I remember the first song I ever heard on the radio. Granted, I wasn’t a very tech-savvy child, but I managed to meddle around with the scanning knob until I heard the ever famous lyric “All you need is love!” and that got me thinking. I know it’s silly to think about a six-year-old child contemplating morals over 90’s pop music, but the more I think about it now, the more I realize that my entire moral compass is based on the teachings of The Beatles and Ashanti . I’m very grateful to have had the chance to grow up alongside music with such integrity and zing. But before I can even start reveling in my good fortune, I feel obligated to think of... the less fortunate. Yes, that means you. I actively worry about today’s teen generation and the lessons they are being taught by their music—if that’s what they wish to call it.
Love, tolerance, peace and a little bit of hippie entrancement—these are some of the lessons to be learned from the sounds of the Beatles. John, Paul, George and Ringo especially taught me the importance of perseverance and hard work, lessons I never forgot throughout school and other tough times. One of the most attractive aspects of the Beatles was their ability to teach me a lesson, but still keep me hooked by their style and groove, which surpassed those of most other bands out there.
I also remember getting down to Ashanti’s beats, chockfull of great advice for hormonal tween girls (not that I’m insinuating anything about me being a hormonal tween). Ashanti’s classic songs, like “Happy” inspire children to savor their youth (cue overbearing mother version of THE TALK ). Young children do not need to be concerned with things as vulgar as love—no, they should appreciate their innocence and just have good, wholesome fun.
When I look at what this once-thriving industry has become, I cannot help but wonder what happened, as children today are being force fed the dirty leftovers of what was once a great American culture. At one point, I wondered if the terrible noises I was hearing on the radio were just the first signs of the apocalypse , but then I realized that they would not cease. Irritated at what seemed to be a mélange of sound effects and animal calls, I turned to the internet for some answers, until I came to my still-standing conclusion. The music streaming on the radio these days generally falls under one of two categories: reckless noise or overly-excited chanting.
For example, today’s media has been shaken up by the demeaning and irresponsible messages that some rock and hip hop music sends to our youth. Masked by catchy rhythms and synthesized beats, these songs have infiltrated the purity and innocence of the musical world and have begun to teach kids all the wrong lessons. Whether it be to drink, to go clubbing or to mistreat their female peers, this music lacks the rich, tasteful qualities of the old greats and continues to corrupt our young generation’s minds.
On the other side of the spectrum, parents around the nation have their children hypnotized by the voices of prepubescent kids singing meaningless lyrics and overused melodies. Record companies constantly crank out child stars with bangs past their eyes and pants hanging precariously around their knees, each one as irritating, but as addictive as the one before. These children assume that just by grasping a microphone and yelling at the top of their lungs, they are making music. As far as I’m concerned, “Baby baby baby” doesn’t make a remotely significant statement.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bashing on all modern music; in fact, some of it is absolutely what it ought to be: catchy, fun, and safe. I don’t mean to generalize or stereotype, I’m just making some observations. So the next time you listen to your iPod, ask yourself, are these tweeny-boppers really teaching you anything valuable? Are they really the people you want your grandchildren referring to as “the oldies”? Because the day Nick Jonas becomes the new Paul McCartney is the day I is the day I grow wings and fly away.
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