Well, since we all are here "blogging for progress", I decided to write about something that I do believe would benefit our society and our world: RESPECT FOR MUSIC.
So clearly, music is not a person, however, I do think that it needs to be respected. Music is one of the greatest influences on civilization. People, for a long time, have been inspired by rhythms. melodies, and harmonies. Music played an important role in war, in slavery, and in love.
To me, it seems like there is so much abuse of music lately. It has come to the point where the music that is influencing our society is complete trash.
I guess this is all based on opinion, but I do believe that there is music out there that is a complete waste of a beat and a waste of life to listen to. In this blog, I will address rap music.
Now first of all, I LOVE hip hop. I have since I was very young. The beat just makes me feel good and want to dance. Some lyrics are amazing and the way artists play with words is completely genius. However, I have noticed that some of the most popular artists have absolutely no talent and talk about nothing progressive or even important.
Example One:
Lil Mama: Lip Gloss (I do loooove the beat. But she talks about lip gloss...)
Lyrics:
"What you know bout me
What you what you know bout me
What you know bout me
What you what you know
They say my lip gloss is poppin
My lip gloss is cool
All the boys be jockin
They chase me after school"
seriously, I know this girl is young, but come on. She had a real popular song about nothing. Is what you really want people to know about you that your lip gloss is poppin'? Do boys really go after you because you have nice lip gloss? Give me a break. Now, some people say they like the song for the dance. Its true that a lot of popular hip hop songs are popular because they come along with an original dance. But the dance for this song is NOT original. Its basically the hand jive thing from Grease. This song is honestly a waste of an amazing beat. I'd call it music abuse.
Example 2:
50 Cent: Straight to the Bank
Lyrics:
"I'm laughin straight to the bank with this
(Ha, ha ha ha ha ha, ha, ha ha ha ha ha)
I'm in my Lambo maggot, my 44 faggot
Doors lift up I'm like Go Go Gadget
See the shit I got on, homey I hate too
My teflon arm brought my government issues
I'll hit your vertebrae bullets rip through tissues
Your wife on the futon huggin that skitzo
Homey you a bitch you got feminine ways
Heard you got four lips and bleed for seven days
I got fo' fifths and bananas on the K's
And got more whips than a runaway slave
Me and Yayo go back like some high top fades
When I made fifty mill, Em got paid
When I made sixty mill, Dre got paid
When I made eighty mill, Jimmy got paid
I ain't even gotta rap now life is made
Said I ain't even gotta rap, I'm filthy man"
To begin, I would like to say, that I have respect for 50 Cent. I hate his music but 50 Cent found a way to make money off of the complete ignorance of society. No matter what you say or do, 50 is going to make money. Ill give him credit for the creative line "I got more whips than a runaway slave." But the question to ask ourselves is: "How does this song benefit its listeners?" Once again, just like in every other song, 50 cent talks about how much money he has. And once again, people buy his album to give him more money so he can come out with another CD about how much money he has. The answer to the question is, it doesn't really benefit listeners. The beat isn't even all that hot. He rhymes paid with paid three times...wow, how creative. His lyrics are elementary and some of the words aren't even real. Its like listening to a 10 year old rap. At the end he says "I aint even gotta rap now, life is made." Well, I HOPE that soon he will quit rapping because this is pure disrespect for music. His music encourages violence, and degrades women. Its pure music abuse.
This concludes phase I...in the next phase, I will address another genre.
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I find it interesting that classical music listened to as a baby can increase intelligence. It's called the "Mozart Effect" and it's pretty amazing how music can affect people so beneficially.
I do not have the greatest respect for most rap though. Most of it, whether it be about drugs or breaking the law or violence, seems to be a negative in behavior. I'm not saying it's all bad, but it seems to be getting that way.
There was a rap song called "Pull Your Pants Up". It was pretty funny because it addressed the fact that young men wear their pants so loose that their butts hang out. It was actually like a public service announcement.
Hmm...pull your pants up? Ill have to download it. It sounds interesting. I have a lot of respect for classical music. I think the good thing about it is, that bad classical music doesn't really get out there. People actually have to put hours, months, and years of thought into every song. I definitely wont be addressing that genre as abusing music. It is very well thought out.