Last week, I chanced upon hearing children sing in chorus with much fervor and enthusiasm the lyrics, “Birthday Sex…birthday sex” at a children’s birthday party. Shocking as it may seem but this is the reality that we have to face. Music is no longer for all to be consumed.
Music plays a very important role in communication. It can inform, persuade, and influence. Of the three stated functions, the most prominent is music’s ability to manipulate people. The thought shifted from us creating music to music creating us. Music influenced a whole lot from our lifestyle to our opinions and even to our daily preferences
Based from my observations, music also gained a new light different to the original nature of its purpose which is to become an outlet for feelings/emotions. I believe what happens nowadays is that people view music solely as entertainment with the focal point on the song’s melody and “sell-ability”, you know what I mean. Thus, lyrics quality has slowly been displaced to a lower notch, thus given less importance.
Our main point is the effect of music to people, particularly the teenager sector who most probably will patronize these genres of music. Before we start mentioning these effects, I would like to discuss with you several main messages that most songs portray nowadays, they are: Consumerism, Politics, Twisted morals, Vices, and Sex.
Man will never satisfied with what he has and it is very evident even in songs. Then and there, the focus of songs is what man doesn’t have. It focuses on what is considered cool, in, and hip. Somehow this type of songs mould our wants and coverts our needs. An example of which is a song called Fashionista by Bailey Bennassi where several top-notch designers were mentioned throughout the song, emphasizing the need of high fashioned clothing to be beautiful on the line that says, “Beauty has a price.”
Even the politicians take advantage over the manipulating effects of music. What better way you can do to transmit your message/propaganda other than incorporating it in music. I’m pretty sure you’ve been haunted by the song “Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura, nagpasko ka na ba sa gitna ng kalsada? Yan ang tanong namin, tunay ka bang isa sa amin?”. This is one perfect example of getting your message across, aside from being finely written, you also get LSS-ed after.
Music influences the way we live. Somehow it also influences our belief systems and to an extent, our very own morals. With this, I am quite frightened by a song airing at Philippine’s radio stations which is Nagmahal ako ng Bakla by Saint Rapper DagTang Lason which goes like “Mga tambay lang kame sawa sa babae, mga babaeng manloloko pineperahan lang kame, kaya ngayon bakla na lang ang aking iibigin, masarap magmahal ng bakla, oh kay sarap…” Although this song is very bold in meaning, the substance is quite disturbing since it promotes twisted morals and values.
Promotion of vices such as drugs, smoking, and drinking has slowly seeped into the song composers’ arsenal. Ever heard of the song, “Shot, shot, shot, shot, shot, everybody!”. What kind of values do we learn from these songs? They promote vices to the youth and at the same time make these so called practices to be commonplace, or at least indifferent.
Sex sells. It’s currently the trend of the game. From alcoholic beverage TV commercials to canned tuna advertisements, the main star is always some hot actor or some seductive vixen. Music is not exemption. We have been constantly plagued with lyrics like “I wanna make love in this club, in this club, yeah..” by Usher’s Love in this Club (2008) and 5O cent’s, “I’ll take you to the candy shop, keep going till you lick the spot, go ahead girl, don’t you stop”. OPM is no exemption. In fact, Parokya ni Edgar even came to the vulgar music industry before those aforementioned above with their 2003 album (Bigotilyo) song cover, Chikinini (Kiss mark) that went like, “Merong isang babae, na mahilig sa lalake, walang inatupag kundi magpadale, nakasakay ko sa jeepney, aking napuna wala syang panty, meron siyang chikinini sa kwan”
In a recent study concerned with adolescent’s taste for music, it has been found that teenagers who listen to music with explicitly sexual lyrics have sex earlier. The same research also suggested that the lyrics influence teenagers’ sexual behavior and potentiate their desire for starting their sex life as soon as possible.
What really happens nowadays is that our ears have been desensitized to corrupted lyrics we regularly hear on our innocent iPods. We have made music something so indispensible to the point that it already shaped our lifestyle. It has become our way of life.
I’d like to think that people are smarter now. I’d like to think that people can discern what is good from what is bad, what we ought to be and what we ought to become. But sadly, prolonged patronization and long stay of these songs in the music hit charts made me think otherwise.
The media regulatory boards also have fault in this rampant perversion and mind corruption. It’s like they no longer regulate the TV shows and music that air on national cable, watched by many people both children and up.
Will we still be waiting till the future generations no longer sing the Happy birthday song, but rather mouth “Birthday Sex..birthday sex” instead? Think about it.
Maria who is the Rental Agent at Sahara Palms Apts. Protected Rapist Danielle Grant, for some unknow reason.Thier relationship is unknow at this time. She was over heard laughing at how The Victim was tormented and RAPED she thought it was funny how Grant talked about victim.Ms Grant who resides at the apts. Danielle Grant 23, of Las Vegas is a RAPIST, she and another man used a date rape drug on Victim at Sahara Palms Apartments 2900 El Camino ave. apt 170, Danielle L Grant sodomized the victim with a plunger. She is lite skinned 4'6 to 4'7 and she drives a Black Ford Focus, She works as an dental assistant during day. STOP her please. Victim is too ashamed to tell Police. Memory just now coming back. Danielle L Grant MUST BE STOPED. She is a drug addict and dealer ( Lortab and Meth,weed ) sometimes works as a Vegas Escort/Prostitute when she needs money. If you have information on her criminal activities Please contact the Las Vegas Police Dept.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! During the American Revolution, there was a wave of patriotic tunes and melodies. This became so huge, that tunes were being played on the battle field. This genre came about as a direct result of Patriotism toward a new America. Citizens even started changing British melodies into a symbol of American Freedom. For example, “God save the queen” was changed to “God save the thirteen states.” Nowadays, kids are exposed to a ridiculous amount of explicit content that promote violent behavior and inhumane acts of hatred. Nothing can really come out of it..
ReplyDelete“Through the ages the influence of music over mind, body, and emotions has manifested itself so diversely and so frequently that its existence is no longer denied.” (Music and Your Emotions p.24) This basically means that the effect of music on the individual is so immense and widely occurring that it is no longer theory, but fact that music can effect human emotion.
I like what you said about lyrics being displaced to a lower notch.I'm starting to think that lyrics don't even matter to anybody anymore. Which is why incredible bands like Say Anything and Brand New will never be considered "mainstream." Their lyrics are just too deep for people to be able to write off..