When you really listen to the words in songs what do you hear? Entertaining sillyness or provacative language? Enjoyable sounds or sexual descriptions? I think it depends on what you listen to more than anything. I absolutly love listening to music, but there are some i wouldn't say forms of music but I gues the artists who perform in certain forms of music I can not sand to hear.
It's not because it's bad music because to someone it's good, but my point is music has gotten out of hand. The subjects people sing about are sending out terrible messages to the youth of today. Subjects such as partying, drinking, smoking, doing drugs, having sex, murder, and gangs are all being portrayed as good things to teenaged kids. To some kids music is all they have without it they wouldn't know how to get along with life.Now I'm not trying to promote any type of music or anything, but wouldn't you prefer to listen to something not promoting these things especially if you're a parent of a teenager.
What do you want to hear? What do you want them to hear? I don't know about anyone else but I don't think it's right for a teenager to find out about drinking, drugs, or sex from their friends or even worse from an artist who is out to make money but some stupid song.
These subjects usually (but not always) merit one of those lovely "Parental Warning" stickers on CDs now adays. This also means that you are (supposed) to be 18 or over before you can buy the CD on your own. However, most people ignore the labels and buy their kids whatever they ask for. Not all music uses such provocative subject matter or foul language. I personally am not a big fan of most lyric-based songs, which may explain why I prefer to listen to classical music and techno. If these songs offend you, then the best thing you can do is not buy the album or listen to the song on the radio. Find a different kind of music that you enjoy listening to, one that carries the power of the music but portrays a better message (or leaves the message entirely up to the listener).
I think it is very important to pay attention to the lyrics, and not only the "enjoyable sounds."
Music is the language of the soul. It's amazing how it reaches into the heart of a person, and touches them in ways that other mediums can only begin to, often even without the person realizing it at the time. I think music is one of the best tools we have, however, it can also be one of the most dangerous. I am a musician, and have seen the ways that it can change and affect people.
I developed something I called "Music and Movement Therapy" when I was working with children with special needs, and the ways that music was able to help went even beyond what I had imagined. It truly is an amazing tool if used in a constructive way.
Please check out my site:
http://angelinewinona.webonsites.com/