Explicit Lyrics: Aganist
“The intent seemed innocent enough: to give parents advanced notice that some of the lyrics on the disc might contain explicit language. The effect, however, has been creeping censorship—not only of language, but of ideas,” states Mary DesRosiers, who wrote an article about music censorship (16). Music censorship is something that has been going on ever since people have been making music. All types of music have been banned, considered explicit, or because it is new, people tend to not accept it. Explicit content is always going to come out of music from artists, but having a universal sticker to signify that the lyrics are explicit, who is to decide such a decision? Albums and songs should be allowed to be written however the musical artists feels is good and explicit lyric stickers should not be allowed to be put on albums. “You have music containing the f-word and other sexually explicit language. That’s predictable,” says Rick Montone, manager of the Strawberry’s music franchise in Keene, New Hampshire, “But there’s another category of stickered music that has to do with actions (DesRosiers 16).” Actions, along with words, can be taken in many different ways and forms. Although there are songs
The PMRC had a major affect on how music was to be presented for the rest of history. If any one group was most responsible for music having that famous sticker reading “Parental Advisory: Explicit Content” then it was them. With the early 80’s and going into the mid 1980’s, a lot of bands were coming out with what parents thought was “questionable” material. Then a group of political wives got together and decided to do something to get the music to have warning labels. “In 1985, PMRC suggested a rating system” of which various letters would represent various ratings. “Ratings included X for sex related, DA for drugs and alcohol, O for occult, and V for Violence. The committee would be part music industry and general public (Holland 10).” People attempt to argue that the first amendment has some type of right and that there can’t be laws to censor music and deem music explicit. “The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the amendment that deals with freedom of speech, reads as follows: Congress shall make no law representing an established of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and petition the Government fir a redress of grievances (Nuzum).” With a basic understanding, the First Amendment is saying that the government gives freedom of speech. “Notice that the law applies to “the Government”…The fact is- musicians have no legal “right” to play music, package album cover artwork, or perform live. Music censorship is only a violation of Constitutional rights when our government, its laws, or its agencies conduct the suppression (Nuzum).” So the music industry can do whatever it pleases because the government itself isn’t making the laws or making music deemed “explicit”, it’s the music companies. The most dramatic scene came to music when terrorists decided to attack the world trade centers on September 11th 2001. Not only was that a horrible day for America as thousands of people died, but the after affects made music come down to an all time low.
Some topics in this essay:
Amendment Constitution,
Wal-Mart K-Mart,
Explicit Content”,
Ozzy Osbourne,
Mary DesRosiers,
Matthews Band,
James Hetfield,
Britney Spears,
Keene Hampshire,
Channel Communications,
explicit content,
explicit lyric,
lyric sticker,
explicit lyrics,
explicit lyric sticker,
parental warning,
warning sticker,
explicit content sticker,
suicide song,
freedom speech,
music censorship,
songs explicit,
parental warning sticker,
explicit lyrics sticker,
warning sticker nuzum”,
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Approximate Word count = 1859
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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