Ok... before you read this you should know that included in this blog are song lyrics that are quite offensive and adult. I am not editing them because quite frankly, that would miss my point. Before you get upset about them being on my blog, try instead to direct that upset-ness at them being on kids' radios.
You see, these songs aren't your typical adult rap, heavy metal, or seedy rock n' roll- not one of the music genres that we'd expect such things from... the music genres that we know are singing for a certain audience with a certain message. No, these songs are chipper, light, teeny-bopper pop tunes. Songs that if you couldn't totally understand the words you would think were just some more peppy love jingles. But with the words you realize the lyrics are loudly and clearly declaring nothing of the sort.
It's not like I'm the type to say "Christian music is good, secular music is bad." Not true. There's plenty of meaningless Christian songs and great secular music messages. But lately the trend has grown that these pop songs no longer sometimes push the limits.... they knock them down and stomp deviously all over them.
I try to keep up with current pop music because I work with kids at a school everyday as well as minister with the youth at our church, and I'd like to have an idea of what they're humming. Boy, am I fed up with it.
Such lyrics are as follows:
"All my life I've been good but now,
I'm thinking 'What the hell'
All I want is to mess around,
and I don't really care about
If you love me, if you hate me,
you can't save me, baby, baby,
All my life I've been good but now,
whoa 'What the hell'.
You say that I'm messing with your head
Boy, I like messing in your bed
Yeah, I am messing with your head
When I'm messing with you in bed."
~Avril Lavigne, "What The Hell"
"I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it
Sex 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."
~Rihanna, S&M
"Got a water bottle full of whiskey
In my handbag.
Got my drunk text on
I'll regret it in the mornin'.
Now we're getting so smashed.
Knocking over trash cans.
Everbody breakin' bottles
It's a filthy hot mess.
There's a place downtown,
Where the freaks all come around.
It's a hole in the wall.
It's a dirty free for all.
And they turn me on.
When they take it off.
Everybody take it off.
Lose your mind.
Lose it now.
Lose your clothes
In the crowd.
We're delirious."
~Kesha, "Animal" (I will point out that this pop singer's lyrics are smothered with of being wasted on alcohol)
These are just parts of the songs, and trust me, the rest of the lyrics are on the same par. Also, these are only a few examples of the types of songs I'm discussing.
My point in this blog is two-fold. First, I want to create awareness in you to realize what messages are being broadcasted on seemingly harmless radio stations by seemingly harmless tunes. Secondly, I want to create sympathy in you. Sympathy for the teens, pre-teens, and even children who are being poisoned by these messages constantly. Even today when discussing one of these songs with a fellow employee, I sang part of the tune... and a 5 year old's face perked up as she said, "Oh I love that song!". Heartbreaking.
Whether the listener is 5, 10, 15... these songs, these lyrics are just as dangerous. I've known there are "bad songs" out there, but my issue is that now they are under the guise of just another pop teen song. No longer are there subtle hints of edginess... the messages are in your face bold slime. The tunes, the singers, the radio channels... seem so unalarming. But the words... well, alarming indeed.
The Bible talks about how Satan disguises himself as an Angel of Light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He is also working hard to disguise his messages as well. I for one am not going to be fooled.
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And there are so many more, sad lyrics that young children bob their heads to, "put your hands on me, in my skin tight jeans, be my teenage dream tonight." or "wake up in morning...brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack." (doesn't she know that will cause tooth decay?) As we discussed earlier today, I think the saddest part is that each of these young, female singers is screaming a different message. One that only the mature, adult-like ear can hear. It's like a dog whistle, not loud, but very clear to those with the ability to read the deeper message. The reality, or the Truth if you will, of what their lyrics are about is well stated. For example, "Got a bottle full of whiskey in my handbag... I'll regeret it in the morning..." Uh-huh, you will, and likely for the rest of your life if you're ever lucky enough to wake up from your pre-adolescant drunkness. Or, also from Kesha, "boys trying to touch my junk..." Honey, if you think it's junk, so will they and you'll never have a respectable moment with it. And lastly, "All my life Ive been good, but now Im thinking 'What the Hell.'" Yes, my dear, your right, Hell is exactly where your headed with that attitude. I guess, you'll have company there. You ladies can strike up quite the band down below. Hopefully, I'll be too far away to hear it.
ReplyDeleteIt is really sad - my pet peeve is when they play these kind of songs (I don't know if these specific songs are a part of this or not) on CDs that are DESIGNED for KIDS - like Disney has a series called something like KidzBop or something? And if you look at what songs are on there, you would be appalled that anyone thought they were appropriate for kids! Plus, these songs are played on the Sirius XM radio station - Radio Disney! It's not for kids anymore!!! Thanks for the awareness - we could all use more of it - I'm sure all of us have heard a song or 2 like this & listened to it without knowing what we were listening to!
ReplyDeleteI have been struggling with this issue also! It is so ridiculous and I know it's only going to get worse. Thanks for sharing!
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