The Message In Music

The Message In Music Everyone listens to music. It has become an elemental aspect of our culture and an expression of our generation. Music has become a controversial issue in the wake of teenage suicide, school shootings and other numerous problems affecting society today. While there are many conflicting opinions regarding the messages and content in music it is important to also be aware of the opinions those in the music industry holds. Their opinions are just as controversial. Mark Hoppus of Blink182 had this to say in a Live Daily interview: “It’s so strange because we get on stage and say the most offensive things we could possibly think of. We write songs about having sex with your family; we say jokes about Satan having sex with people. And they put us on the cover of CosmoGirl!” (Live Daily, 6/11/01) The simple fact is that most artists will do whatever is necessary to make a profit. For the most part our society accepts this without thought to the cultural impact music has. There are several artists (although very few and far between) who feel a moral responsibility to their fans. One of the most well known musicians for taking a stand against the corruption of the entertainment industry is Alicia Keys. The following is a section of an interview between Keys and Teen magazine: “Sometimes there are people who want me to be extra sexy, and that’s not what I’m here to do. I’m not hereto sell my body. I’m here to do my music. It’s the harsh reality that the entertainment business wants to sell an artist as a product, and as a young person I have to be conscious of it and make sure I don’t get wrapped up in it.” (Teen 02/02) Artists like Alicia Keys give a small ray of hope in the corruption of today’s current music scene. Why is the message in music so important? Many people believe that music has a strong influence on society. Others believe music is a reflection of today’s cultural values. In an MTV interview Tori Amos shared some very strong views on the subject. “Music is always a reflection of what’s going on in the hearts and minds of the culture. If you’re singing songs that are about cutting women up, usually these guys are tapping into an unconscious male rage that is real, that’s existing – they’re just able to harness it. So to shut them up isn’t the answer. They’re a gauge; they’re showing you what’s really happening in the psyche of a lot of people. ” (MTV News, 09/28/01) There will never be a definitive agreement as to whether the messages in music have any effect on society. As we are saturated with music by artists such as Eminem, the question we must ask ourselves is: Is this the kind of message we want our generation to be known for?