Music Lyrics example essay topic

Music has always been associated with adolescents in one way or another. Whether it's a parent telling their children to turn the stereo down or a group of kids gathered around a boom box in the street, music is something that seems to unite most young people today. The problem that concerns many parents, however, is the ideas that are portrayed in some lyrics and music videos. Most people don't stop to think about what effects the music they listen to might have on them. They don't think about the consequences of listening to certain rap or rock lyrics when they go to the store to buy a new CD.

They don't wonder if the thoughts and ideas in the music are going to influence them in some way negatively. Most people just buy it because they enjoy it. For as long as rock music has existed, people have found reasons to define it as the evil of society, a plague that infects the young. Even Elvis with his gyrating hips, although tame compared to today, had his music labeled "the devil's music". Concerns over rock 'n' roll have lead to public debate, political and legal action, and law enforcement activities. In 1985, a group of concerned citizens and parents, led by Tipper Gore, formed the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC).

It was this group's actions that eventually led to the censoring and regulation of rap and rock music by forcing record companies to place warning labels on the CD covers. The PMRC claimed this music was a potential health hazard for the impressionable young minds of children. Violence seems to have permeated the world. It's apparent in our movies, our TV shows, in music lyrics, as well as in the news. There is no way for children of today to be sheltered or protected from viewing all forms of violence. It seems it is only a matter of time before all these sounds and images create monsters out of young people.

Are the minds of our youth really that impressionable? Many parents seem to believe that today's youth are completely unsuspecting of what they expose themselves to. They are fed a diet of sex, drugs, and violence whenever they turn on MTV or pop in a rock or rap CD. The images and music that is on the TV or piped into their ears is enough to persuade teens that this behavior is normal. Alex Bartel l, 16, doesn't think adults give kids enough credit. "Music for me is a way to escape reality.

I go home and put on one of my CD's and it's almost therapeutic. There is more violence every day in school and on TV news than what I hear from my music". Alex went on to say how a teenager acts is up to the individual, not the media. Although he admits that certain elements of the media are influential, most of the teens he knows can think for themselves. Maria Westling, 22, agrees that many song lyrics can be bad, particularly those that degrade women. However, she doesn't feel that music alone is a factor for teen violence.

"It all comes down to morals and the way a person was brought up", she said. "If a person is taught right from wrong and can make the distinction between what is real and what is not, then music lyrics are not going to turn that person into a gun crazy gangster". Although it is true that the teen years are full of confusing issues of identity and peer pressure is rampant, most teens do not agree that music is a negative factor in their lives. Eric May, 17, believes that music is a positive force in his life. "I think music actually helps teens identify with life and cope with things. I know when I listen to music it makes me happy, not violent.

I know there are some questionable lyrics out there, but if a person is going to let a song tell them how to live their life, then something is wrong with that person to begin with". There are numerous studies that were done to try to determine whether or not listening to violent or explicit lyrics is detrimental to adolescents. No studies have actually been able to document a cause-and-effect relationship between sexually explicit or violent lyrics and adverse behavior. This might be due to the fact that all teens used in the studies did not comprehend the meaning of the lyrics in the same way. There was also no way to determine if other factors played a role in an individual's behavior such as television, movies, other media and their own background.

On the idea of censorship and the parental advisory stickers on CD's, adolescents had differing viewpoints. Eric May felt censoring music was wrong and against the Constitution. "People need to know they can listen to the music of their choice. I'm 17 and can't buy a CD that has an '18 and up' warning label on it. Does that mean that every person who is a year older than me is better able to handle the lyrics in that CD than me? Who determines how mature a person is?" Maria Westling agreed that censorship was wrong but parents need to find out what their kids are listening to.

"A child that is seven or eight shouldn't be listening to music filled with sex and bad words. It is up to the parents to determine what their kids listen to, not some group of people who maybe just don't like music". Others felt the warning labels stuck on CDs would just make kids want to buy them more. "It's kind of a typical teenager thing", said Brian Re mes, 16, "You always want what you " re told you can't have". He said that advisory labels don't stop him or his friends from listening to the music. "These days you can just download whatever you want or burn a copy from your friend.

It's pretty easy to get anything". People are complaining about the collapse of the world's morality. They say sex and violence are so much more a part of our lives than they used to be. The music that today's youth listen to is assumed to be a large factor in their behavioral patterns. Songs with sexual themes, drugs, suicide and other demoralizing behavior are said to cause teens to believe this behavior is normal. Teens, however, deny that music is anything but a positive influence on them.

It comforts them when they are lonely. It makes them happy when they are sad. Taking away their rights to listen to a choice of music angers and frustrates teens. "This is supposed to be a free country", said Theresa Burns, 25.

"I'm no longer a teenager but I still remember what it was like. People don't consider you a real person with real feelings. Older people with all their rules try to take everything that provides enjoyment away". Obviously, there are some issues that will never be agreed upon. A small group of people trying to determine what is in the best interest of a nation is one of them.

Censorship may not be right or fair, but monitoring what your child listens to and watches is. Children need guidelines so when they get to be teenagers, hopefully they can make the right decisions for themselves. Teens argue that when adults place so many restrictions on them and make important decisions for them, they feel they aren't seen as rational beings capable of thinking for themselves. They feel they are lumped together instead of seen as individuals. The music allows them to express themselves and their individuality. It is a driving force in who they are.

There is no doubt that music is more violent than it ever was in the past but today's teenager is also living in a violent time. Maybe music is not so much an influence on society, but a reflection of it. END.