Irresponsible Musicians / Lyrics

[Lewkowski]

To start I of course don't want ANY laws outlawing song lyrics - that's liberal crap. However we can certainty call a spade a spade and point out lyrics that have the potential to negatively influence society and children in particular.

For example this song:

"All About That Bass"

Because you know
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass

Yeah, it's pretty clear, I ain't no size two
But I can shake it, shake it
Like I'm supposed to do
'Cause I got that boom boom that all the boys chase
And all the right junk in all the right places

I see the magazine workin' that Photoshop
We know that shit ain't real
C'mon now, make it stop
If you got beauty building, just raise 'em up
'Cause every inch of you is perfect
From the bottom to the top

Yeah, my mama she told me don't worry about your size
She says, "Boys like a little more booty to hold at night."
You know I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll
So if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along

Because you know I'm
All about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass
Hey!

I'm bringing booty back
Go ahead and tell them skinny bitches that
No I'm just playing. I know you think you're fat
But I'm here to tell ya
Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top

Yeah my mama she told me don't worry about your size
She says, "Boys like a little more booty to hold at night."
You know I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll
So if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along

Because you know I'm
All about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass

Because you know I'm
All about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass

Because you know I'm
All about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no treble
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass
'Bout that bass, 'bout that bass
Hey, hey, ooh
You know you like this bass

****

My concern is with the line I bolded - "Yeah, my mama she told me don't worry about your size"

Is this a message we should send to our kids? That it is OK to be obese and fat? Considering the trends in this country everyone should be outraged at such irresponsible lyrics:



http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Gettin...54_Article.jsp

"Today, about one in three American kids and teens is overweight or obese. The prevalence of obesity in children more than tripled from 1971 to 2011.. With good reason, childhood obesity is now the No. 1 health concern among parents in the United States, topping drug abuse and smoking."

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritio...es-full-story/

"The good news is that type 2 diabetes is largely preventable. About 9 cases in 10 could be avoided by taking several simple steps: keeping weight under control, exercising more, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking."

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lead...s-of-death.htm

"Heart disease: 596,577" (Number 1 on the list)

The last message that the music industry (or any industry) should be telling people and/or kids is that its OK to be fat!

[Ominous Gamer]

She also wants no treble, but the song is almost ALL treble.

maybe, just maybe, you're not getting it. Its not like she directly points out the issue is with the unhealthy body forms mainstream photoshopping represents or anything.

[Lewkowski]

Oh I totally get what shes bleating about which is why I made this thread.

[Ominous Gamer]

Oh I totally get what shes bleating about

no. you think you do, which likely means you're wrong.


but its interesting you go after the body image message for kids over the cussing.

[Flixy]

I'd be more concerned about the average nicki minaj song about anacondas, to be honest.

[Lewkowski]

Why would I have a problem with cussing?

Feminists and liberals blow anorexia out of proportion when it comes to body image and yet obesity is by FAR a bigger killer. So really what body image style SHOULD we be pushing? Thin and healthy or fat and dying? Happy medium is fine and all but what would you rather err on the side of caution of?

Now the song is rather light hearted which is why my post was light hearted (I'm not really outraged by the song lyrics, there are far worse including ones about shooting cops and damaging personal property).

[BalticSailor]

http://www.soulrebels.org/dancehall/u_lyrics_boom1.htm

[Timbuk2]

Why the fuck should musicians be responsible in their art and why the fuck should their lyrics not be about whatever the fuck they want them to be about.

Lewk, you're a dear.

[Veldan Rath]

Can they be criticized for it?

[Timbuk2]

Be my guest.

[RandBlade]

Of all the songs to criticise I'm shocked you chose this one. Obesity is an epidemic that needs confronting but it doesn't need confronting by showing an alternative of photoshopped women and "stick figure silicone barbies". Anyone serious would say that destroying self-confidence by showing false alternatives is the last thing we need, people overeat frequently because they're unhappy and it becomes a vicious circle of being unhappy about your weight so you eat more, so you gain weight, so you become unhappy, so you eat etc ... the message in this song is entirely responsible.

There are far more irresponsible songs, some can be enjoyed and criticised simultaneously:

[earthJoker]

I like this version better

[Lewkowski]

RB - the whole "people are sad and that's why they eat" is silly. People get fat because they consume more calories then they burn. Their BASE diet is the problem not emotional issues. Yes people can eat due to emotions but unless they are ALWAYS emotional about something its due to their base diet and base activity. The whole "unrealistic body images make it harder for obese people" is bull shit. Its another example of never EVER blaming the person for the outcomes of their life.

And to clarify I don't really think the song is irresponsible it was an entertaining way to make a point about society focusing on the wrong things because of liberals.

[earthJoker]

And to clarify I don't really think the song is irresponsible it was an entertaining way to make a point about society focusing on the wrong things because of liberals.

You should do less meth.

[GGT]

Lewk, have you noticed the TV commercial from Macaroni Grill is based on the popular song about liking big butts?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lko5qQV1-3k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reTx5sqvVJ4


Your objections to musicians or lyrics is disturbing, and sounds more like establishing a "religious caliphate" than protecting free speech.

[Lewkowski]

Lewk, have you noticed the TV commercial from Macaroni Grill is based on the popular song about liking big butts?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lko5qQV1-3k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reTx5sqvVJ4


Your objections to musicians or lyrics is disturbing, and sounds more like establishing a "religious caliphate" than protecting free speech.

Go read the first sentence of this thread. Thanks.

[GGT]

Go read the first sentence of this thread. Thanks.

What are you asking for? We don't have to ban or outlaw certain speech in order to have a debate or discussion about the impacts of speech, do we?


Besides, there's no such thing as an "irresponsible" musician, song writer, or lyricist.

