Listening to the radio these days, I enjoy the upbeat songs and catchy hooks, and I really get into the music. That is, until I listen to the lyrics. That’s when I hit the power and think to myself in the silence, “What am I listening to?”
When we were younger, we used to listen to music like the Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, oh, and throw in some VeggieTales and sing-a-long tapes. The songs were about a beach party, your best friend, or how boring school is. Now we’re listening to the likes of Britney Spears, Bon Jovi, Nickleback and Black-Eyed Peas. Our problem now is half the time, we don’t know what we’re listening to. Take these few songs as examples:
Warning! The following songs absolutely contain innuendo and may offend sensibilities.
Britney Spears “3”
…Merrier the more
Triple fun that way
Twister on the floor
What do you say?…
…Three is a charm
Two is not the same
I don’t see the harm
So are you game?…
LMFAO “Scream My Name”
…Girl you’re hot, your body’s on fuego.
We fit together like if we was two lego’s.
We on the floor and we grind to the beat.
I love the way your body’s moving when its grindin on me.
We got the drinks by the dozen and nobody’s coming.
I don’t care all I want is your lovin’ I’m a s** machine,
And girl you turn me on.
I get you on till the break of dawn…
Whether we realize it or not, lyrics like these saturate the airwaves every day. Normally, people just brush it off and say things like, “They don’t mean it like that” or “It’s just a song.” Artists are slowly embedding into our subconsciousness that practices like drinking all night, sleeping around and having no respect for each other are alright.
Just be aware of what you’re listening to, OK? And feel free to share your own views on the lyrics situation in the Comments section below!
I agree with you for the most part, but you have to look at both sides. I'm pretty sure songs have ALWAYS had innuendos lyrics. Comparatively to when I was in grade 3 listening to Spice Girls (who also have fairly innuendous lyrics if you listen) and Veggie Tales (arguably low-key religious propaganda), I listen to the lyrics of songs MORE now.
Further more, I would argue that, to an extent, the kids of today are almost taught to deal with it. I have younger brothers, and the youngest falls into that "at risk of the prevalence sex/drugs/violence of modern music" bracket. I would say he's likely more aware of what songs are saying than I was at that age… Probably because parents are being hyper protective and ensuring their kids LISTEN.
Part of it is also how… open, so to speak, the media-nation is becoming. What used to be taboo (compare Xtina's song Dirrrty to any pussycat dolls song, for instance) is now the norm (Dirrty was, and still is, banned from many music stations for day time. PCD isn't). Have you seen some older music videos? Madonna?
This generation came AFTER sex, drugs, and rock and roll. It's not going anywhere, nor did it ever go away.
I have to agree with Sheena here. I'm not sure your conclusions are entirely accurate. Top 40 artists from our childhood were no less innuendos than top 40 artists today. The Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls both had extremely sexual songs – eg. We've Got I Goin' On and If You Wanna Have Some Fun, respectively. And I'm not sure how Veggie Tales gets mixed in with that.
But anyway. This kind of music has always and will always be part of top 40 culture. What intrigues me is how we censor "swear words". It's part of most broadcast regulation, and it's a weird concept to me. It seems pointless when most of the content is just as vulgar.
Wow! Comments! 🙂
You guys both have really great points. I guess my point came across the wrong way; I should have put more emphasis on the second last sentence. You’re right though, how songs when we were young had the relatively the same lyrical content as songs these days. We just hear them through innocent ears.
Sheena: You’re so right, and I should have thought about the rock and roll culture, sex, drugs, and groupies all included. (Factoid: “Rock and Roll” was slang for drugs and sex, respectively.)
However, I disagree with you on the VeggieTales topic. Even if they are produced by an openly Christian company, they contain morals necessary for the upbringing of any decent person: Don’t steal, Don’t lie, Be understanding, etc…
Sarah: An interesting thing… We are definitely in the right thinking that this type of behaviour is right at home in the top 40. But we ignore the genres that aren’t “In” at the moment. Many more of these songs are innuendo-free. Just a thought…
Thanks again both of you for the conversation!
Backstreet boys is a very popular band during my teenage years, they are great performers too.*'*
when i hear about the songs of Backstreet Boys, i remember good old college days.;"