Responsibility or Censorship?

I’ve always felt some of my best writing was done under the pressure of my teachers laying down restrictions on topics, words or particular styles they DIDN’T want me to use. I never viewed it as censorship at the time, (probably because it wasn’t restricting me from doing anything I actually wanted to do) but while it technically WAS censorship, it made a better writer in terms of creativity, depth and expression.  (One could argue that I suppose, but with only my wife reading these posts, I think I’m safe)

All of that said, you know the old debate about freedom of speech and the ability for someone to falsely yell “Fire!” in the middle of a movie theater? I feel that same way about music. (In case you don’t know, yelling fire in a movie theater (or any other place where people congregate) when there is no fire, will land you in the back seat of a patrol car with criminal and civil “breech of peace” charges pending (civil charges if anyone got hurt in the panic you created).

Lennon

You see, much like that person that isn’t allowed to falsely yell “fire”, I don’t think music, mainstream or otherwise,  should be allowed to have offensive lyrics suggesting to its listeners that violence, rape and murder are OK. Insane Clown Posse, GGAllin, Blood Duster, Marilyn Manson, and Cannibal Corpse are just a few of the groups who have pushed this envelope and have gotten away with it in the past. (Forgive the fact that my age is showing. There may be more offensive people in music today, but these guys are still pretty revolting if internet forums are any indication, even if they are 20 years out)   As usual, these groups stand behind their “music” and claim protection under the 1st Amendment saying they are entitled to free speech, but here is what they - even that guy in the movie theater – all fail to grasp.  The 1st Amendment does not protect those who intend to do harm -either to people or society – with their speech.   And if you ask me, that is exactly what songs of this nature do. 

Have you even heard of a teenager arrested for killing his schoolmate with a sword because the Beach Boys told him to?  No you haven’t.  But you’ve heard them blame Slipknot.  How about Columbine? Marilyn Manson’s name came up a few times during that incident.  Have you ever heard of a teenager committing suicide because of Kenny Rogers?  Again, no, but you’ve heard them blame Ozzy Osbourne, on more than one occasion.

To be clear, I’m not saying that music made these people do what they did. We all have the freedom to choose our actions and ultimately we should be taking responsibility for ourselves.  We cannot blame those around us for what we do. (yet it happens every day)   However, I AM saying that the folks involved in the writing, producing, marketing, and singing music should all be held to the same level of responsibility as its buying public. They all know its vulgar disgusting trash they are putting out, and don’t care to stop it. Sounds like harm to the public to me.

 

Is it right they craft songs suggesting folks kill themselves, or masturbate in a school parking lot to the images of little children?   Is it right they compose songs that glorify rape of their own mothers, senseless beatings and murders of women, and butchery of a fellow man?  When is it EVER OK to write about such things?  If music is expression of who you are supposed to be, these twisted and sick individuals don’t belong on a stage, they belong in mental hospital.  And if any of the people in the chain of command in making any of that trash had any morality at all, those sorry excuses for musicians would have been thrown out of the studio a long time ago.

The worst part of it all is like it or not, these artists actually become some sort of demented role model for the impressionable adolescents buying their "music". But of course they shirk that responsibility never once believing they have any influence over anyone, (how convenient) but they truly posses a power they will never care to comprehend.  (Perhaps if you put a dollar value on it, they may begin to get it)   They don’t want to believe that their music reaches out to people and touches them. Or that their music makes them feel like someone out there understands who they are and what they are all about - makes them feel a little less alone.  No, instead they waste their opportunity to be positive to produce songs like:

“Your Kid Committed Suicide Because You Suck"
"I Became A Counselor So I Could Tell Rape Victims They Asked For It"
"I Like Drugs And Child Abuse"
"I Convinced You To Beat Your Wife On A Daily Basis"
"Sweatshops Are Cool"
"I Sent A Thank you Card To The Guy That Raped You"
"I Made You're Kid Get AIDS, So You Could Watch It Die"
"You're Pregnant, So I Kicked You In The Stomach"
"I Pushed Your Wife In Front Of A Subway"

Think I’m making this up do ya? These scumbags actually put that crap to vinyl.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AxCx

Some very offensive material on that page....don't say I didn't warn you. What an embarrassment to the human race these guys are. (from Massachusetts no less....what a surprise. Not.)

So yes, another old band, and back then you’d never hear them on the radio. To get their stuff you’d have to know what to look for and where to go if you really wanted to seek out this type of putrid waste..   (Lets put it this way, I never saw their stuff in Strawberries, or Check It Out).  But today’s pop music while not so direct or graphic isn’t much better in terms of being a positive role model.   Take a look at Katy Perry’s T.G.I.F, or Kesha’s “Booty Call”. And lest you think I’m picking on female artists whose names begin with K, take a look at Eminem’s latest album for a song called “False Love in Real Life”.   You think these are songs your teenager ought o be listening to?  God, I hope not. 

Don’t you “artists” realize that by virtue of being famous and on stage you are idolized by young folk?  All you do from this point on becomes a direction in which they will follow. These warped kids listen to your vile verse all the while believing you are talking straight to their soul, and you choose to talk about having sex with prostitutes you beat up, blowjobs, or how hung over you are after getting high and drunk for the past two days. 

 

I’m not suggesting that government get involved to lay down rules on these folk. Nah, that would just make matters worse. What I am suggesting is songwriters take some personal responsibility for the crap they put out and stop taking the easy road of writing about violence, sex, alcohol and drugs.   Those topics are just too easy to speak to and lend no value to the world of music.  It doesn’t mean one can’t write about romance and relationships, but there is a pretty thick line between the I Wanna Hold Your Hand to I Wanna Sex You Up, so find some middle ground. The same goes for all of the people in the chain of releasing music to the public - from the label all the way to the producers - if any of you just stood up and said you actually have some integrity and you wont release any of this crap, you might just find that you're not alone. 
 

Dylan

Ever wonder why artists from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s are still being heard on the radio today after an average of 45 years of being recorded?  (If I was in the profession of making music, id certainly be wondering)  Perhaps the reason is because it was good wholesome music that people young to old can relate to?  Did the artists want it to be wholesome?  Well…… I’m guessing the FCC and the higher moral fiber of the people in charge of the industry at the time was what kept most of it clean, but the artists had something to do with it.   But even if they didn’t, they got point across even in the wake of those strict FCC rules, didn’t they?  Fast forward 50 years and ask yourself if songs like Nickelback’s  oh so cleverly titled “S.E.X” or “Something in Your Mouth” will ever be heard on the radio 50 years from now.  (I’ll give you a hint – those songs are only 3-5 years old and I haven’t heard them on the radio since their release. )  Taking those kinds of topics out of the hands of the writers would weed out less talented folk, and leave only ones that can overcome the hurdle of having to deal with restrictions on their writing.  Trust me, it will raise the level of songwriting and it will grow and mature the craft. Who knows, maybe they will actually discover they are much more creative, expressive and deeper than they ever imagined.

.  

So to quote Voltaire (or Uncle Ben, take your pick) with great power, comes great responsibility. Now someone go and tell these losers.