Arguments Against Censorship in Music

Arguments Against Censorship in MusicHave you ever wondered wherefore radios have to bleep everything? Or why some CDs cant be sold in stores? Or why theres a little Parental Advisory gummed label on some albums? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then stick around, because for the undermentioned 5 minutes, I am breathing out to explain to you why the baning on our harmony is way too harsh. Censorship in music should be reconsidered because of legion(predicate) points such as political views, the fact that musicians are uncoerced to fight for their own music, and most of all, liberty of speechTheres a phone call that comes to mind when I think about political censorship. A striving called Not Ready To Make Nice by The Dixie Chicks. The song won three Grammies in the categories of Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best region Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals. The song is about how they, the knell, felt about the invasion of Iraq, and the responses to their position on this situation. Natalie Maines, the main vocalizer of the group, was quoted as saying that they dont want this war, this violence, and theyre ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas. Some of the lines in the song are about the death threats that the band had received in 2003. How in the world can the words that I said s ending somebody so over the edge that theyd publish me a letter saying that I better shut up and sing or my life will be over. Another line in the song its a sad sad story when a mother will teach her daughter that she oughta hate a everlasting(a) stranger, refers to an incident where a mother is very egging on her untried child to say to the band screw em Think about that.The next song that I think of is American Idiot by Green Day. From the beginning, this song was opposed by most bulk in the US because of the open lyrics that tell the authors feelings towards President George W. Bush, and certain poli tical issues. Some believe that the song is anti-American because of the title. However, if you actually listen to the lyrics, you might see how patriotic the song really is. The title refers to the authors opinion of how politicians these days are telling batch what to do, buy, and believe, and how theyre constantly dooped by all these commercials and campaigns that eventually turn is into, for lack of a better term, American Idiots. In the song, the singer, Billie Joe Armstrong, says that he doesnt want his nation to become idiots, and doesnt want to be part of a cracker agenda, and doesnt want this country to be hated because of decisions made by the government. Welcome to a new kind of tension, all across the alienation.For this next topic, let me give you some background information. The committee that labels CDs as inappropriate and put the Parental Advisory stickers on CDs is called the Parents Music Resource Center, PMRC. It was founded in 1985 by Tipper Gore. It was create d with a goal of increasing parental control over the access of children to music deemed by an unknown source to be violent, have drug use or be sexual. The people to whom I will be referring to are John Denver, a famous musician during the 70s, and Dee Snider, the lead singer for the band Twisted Sister. These people were called to a senate hearing about the PMRC, and stated their opinions on the topic.John Denver had prepared an official statement for the hearing. After he had given his statement, he rung off the record, saying in my experience, sir, all over the world, one of the most interesting things about music that young people are hearing to, is it gives us as adults a very clear insight as to what is going on in their minds. We can know what theyre thinking by earshot to the music they surround themselves with. To me, this totally makes sense. Its an easy way for parents to communicate, and understand what their children are feeling, and thinking. He goes on to talk abo ut the troubled children hes talked to, and the troubles they have about an inability to communicate with their parents. This would all be fixed if parents could just understand what their kids are feeling and thinking by just listening every once and a while.This next man, Mr. Dee Snider, is quite an amazing and humble man. He starts out his official statement by saying, I am 30 years old, I am married, I have a 3 year old son. I was born and raised a Christian and I still adhere to those principles. Believe it or not, I do not smoke, I do not drink, and I do not do drugs. Does this heavy(p) like a man who needs to be censored? I didnt think so. In his statement, Mr. Snider talks about how he was attacked three several(predicate) times because of his music. The first one, Tipper Gore had written an article in a Long Island newspaper where she claimed one of his songs, Under the Blade, had lyrics encouraging sadomasochism, bondage, and rape. He actually talks about those lyrics an d says that the lyrics are about the fear that people get before they go into surgery. Attack number two, Twisted Sisters song Were Not Gonna Take It was labeled as rated V because of violent lyrical content, when Snider assures everyone that there is absolutely no violence of any type both sung about or implied anywhere in the song. Lastly, Mr. Snider was accused of sexism because of a T-shirt Tipper Gore thought she saw. In response to this, Snider says we have evermore taken great pains to steer clear of sexism in our merchandise, records, stage show, and personal prevails. Clearly, the PMRC is trying to make up stories to get their way.Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to solicit the Government for a redress of grievances. These are the exact words of the first amendment of the Bill of Rights. Ba sically, congress cant make any laws saying that people cant speak their minds. If you ask me, congress has done just that by censoring our music. I think that music is the most important and regent(postnominal) form of expression that both entertains and informs. So, why hide it? Moral values? Racial implications? Fear? The actual censoring of music began in the 1950s when handed-down conservative values were part of the peoples mindset. People during that time believed in those morals, and strived to determine what is acceptable for people to listen to. By the end of the 1950s, members of the society witnessed many young adults and teens expressing new attitudes about topics like sex and drugs. This movement started breaking down the traditional moral order in many ways, but curiously in music.It may seem off that race would be a factor in music censorship, but it actually is a huge problem, especially in the 50s and 60s when rhythm and blues was first introduced to the world. Some older white people believed that RB was a threat that corrupted the young people who listened to it, and that it promoted immoral behavior. This prompted government to take action. An example of these actions after receiving a myriad of angry letter from listeners, a Chicago radio station promised to censor any controversial music, especially RB. A more recent example of racial censorship in music would be MTV refusing to play music videos from black artists. During a live interview in 1983, famous musician David Bowie asked, Why are there practically no black artists on the network? Good question, Mr. Bowie. Im sure everyone else was thinking the same thing.Censorship is based on fear. A fear that music will affect us negatively. A fear that music will prevent us from achieving a morally acceptable life. A fear that society will change significantly. Not for the better. The people who decided to censor OUR music are afraid of the unknown, and our music seems to hold that unkn own and uncertainty. Theres a song from 1975 called The Pill by Loretta Lynn that was censored on many radio stations for more than 10 years after birth control pills became popular. People did this because they were afraid of the unknown, and thought that all their kids would start acting out, and going out of control. So, all these people who are afraid of our music just try to cover up the problem instead of facing it like adults.To end this speech, censorship in music should be reconsidered because of many points such as political views, the fact that musicians are willing to fight for their own music, and most of all, the freedom of speech. Now, instead of leaving it like this, Im going to leave you all with a quote from R. Andre Hall. From the Vietnam War to todays Iraq War, and from the advent of the sexual revolution to todays culture wars, music is recognized as a potential source of power to change values, ideas, and beliefs- as well as to influence actions. Those who fear this change try to stop it by censorship, even when, as history has shown us, censorship is futile when change is inevitable.