Have you ever considered how much music you listen to on any given day? It’s a lot isn’t it? I think it’s fair to say that a majority of Americans, particularly this generation, either awake to a clock radio, jam out in their car or keep an IPOD on them at all times. It’s this type of behavior that has made music such an influential aspect of our lives; we can’t escape from it. Instead of using music as a casual expression, teens and college-aged individuals push music to define who they are and what they believe. This wouldn’t be so bad if not for the negative messages that much of popular music contains. As it were, some of today’s most popular lyrics celebrate violence and the degradation of women.
In February of last year, The New York Times published an article titled “Under the Influence of…..Music?” In it, the author states that “Teenagers listen to an average of nearly 2.5 hours of music per day” (Tara Parker-Pope 1). In this particular article, a study is referenced that gauged the amount of influence that music had on adolescents. The author notes “Music is well- known to connect deeply with adolescents and to influence identity development, perhaps more than any other entertainment medium,” said the study authors” (1). Multiple studies have found that music is major aspect in the lives of teenagers and college –aged students. It not only influences behavior but can inflict certain emotion as well. In a journal article written by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, it is stated that “A concern…….. in the development and growth of teenagers is the negative and destructive themes of some kinds of music (rock, heavy metal, hip-hop, etc.), including best-selling albums promoted by major recording companies. The following themes, which are featured prominently in some lyrics, can be particularly troublesome” (Unknown 1). This statement not only acknowledges the abundant influence music has but brings to light the potential harm within negative lyrics.
In recent society, we have grown accustomed to violence as a form of entertainment. People crowd around to watch a UFC fight or stand in line to see a movie where people are mutilated. Our music choice is no different. Artists such as Limp Bizkit, 2Pac and Obie Trice produce songs with verses including “It's just one of those days, Feelin like a freight train, First one to complain Leaves with a blood stain, Damn right I'm a maniac You better watch your back” (Limp Bizkit), “He had tha nerve to say that I had a curfew, Do you know what time it is?, Get out the….. car or I’ll hurt you” (2Pac) and “Put it in a chokehold, spoke as a soldier, Yea he provoke him, to pull up out his holster” (Obie Trice). At some point, we as a society have decided that expressing violent activity is absolutely acceptable if you do it through a song. But music can be just as harmful if it is encouraging people to think or act based on negative lyrics.
Another issue pertaining to song lyrics is the abundant overuse of vulgarity as well as the sexist attitude towards women. Along with violence, we have excused foul language and the humiliation of the female sex. In the article “World Cities and World Beat: Low- Wage Labor and Transitional Culture” music critic Andrew Ross references a “positive alternative to gangster rap’s demonization of women as “ball breakers” and “gold diggers” (Lipsitz 379). His comment is a direct reference to how women are categorized throughout today’s most popular music. In his song “Gold Digger” the popular artist Kanye West criticizes woman while implying they are only after men’s money and use children to get to it. He sings “She take my money, well I'm in need, Yeah she's a triflin' friend indeed, Oh she's a gold digger way over time, that digs on me” (Kanye West). Following this same example, rapper Eminem humiliates women in lyric after lyric by making derogatory and sexual comments about them. In one song in particular he even makes sexually explicit comments about Mariah Carrey.
As the owner of an independent hip-hop label clearly states “…..lyrics about guns and women sell” (Georges Sulmers). And with the overall goal of any record label being money, the artists must sing to please their audience. But what price are we paying when the impact of these particular lyrics is so negative? When the most popular songs pertain to violence and hatred towards women, it is affecting the behavior and attitudes of individuals. What was once considered art, music has turned into an outlet for anger and resentment. What’s more, the only way to truly acknowledge that we will not condone this type of music is to cease buying it. Every time a CD, IPOD download or ringtone is purchased, we are telling the music industry that what they are producing is okay. And not only is okay but we like it! We enjoy humiliating females with derogatory comments and we find violence comical. This is the message we send every time we make a minimal purchase or hit the SEEK button on the stereo. Society must stand up for what is right and attempt to eliminate some negativity from our world.
Work Cited
Work Cited
Miller, Mark Crispen, “Who Controls The Music?”
Parker-Poper, Tara, “Under the Influence of…..Music?” The New York Times (2008): 1-1.
Unknown, “The Influence of Music and Music Videos” American Academy of Child and Adolescents Psychaitry (2009): 1-1.
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