[RandBlade]

RB - the whole "people are sad and that's why they eat" is silly. People get fat because they consume more calories then they burn. Their BASE diet is the problem not emotional issues. Yes people can eat due to emotions but unless they are ALWAYS emotional about something its due to their base diet and base activity. The whole "unrealistic body images make it harder for obese people" is bull shit. Its another example of never EVER blaming the person for the outcomes of their life.

I think I trust experts on this matter more than a blowhard like yourself. Try looking at what people like the Mayo Clinic have to say about this: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-li...s/art-20047342

Incidentally you're 100% wrong that it is just BASE diet that is the problem. It is ALL calories consumed that affect your weight, not just a fraction of them. An individual may have a BASE diet that is exactly right for them, but then ANY extra calories for any reason consumed would add to their fat since they're a calorific excess.

3500 calories extra is a pound of fat added to your body. If someone eats right all week but then eats a 500ml tub of Ben & Jerry's that's a third of a pound of fat put on. If that happens once a month then that is 4 pounds of fat added a year just from that.

[Ominous Gamer]

RB - the whole "people are sad and that's why they eat" is silly.

Everyone here by now knows you have a retardation when it comes to understanding mental health, but holy shit lewk. The 3rd wheel of my tricycle suffered for years before understanding what was happening, and is now dropping weight left and right with a simple change of surroundings.

[LittleFuzzy]

You should do less meth.

But if he did less meth, he would probably be obese like everyone else.

Your objections to musicians or lyrics is disturbing, and sounds more like establishing a "religious caliphate" than protecting free speech.

Huh. Because it actually sounds a lot like you.

[Aimless]

I'm more worried about this



Lewk, why do you never talk about things that you really know something about?

[Lewkowski]

I think I trust experts on this matter more than a blowhard like yourself. Try looking at what people like the Mayo Clinic have to say about this: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-li...s/art-20047342

Incidentally you're 100% wrong that it is just BASE diet that is the problem. It is ALL calories consumed that affect your weight, not just a fraction of them. An individual may have a BASE diet that is exactly right for them, but then ANY extra calories for any reason consumed would add to their fat since they're a calorific excess.

3500 calories extra is a pound of fat added to your body. If someone eats right all week but then eats a 500ml tub of Ben & Jerry's that's a third of a pound of fat put on. If that happens once a month then that is 4 pounds of fat added a year just from that.

Base Diet is far more important than occasional splurges. If its a routine splurge then its part of the base diet.

Emotional eating is NOT the issue. If someone is actually burning 500 calories more than they are consuming in a day they are losing a pound a week - takes one year to then lose 52 pound in a year. If that person is disciplined enough to eat right everyday I don't think they are going to be doing a lot of emotional eating anyway - the key isn't emotional eating its self discipline.

Ultimately every person (barring extreme corner cases) is responsible for their own weight. The message needs to be drilled into people's heads that if they are fat it is THEIR FAULT.

Why is that so important? Because if it is their fault and the admit it then and only then can change take place. If people continue to refuse to see the truth then they will continue to go through life being a victim and they will NEVER change. This applies to smoking, drinking and a lot of other things. The first step is looking into the mirror and saying "I screwed up." The good in this is that the goal is for people to be healthier, yes you screwed up but you can fix it!

[Lewkowski]

What are you asking for? We don't have to ban or outlaw certain speech in order to have a debate or discussion about the impacts of speech, do we?


Besides, there's no such thing as an "irresponsible" musician, song writer, or lyricist.

Sure there is. If a musician gets drunk and drives isn't he being irresponsible?

[Steely Glint]

I'm going to go ahead and guess that Lewkowski has a) no experience working with people with either mental health issues or weight problems b) not read a single word on the topic written by anyone with that experience

[Aimless]

The big book of "Shit Lewk's dad says"

[earthJoker]

I'm going to go ahead and guess that Lewkowski has a) no experience working with people with either mental health issues or weight problems b) not read a single word on the topic written by anyone with that experience

c) he's on meth.

[Ominous Gamer]

I'm going to go ahead and guess that Lewkowski has a) no experience working with people with either mental health issues or weight problems b) not read a single word on the topic written by anyone with that experience

so its lewk acting like lewk

[Flixy]

Which is somewhat funny because in another thread he criticises people because they go against evidence, but I guess that's only okay if you agree with it.

Anyway, while I do think artists should have the freedom to sing whatever they want, I also think that they do have some responsibility. People, especially young ones, may look up to you, you are an example of sorts. The influence you have obviously really depends a lot on music style, and a lot of other factors (e.g. I doubt many listeners will take the prodigy's lyrics as a comment on how you should live), but certain artists definitely have some responsibility towards their fans regarding lyrics, lifestyle etc., and I think it's fair game to criticise them for it. Hell,even with my band (and we were never big), you could notice younger fans sometimes picking up stuff we did.

Best way to criticise is of course with better music

[LittleFuzzy]

My concern is with the line I bolded - "Yeah, my mama she told me don't worry about your size"

Is this a message we should send to our kids? That it is OK to be obese and fat?

Yes. Because the song only addresses aesthetics. Are you saying it's not ok to look anything besides anorexically skinny? Because that's the message your post is sending.

[Lewkowski]

I'm going to go ahead and guess that Lewkowski has a) no experience working with people with either mental health issues or weight problems b) not read a single word on the topic written by anyone with that experience

I know plenty of people who have struggled with weight. It all comes down to will power. They wanted something and refused to deny themselves. If they are honest and say "Yeah I've made my choice and I'm fine with it" that's fine. If they delude themselves and say "I can't do it..." or "I'm just big boned" or some other crap like that I have nothing but contempt for them.

As far as mental health... well if your insane then I'm not really worried about your weight.