this, since the lyric "sex" was cut out. What the FUCK?! When did sex become a curse word. Sure, if she had said "fuck" or an actual curse word, then I wouldn't mind. But "sex"?  What the shit! The end of the chorus deals with how "chains and whips excite" her. I'd rather have my children hear the word sex then hearing about her love for pain inflicted pleasure.

This censorship on radio stations is, as rapper and actor Ludacris would put it, ludicrous. What I love about this song is that it pushes the boundaries of our societal norms, specifically of how we receive pleasure. In today's world, the ways in which we can fulfill our sexual urges for pleasure are restrained and many ways are seen as "immoral" and "wrong". Our society frowns upon prostitutes, sodomy, anal sex (specifically gay sex), sadomasochism, trans-genders, etc. These actions and people all gain pleasure in ways that does against "traditional", accepted ways.

The combination of a catchy mainstream sound with polar opposite content (not mainstream, traditional lyrics) make this song, to me, a perfect shot at traditional values. Even if Rihanna didn't intend for that meaning when she wrote the song, I see it as a big middle finger. And for that Rihanna, I give you a nice slow clap.