It has been said that music soothes the soul. If this is true, then it is safe to say that it also speaks to the heart and influences the mind. This is why I cannot understand how or why so many of us listen to the songs and artists that we do.
I literally refuse to listen to the radio anymore. I have tried so many times and I find myself assaulted with musical porn. What ever happened to songs that celebrated love and showed respect and care for women? There are songs that my grandmother used to jam to when I was younger that I hear nowadays and discover that the song was very sexual in nature. I can't do anything but laugh at the memory of an 8 year old me singing every lyric while snapping my fingers. There was this lovely thing called innuendo but clearly that has fallen by the wayside.
As a 34 year old wife and mother of 4 children I blush and cringe at the lyrics even though they are so called radio edited. They are not fooling anyone with their attempts at mixing or delaying bleeps. None of these male artists that are promoted heavily are rapping or singing about loving one woman or person. Relationship? Monogamy? Yeah right. When did being a wholesome person become lame and unacceptable? The real question is when did women become huge supporters of being disrespected and degraded. It blows my mind when I see girls singing these songs and posting these lyrics; happy and proud to be called a bitch and looked at as nothing more than an easy lay. So accepting of this mindset that they allow their children to listen to and recite the same garbage.
I am so confused and disheartened at the level of ignorance in our community. No one seems to care about what they are pouring into themselves when they allow that foolish to flow out of their speakers, filled with bass, flowing into their cars and homes devouring their brain cells and hardening their hearts. How do you see yourself really? You and your daughters aspire to be the video vixens and groupies talked about in the music. Wow, that really says a lot and none of it is good. Now I am not saying that you cannot listen to rap or R&B but are you aware that you have choices out here that are not based in ratchetness. Oh, but I must remember you all like ratchet music and attitudes.
There is a major debate about whether or not musicians should be held accountable for their musical content and whether or not it can influence the actions of consumers/listeners. Well if listening to a preacher, cult leader or abusive parent or husband can influence through words SO CAN MUSIC. I know some say that this shouldn't be the case but television and radio are raising these kids more than most parents. Whether it is because they are horrible parents or they work 3 jobs to pay the bills and aren't around. Monkey see, Monkey hear, Monkey do. The best example I can think of involves setting the mood. How many of us have made baby making mixed cd's? Well, the same goes for any type of music that you listen to. If you are listening to music that rages against something or a type of people you can easily be influenced to feel the same way. All of a sudden you go from loving and appreciating women to seeing them as a notch to add on your belt. An innocent kid turns into a raging ball of hormones wanting to immolate what he sees on the videos and hears in the lyrics he has memorized. Now we have a bunch of babies having babies and contracting STDs. Little girls who used to aspire to be scientists and doctors realize how much hard work that dream will involve and how much debt they will be in after graduation and all of a sudden being a video vixen or groupie turned baby mama is much more enticing.
It's hard to change theses thoughts when the parents are just as ghetto and ignorant. When the mother is just another THOT and the father is a wannabe thug who is there to teach the kids not to follow this path? The adults glorify the lifestyles portrayed by these no talent hacks. In many cases these songs are played in grocery stores, gas stations and even on the radio at 8 a.m. What is going on here? Since when is it okay to play songs that curse and talk about nothing but sex with any and everybody in the middle of the day? Then of course you have the fake ass thugs and drug dealers who have actually never even won a fight much less sold anything more dangerous than a pack of chewing gum.
We as a people wonder why we are so messed up. We wonder why each new generation is so confused, disrespectful and violent. There are several reasons and places where the blame can be placed and music is one of them. As consumers we actually have the power to change all of this. Protest and boycott the stations that play this type of music, stop buying it and block it from all of the electronics in your home. It really isn't hard to do. You just have to give enough of a care to do so.
We should be disgraced by what we have become and what we deem to be
acceptable. Just think about the music we grew up on and then compare
the two.Think about it this way. What will our grand kids be listening to? When future generations learn about this time period what will they read about? What will they think of us? Hell, if we keep on this path will they even know how to read much less have an archive of all things historical. If you ask most 20 somethings or younger they don't even know who Stevie Wonder or Luther Vandorss are. Sadly, they don't know who Missy Elliot and Erykah Badu are.
It almost feels like the days of feel good music are gone. You know, the music that makes you happy for a good reasons. Where's the music that nurtures, teaches and reaches out to the world to build connections? There will never be another 'Heal the World'. The sad part is that there aren't enough people who actually care. In so many ways this world is going to hell in a hand basket and unfortunately music will not be able to help mend, educate, improve relations or deliver understanding in times where normal methods of communication have been exhausted. We really need to see a change.
Save the Music
