Today I'll be tackling something particularly interesting to me - Kidz Bop.
Well, actually, kids and music in general. But I'm using Kidz Bop as an example. You see, today's post is addressing just what kind of image that we're showing our darling little kiddies when they turn on their radio. And, what CD do we all buy for our little muffins, expecting it to be totally safe and sweet and all about doing your homework and respecting your parents and helping little old grannies across the street?
Enter Kidz Bop.
But let's just take a 'lil looksie here - On Kidz Bop Numero Uno, released in 2001 and marketed as a cute little kid friendly thing. But...what's this? Oh...look at that... Livin' la Vida Loca, originally recorded by Ricky Martin. What does that translate to? 'Living the Crazy Life'.
And what exactly is that little musical gem all about?
"She'll make you take your clothes off and go dancin' in the rain. She'll make you live her crazy life and she'll take away your pain, like a bullet to your brain."
Dancing naked in the rain. That's nice and wholesome. (Not to mention talking about champagne, drugged drinks, cheap hotels...you get the picture).
But check this - I've compiled a little list here of songs that have been included on Kidz Bop with some....er...."less than innocent" meanings. Take a look:
THE EVIL TRUTH ABOUT KIDZ BOP
Get the Party Started - P!NK
Guilty of: Partying, Slight Sexual innuendo
Whenever, Wherever - Shakira
Guilty of: Sexual Innuendo
(counting the freckles on his body? Come on, what do you think they're doing?! Playing Operation?!)
Headstrong - Trapt
Guilty of: Violence
Are You Gonna Be My Girl? - JET
Guilty of: Sexual Innuendo
Toxic - Britney Spears
Guilty of: It's Britney Spears. What is Britney Spears NOT guilty of?
Let's Get It Started - Black Eyed Peas
Guilty of: Partying
Obsession (No Es Amor) - Frankie J
Guilty of: Sexual Innuendo
("Ooh, I love the way you freak it like that?" Again, what the heck do you think they're doing?! Dressing up for Halloween?!)
Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Greenday
Guilty of: Suicidal Thoughts
It Ends Tonight - All American Rejects
Guilty of: Suicidal Thoughts
Lips Of An Angel - Hinder
Guilty of:
It's about the guy cheating on his current girlfriend with his ex. Again. How wholesome.
How To Save a Life - The Fray
Guilty of: Suicidal Thoughts
Party Like a Rockstar - Shop Boyz
Guilty of: We all know how rockstars party.
Take You There - Sean Kingston
Guilty of:
In the first two lines, they talk about drinking and going to the slums where the "killas get hung". That's nice, isn't it?
Circus - Britney Spears
Guilty of: Sexual Innuendo
Fire Burning - Sean Kingston
Guilty of: Sexual Innuendo. ALOT of Sexual Innuendo.
Paparazzi - Lady Gaga
Guilty of:
The song is about stalking someone until they love you. 'Nuff said.
Telephone - Lady Gaga
Guilty of: Drinking. Partying. Not being able to reach them on their telephone.
California Gurlz - Katy Perry
Guilty of: Drinking, Partying.
Evacuate the Dancefloor - Cascada
Guilty of: Partying
Billionaire - Travie McCoy ft. Bruno Mars
Guilty of: Greed. Sexual Innuendo
Alejandro - Lady Gaga
Guilty of: Sexual Innuendo
DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love - Usher
Guilty of: Sexual Innuendo
The Time (Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas
Guilty of: Sexual Innuendo, Drinking, Partying
Dynamite - Taio Cruz
Guilty of: Partying
Club Can't Handle Me - Flo Rida
Guilty of:
Partying, Drinking, People Taking Their Clothes Off, Prostitution....you get the picture.
And it's not that I don't like these songs. In fact, most of them I have on my iPod. (Ok, not the Sean Kingston and that kind of thing. I really dislike rappers.)
But the point is, why do we campaign so hard against sex in society (The pure retardedness that is Abstinence-Only Education, anybody?) when the truth is, we're encouraging it? I mean, I'm all for sex in music. Sex should get to the point where people realize that it's just sex, not some big unholy act. "Accept it. Embrace it. Deal with it, it's where your babies come from." That's my motto! (Just kidding. That is not my motto....or is it?)
I'm not saying that this stuff is bad music, either. In fact, a lot of good music deals with weighty subjects like sex, drugs, drinking, suicide, depression, abuse, cutting, etc. Instead, the moral of this story is more along the lines of this -
"I got attention by being funny at school, pretending to be retarded, and jumping around with a deformed hand."
- Leonardo DiCaprio
Justtttt kidding! Actually, it's more like this -
"We're all just monkeys in business suits, running around and pretending to be executives."
- Unknown
Now THAT was deep.
Until next time,
-Writer Girl <3
(Song on my iPod right now: Paper Planes by M.I.A.)
No comments:
Post a Comment