Is music today sending the wrong message?
June 16, 2010 by Admin II
Filed under Editorials
June 6, 2010
By David Vu, Staff Writer
I was driving the other day and decided to turn on the radio. Like many other drivers, I had KIIS FM, Amp Radio, Power 106, etc. saved as my speed channels. A quick push of a button and, BAM, MUSIC! I heard the song, Rude Boy by Rihanna, a rather popular singer in the music industry today. What a great song to listen to while in the car, driving with the wind in my face as mediocre drivers make stupid moves on the road. It was quite a nice way to relax my rage, until I realized what the lyrics said.
Don\’t get me wrong; I can dance and sing to almost every song on the radio these days. Those bomb beats and catchy tunes are perfect to sing or dance to, but has anyone taken the time to slow down and really listen to what these songs say? Music reaches a very big group of people, and many of these listeners are teenagers, kids, and young children. These songs are carrying the wrong messages, and these messages are getting out to the kids.
All I get from today\’s music is “Girl, let me get in your pants.” Sex, drugs, and other things of that sort plague our music. Some quotes like “I can make your bed rock” or “C\’mon rude boy can you get it up?” are very simple to interpret. Take it how you want to, but I think brushing your teeth with Jack Daniels whiskey doesn\’t really help much.
Not only does it seem wrong, but also disrespectful and degrading to women. Music videos are filled with half naked women dancing around, seducing other men. They are hot, no doubt, but the next thing you know, all the guys are touching and grinding with the women, waiting to “get some.”
The biggest problem I have with these songs is that they\’re popular. They are VERY popular. And they are sending the wrong messages to teenagers. Some claim music has caused a big spike in crime and violence among teenagers, something all parents should be aware. The problem is, most parents don\’t partake in the fad of listening to KIIS FM or watching the music videos, and therefore have no clue what they\’re children are listening to. I think it is wrong, and parents need to do something. Teens are being fed music that they should not be listening to. It\’s disgusting.
We used to listen to the Beatles, the Eagles, and Frank Sinatra. From what I know, their songs don\’t solely talk about sex, drugs, and violence. Some songs even carry positive messages like Here Comes the Sun and What a Wonderful World.
It\’s basically impossible to put any blame on artists. They want to make money, and if they have to make songs about sex and drugs to do so then the message is justifiable to them. Hey, sex sells, right?
