Ok, maybe "upsetting" is a little strong, lol, but still -

Today Katie was listening to a new CD with a really catchy beat, while she did the dishes, and I caught one of the lines that I really didn't like... the group is Ambulance LTD, and the line went like this....

"Relax, don't think about the way I treat you" - what the boy was saying to his girlfriend. (To be fair, the song also says this is what Bush tells America, lol)

Of course, I asked Katie if she had any doubt what my opinion was on a line like that, and she said no... she knew... and that it was just a song. But she is 17, so it's not so bad, but what about the much younger girls who are being conditioned to this? I mean, we wouldn't want Jhanai to listen to this crap!

And, yes, I know there are much, much worse lyrics out there, but I think this is a sneaky one.... since it has no cuss words or cop killing in it, it goes unnoticed. Good thing we tell our daughters (and our sons!) to have dignity and not put up with abuse of any kind......

Avril Lavine (sp) a young singer wrote a song about how most young girls when they lose their virginity don't really want to,,,kinda apeer pressure. The one line that got my attention was WHAT DO YOU THINK I WAS GOING TO JUST GIVE IT AWAY TO YOU...or something like that.
My attitude towards here changed with that one song,,,I felt since she is young,,,alot of young girls look up to her, with words along that line many I hope think about that, if they are in the situation.
Angie

Maybe for every negative, there really is a positive! Thanks, Angie!!

I know its upsetting when you hear words to a song and think how could they be singing about that,,,or using those words (swears)
And music is such a huge part of teens ,,,adn well people in general.
Angelika was my posse last night on the case,,,,we talked alot about music..I told her I like Toby Keith cause of his kick a$$ attitude...but I know there was some conversary with one of his songs.
I don't like Britney Spears cause of her way of dressing,,,she portrays an image I don't think is healthy for young girls. And yet back in my teen days I was so into Madonna's earlier years (like a virgin) Whats the difference between them?
Then there is Shakira, we wears clothes similar to Britney,,,yet one of her songs talks about how she feels when her boyfriend is doing drugs...
Til Tuesday sings about being a batter woman...and being so scared but fighting back by leaving.
OMG remember Cyndi Lauper? She Bops...you know what that means right? Well think about 20 yrs ago when that song came out the contorversary on that...yikes!
Angie

Angie - this reminds me.. I have no idea why I was thinking the singer of The Mavericks was named Milo.... it's Raul...right???? Bet you know now for sure just what a dipwad I am, lol.

Brittney Spears??? Don't get me going about her! Ewwww!

I like Toby Keith, especially I Wanna Talk About Me - the video was too funny - very tongue-in-cheek!! Lots of eyebrows got raised when he mentioned "when you start", but I think it was part of reality. Husbands and intimate boyfriends hafta hear about it, lol. I think He Ain't Worth Missin' was a good one, too.

Cyndi Lauper was tame compared to Madonna! She started LOTS of controvery over lots of stuff, and now she's laughing all the way to the bank by writing a children's book "The English Roses". Wonder if she keeps a copy on the coffee table with her "Sex" porno book? What a fake. lol.

You just opened up my favorite topic - soapbox - if you will. I can not say enough, parents need to actually parent their children. I am sure I listen to alot of music that you would find offensive (Kid Rock, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Snoop Dog, Ozzy Osbourne, etc) but you have to be smart enough to realize that this is not how everything is. And honestly, if you met me, you would find my taste in music very suprising compared to everything else! I don't buy into what they are "selling" so to speak, but I do enjoy the music. I will tell you over and over, if you don't like it, don't buy it, turn the channel, change the station, plug your ears if you have to. Don't push your views on me, and I promise not to tape headphones blaring Marilyns "Beautiful People" to your head!

And, as stupid and ignorant as I think Bush is, one small, but significant part of me cannot be happier that Tipper Gore did not end up as the first lady in the White House. She is the one who headed the PMRC in the 80's and got those explicit lyric warning labels put on albums. Funniest part was, it just peaked interest in those, and their sales skyrocketed!

I'm sorry, I'm going off on a tangent, but this topic gets my blood boiling! I actually bought a CD at Wal-Mart. I was naive enough to believe that I would actually get what I paid for, not their censored version. The CD package was not marked "censored" and there were no signs posted in that department. Anyway, when I tried to return the CD, I was told that I couldn't because it was opened! How else was I supposed to find out it was censored? To say the least, I hopped on my soapbox, and said something to the effect of "I am 27 years old, and the last thing I need in my life is a chain like Wal-mart trying to decide for me what I can and cannot listen to, just because parents would rather you raise their children than put the effort into it themselves!" Granted, I did say alot more, it went on with the clerk for about 15 minutes. I did have a crowd cheering me on by the time I was done, and I did get my refund! It was one of my finer moments!

