Category: Music

Why are adults surprised that kids listen to raunchy music?

Kids are only following their example.

Last night the Grammys gave us a true glimpse of what adults value in this world. The Grammys has a long history of being THE music awards show. Unlike the Teen Choice Awards, or many of the MTV awards shows, The Grammys are chosen by adults. Then why was Lil Wayne nominated for more than anyone else, 8 Grammys?

Do these adults even know what this guy is singing about? (you can take a little peek at his content in this article) Maybe Lil Wayne should take this opportunity to ask their daughter on a date?

Maybe the same could be said about Kid Rock, Robert Plant and others at the show last night. But I think most adults are probably a little more comfortable with the messages coming from the albums of U2 and Coldplay than the young Mr. Wayne. Or maybe, in today’s world lyrical content just doesn’t matter. Because last night we awarded Wayne with trophies for the explicit album Tha Carter III, and three other songs, including the song Lollipop, an explicit song about oral sex.

“You’re a foul mouthed pervert. Here’s your trophy.”  (pause)  “But kids, you watch your mouths!”

David wrote about the blurring of the line between music for adults and teens last week in our Youth Culture Window article, The 2009 Grammys: Do Adults Like the Same Music as Teens?

I’m so used to today’s music being blatantly raunchy and sexual, I’m almost surprised when musicians use sneaky tactics to slip messages under the radar of parents. But that’s exactly what Britney has done with this new song on her popular new album Circus… she’s dropping the “F bomb” without actually saying it.

The song is If You Seek Amy. It looks innocent enough when you read it… but go ahead and say it like she does in the album. Read this outloud: “But all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to if you seek amy.”

Whoops!

David does an incredible job unveiling this in this week’s Youth Culture Window article.

Update: According to this Aussie newspaper, Britney might be changing the name of the song for some radioplay.

As I look back at the most popular music of 2008, I can’t say that I’m happy with the content that found its way into kids’ iPods. Most of it was highly sexualized and foul. Unfortunately, sex sells. This year’s Top 10 downloaded songs are, by majority, no exception.

In our last Youth Culture Window article of the year, David and I reviewed the Top 10 Downloaded Songs as charted by The Nielson Company. I find this list fascinating, not only because it reflects some of the most popular music of the year, but also the fact that downloaded songs offer explicit lyrics… and most parents have no idea what is on their kids’ iPods.

Do you know what’s on your kids’ iPods?

In this article we quickly review what kids have listened to in the last year and a little about each artist. Then we encourage parents and youth workers to dialogue with their kids about this music and this content.

Soulja Boy is back with a new dance. If you don’t recognize his name… your kids do. In the Fall of 2007, Soulja Boy’s song Crank That (The “Superman” song) dominated the charts, holding the #1 spot for eternity. But his song isn’t what launched Soulja Boy… it was his dance.

Kids in elementary schools across the country were learning the “Superman” dance. My own daughter came home from junior high school last year informing me that it was required learning for P.E. (nice). But then people started figuring out what this “Superman” song actually meant. (which is funny… because I guess the fact that he was calling girls “bitches” and “ho’s” wasn’t enough to upset people initially)

Now Soulja Boy is back with a new song and a new dance. This time he isn’t talking foul or objectifying women… he just kindly wants to let us know how much money he made doing it (hence the footage of him blowing his nose into hundred dollar bills, holding up wads of cash, and flaunting buckets of hundreds). Take a peek for yourself.

(Is anyone else wondering how this guy ever got popular???? Wow! Our taste in music has hit a new low! I’m not even talking about lyrics… I’m talking about “singing offkey.” Can you imagine this guy at an American Idol tryout!)

In case you missed it… here’s some of these lyrics:

i got a question why they hattin on me,
i got a question why they hattin on me
i aint did nuthin to em, but count this money
and put my team on, now my whole clic stunnin
boy wassup, yeeeea
boy wassup, yeeeea

when i was 9 years old, i put it in ma head
that ima die for this gold
(soulja boy tellem)
boy wassup, yeeeea
hopped up off tha bed
turn ma swag on
took a look in tha mirror said wassup
yeeeeea im gettin money (ooh) x2

In this MTV article (or you can watch their MTV News video) he tips his hand about his goals with this new song:

It’s just showing all my success from my first album. The first chapter of Soulja Boy in the music industry. I went platinum, 5 million ringtones. A whole lot of records I broke. It’s a lifestyle record. Speaking on my success, showing how my life changed since I became a celebrity. It’s basically saying, ‘I’m back.’

It will be interesting to see what kids think when they listen to this song and see this video? (because they ARE listening) It’s the same message they’ve been hearing recently from T.I.’s Whatever You Like. “Money brings happiness.” Maybe that’s what they want to hear.

Hmmmmmmm.

Sex sells. Mariah knows it, Madonna knows it, Christina knows it… and Britney definitely knows it!

Britney knows it so well, her new song “Womanizer” just made the biggest leap in the history of Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart. It’s no coincidence that her video features her naked in a sauna throughout the video, half dressed and sensual on several other occasions… while the whole time, ironically, singing about a guy that’s a womanizer. (Which makes me wonder if I am just missing another video featuring him singing about her being skanky?)

This racy video is now the #1 downloaded video on iTunes, the #1 featured video on MTV.com’s music video pics, and available to see everywhere for free from YouTube to AOL.com videos.

Yes…Britney doesn’t actually show those crucial few inches that would declare this actual “R-rated” nudity, so it’s being played everywhere. The question I have is this: are your teenagers going to steer away from clicking on this when they stumble upon it on YouTube?