There have been two songs to steam-roll the pop music world recently that caught my ear; one of them being "If You Seen Amy" by Ms. Spears and the other being "Love Game" by Lady Gaga. Now, when I first heard these songs in their entirety and fully noticed their tongue-in-cheek nature I became somewhat irritated. Why you ask? I'm not sure really. There was just something about their innuendoes and sexual aggression that rubbed me the wrong way. (mind the pun). I am, of course referring to Spears' hidden acronym 'All of the boys and all of the girls are begging to if you seek Amy' = 'All of the girls and all of the boys are begging to F.U.C.K. Me' as well as Lady Gaga's constant references to taking rides on men's 'disco sticks'.
('If You Seek Amy' or F.U.C.K Me, Britney Spears)
('Love Game', Lady Gaga)
That's when I really got to thinking about it. The conservative consumer in me was disgusted that these camps had resulted to songs very clearly about sex to sell records. I thought - don't these artists have anything better to sing about or any integrity regarding their content? Why must these people exploit and feed the sexual restlessness and tension of target audiences? Why does modern music have to live and die in the gutter?
Modern music I thought? Are they the only ones guilty of this innuendo riddled music? Well, my fairly comprehensive knowledge of classic rock from the 60's and 70's allowed me to take a few steps back and investigate and, well, what I found surprised me.
Brit and Gaga aren't doing anything new, nor are they any dirtier or provocative than some of my favorite classics. Now, I want to clarify something here (before I become known as they guy who thinks Lady Gaga is as good as Led Zeppelin): I am in NO WAY comparing the musicality, quality or technical skill of classic rock and modern pop - I am simply pointing out the similarities in lyrical and symbolic content.
Have a listen to "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" by ACDC, or "Feel Like Making Love" by Bad Company. And if you aren't convinced yet, give "Lemon Song" by Zeppelin a gander (the real meaty parts of this song aren't even Zepp's, it's actually borrowed from an old Arthur McKay blues joint from 1937 called "She Squeezed My Lemon". It has lyrics like "Squeeze me, babe, 'till the juice runs right down my leg...the way you squeeze my lemon-a, I'm gonna fall right outta bed..."
That's when I really got to thinking about it. The conservative consumer in me was disgusted that these camps had resulted to songs very clearly about sex to sell records. I thought - don't these artists have anything better to sing about or any integrity regarding their content? Why must these people exploit and feed the sexual restlessness and tension of target audiences? Why does modern music have to live and die in the gutter?
Modern music I thought? Are they the only ones guilty of this innuendo riddled music? Well, my fairly comprehensive knowledge of classic rock from the 60's and 70's allowed me to take a few steps back and investigate and, well, what I found surprised me.
Brit and Gaga aren't doing anything new, nor are they any dirtier or provocative than some of my favorite classics. Now, I want to clarify something here (before I become known as they guy who thinks Lady Gaga is as good as Led Zeppelin): I am in NO WAY comparing the musicality, quality or technical skill of classic rock and modern pop - I am simply pointing out the similarities in lyrical and symbolic content.
Have a listen to "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" by ACDC, or "Feel Like Making Love" by Bad Company. And if you aren't convinced yet, give "Lemon Song" by Zeppelin a gander (the real meaty parts of this song aren't even Zepp's, it's actually borrowed from an old Arthur McKay blues joint from 1937 called "She Squeezed My Lemon". It has lyrics like "Squeeze me, babe, 'till the juice runs right down my leg...the way you squeeze my lemon-a, I'm gonna fall right outta bed..."
('Lemon Song', Live from Dancing Avocado)
or "Whole Lotta Love" with lyrics like "Way down inside, woman, you need love. Shake for me, girl, I wanna be your back door man..."
('Whole Lotta Love', Live from Knebworth, 79)
So, what I used to love, the so-called 'classics', are okay, but these new tracks with the same level of sexual marketing aren't? Clearly I am just getting old and my ability to keep up with pop culture is fading fast. Soon, any vestiges of the man who was once on the safe side of cool will be washed away leaving a grumpy, old, turn that music down cranky pants. Shoot me now.
So, what I used to love, the so-called 'classics', are okay, but these new tracks with the same level of sexual marketing aren't? Clearly I am just getting old and my ability to keep up with pop culture is fading fast. Soon, any vestiges of the man who was once on the safe side of cool will be washed away leaving a grumpy, old, turn that music down cranky pants. Shoot me now.
writing under the influence,
jeffc
Coincidentally, I came to the same realization today while reading the latest novel I have picked up, called "I'm With the Band" by Pamela Des Barres. The novel is an autobiographical recount of Pam's youthful days as a self-proclaimed "rock-god groupie." Having been involved in numerous love affairs with rock icons, she discusses sex, love and rock-n-roll with such nonchalance and romanticism. It occurred to me, that all these "rock legends" (including her long-term lovers from Zeppelin, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant - a 2 month relationship vs. a 3 month roll in the hay, respectively) just wanted to be free, be in love and have hedonistic sex without consequence. Although STDs were passed along and treated often, it didn't matter to the hippies of the 60s and the free souls of the 70s - the sex was so much more "worth it". At first, the constant talking about sex with a certain degree of detail was off-putting and amazingly shocking, but I suppose I became desensitized to it all, and just realized that she is recounting her experiences and although I cannot at ALL relate to them, I still respect her candid desire to tell her story even though it is one that would not be accepted in present-day society. And...Surprisingly, Pam speaks a lot about her relationship with God and her constant quest for "true love". Unfortunately for her, her hormones and constant exposure to "incredibly hot hunks of sex" (definitely not my own choice of words) always left her confusing sex for love, and she was left heartbroken time and again by all the men she was with. A little lesson to the present day reader about the consequences of "giving it up" too soon!
Getting back to the point I was attempting to make - sex and music is nothing new. There are numerous recounts in the novel of concerts that were shut down by the police due to nudity and profanity.
Mr. Frank Zappa (who is clearly one of the most forward-thinking creative minds in history) often found himself fighting for his "art" because it was deemed unacceptable by most of society. He chose his battles wisely, and while he decided to stand back and change his band name to the "Mother of Inventions" (instead of the Mother****ers) he fought hard for the right to produce and distribute movies in the 70s (look up 200 Motels) that were riddled with sex, nudity and heavy drug use...because he found nothing wrong with the occasional glimpse of breasts (at least they were not implants!) and the not-so-occasional use of needles, pills, herbs and powders.
The similarity between Ms. Spears, Madam Gaga and Zappa, Page and Plant is that they both sang about sex and drugs openly in their music. The difference, is that the rock bands of the 60s and 70s did this to express something true to their existence - something that they believed was an acceptable and natural part of life. Sex and drugs could arguably be a pair of words that summarizes these musicians' life purpose! Sadly, Gaga and Spears are singing about lewd lyrics, in my opinion, for the sake of climbing the music charts by means of shock and awe. I found a lot of similarities in Lady Gaga and Madonna, even more so after watching the 2009 MMVAs where Gaga strapped on a chicken-wire bra that provided pyrotechnics via the nipple region. That is SUCH a Madonna move! It was outrageous and provocative - just like almost every single Madonna song from the early days - and just like every single Madonna music video and concert. I don't know what Madonna's motives were for being so promiscuous and sexual - maybe the same as Spears and Gaga's reasons. But whatever the case may be, I do not personally take offense any more - so they are singing about sex. It's rude at times, definitely inappropriate, and a cheap attempt to grab attention. But so what? Who cares? It will one day be old news, and the only way to shock audiences will be to sing about extreme chastity and abstinence from pre-martial sex. *GASP* ....but I'm not going to hold my breath for THAT.