This probably isn't where you were trying to go with this topic, but I just can't help myself. I even used this topic for several papers in high school and college, so I have done plenty of research. Like I've said, parents are responsible for watching out for their own children, and like you did Jana, can easily use it to bring up a topic that needs to be discussed, when it otherwise might be missed. BTW, if you need a song to open up just about any subject, I'm sure I can find you one!

Sorry to go off on a rant, that's just my opinion. (Dennis Miller)

Jen

Amen to thatJen~I have to say "ditto" to what you said. Like you I get tired of all the censorship crap. I really don't find any music offensive and I sooo love all kinds. You actually mentioned some I like, love Ozzy (the man, th emusic & the show), Snoop Dog (he needs to get a jobby job-LOL) Marilyn Manson, while I think he is a freak-love the Dope Show & Beautiful People, and love Rob Zombie and Kid Rock-that hillbilly trash! LOL Did you know he came from a well to do family? I also like Avril Lavigne and especially the song you are talking about Angie. I think that it sends a good message to girls about not givin' it up. I think she is cute and hate that she hides behind her hair. Also, loved Madonna and Cyndi. Guess I am not much help here either. What I do find offensive is what you mentioned Angie, Britney Spears and all the wannabes thinking they need to show their almost naked bodies to sell their music. Okay, maybe I don't find it offensive, but I think if your music is good you don't need to get up on the stage half naked. And boy Janet Jackson shows a nipple and everyone goes crazy! While Britney gets away with so much more.

Very insightful post about all this.

I like all the music you mentioned Jen. I used to love listening to all the 80's Heavy Metal music and still listen to a lot of it today. (you should see what my selection in my car is right now)

The thing about Madonna and Brittney Spears....Madonna started out wild and crazy and then tamed a little bit....she's still crazy but she has grown up and has a family....you have to respect her for that. Brittney is the opposite, she started out tame now look at her. I loved Madonna during my high school days and still listen to her....but I have never wanted to be like her. My daughter listened to Brittney, but once she started changing her looks, she chose on her own that she didn't like her anymore. I told her that if the music is good she shouldn't judge her by her looks, just enjoy the music. But she didn't want to anymore. So you have to know that not all kids will follow in suit.....I have always taught Jhanai to like the person for who they are and not by what they look like.

I personally never pay attention to the look of the person singing. If the music is good, I like it. And sometime I don't even pay attention to the lyrics it's just the music that I enjoy. But that's me.

What an interesting topic!

My attitude about music is that parents should pay more attention to what their children listen to. I hate it when parents blame the music and the lyrics of songs instead of taking resonsibilty for what there children put in their ears. I think when your an adult you can listen to whatever floats your boat, but when you are kids, the parents are supposed to watch out for you and hopefully mold you into someone who can make the right music choices and hopefully put the people who make yucky music in the poor house. I am a big advocate for taking reponsibilty for your own actions and not trying to blame other people for what you do or want choices you make. Ok, I am off my soap box here, I just hate to watch musicians get sued for what people do. American is the land of freedom, which is a freedom to make whatever music you want ( no matter how gross) and the land where you are free to listen to it, or not. I think parents should start parenting more and stop leaving it to the T.V., video games and the radio. I know that sounds old fashioned from someone who is two years away from the big 30, but I hate how that part of American Life is going to the wayside. I used to play outside, draw, be imaginative and Todays youth is too influenced by the media. That is why Kids are fat and disrespectful. Ok, maybe I should save all this for a term paper or something. hee hee. I just put my 20 cents worth in, yeah, I went a little over the alloted 2 cents. :-) I am not saying anyone here is a bad parent, in case that gets misinterpreted, I am just giving my opinion in general about music and lyrics and the american way.

Well said Shanna,
And Gen, what you said about Madonna and Cyndi Lauper yes they had femal sexual powerand back then it was pretty wild for that time to make those moves,,,were as Brittney is exactly as you said it.
Thank you Cristi for knowing what I was talking about,,,duh I just had heard the song recently and it stuck in my head. I like how she put a value on giving it up.

Im on Brandon about his music, I enjoy what he listens to mostly. And when we hear songs that should be censored we talk about it,,,mostly joke.

I like how Christina Agerilar (SP) has cleaned up her look, she does have a beautiful voice. And her song Beautiful is one of my favorite.

No worries Jana I knew who you were talkinga bout...lol Raul Malo I was just listening to him tonight,,,my getaway song..lol I will tell you what I mean one day...lol

Angie

Angie, I'm gonna hold you to that....