Turn Off the Radio

I turn on the radio as I'm blazing down the I-5, looking for an upbeat song to jam out to as I fly by the gorgeous California Coast, but all I find is disappointment. This isn't because I'm some trendy hipster who only listens to "underground tracks that I'm sure you've never even heard of." It's not because I only listen to showtunes (I swear, there's variety on my iPhone). And it's certainly not because I have a problem with swearing (I watched Book of Mormon, after all). It disappoints me because a majority of these songs perpetuate negative attitudes towards women. This misogyny is a direct reflection of the disrespect towards women in American Society. The worst part is that many artists are subliminalizing these messages through catchy tunes- half the time you don't even know what you're listening to.

A few months ago, I was on a party bus en route to a date dance for my sorority. Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" was blasting through the speakers, and we were all dancing and singing along. Then I stopped. Wait... am I singing about Rape? His lyrics profess "I know you want it. I know you want it. You're a good girl. Can't let you get past me." Although this isn't even close to some of the notoriously crude rap songs out there, I was shocked. This song plays on the radio, I hear young kids sing this at the theatre. Not only do the lyrics sing about pressuring a women into sex, but they insinuate that "good girls" are incable of having sexual urges. So, although the woman keeps brushing him off, he knows she wants it. This encourages a culture in which men are taught not to take "no" for an answer. This contributes to a society in which victimes are blamed- she asked for it. She wanted it. Robin Thicke, let me assure you that she does not, in fact, want it.
Pop songs like "Blurred Lines" are only the tip of the iceberg. There are countless pop, rap, and even country songs that make Robin Thicke look like Mr. Rogers.

“I'm tryna find the words to descrive this girl without being disrepectful. Damn girl, who's a sexy b*tch.” – David Guetta 

I appreciate the effort to not be disrespectful, David Guetta, but calling her a 'sexy bitch' probably isn't the best route.

“When I first saw that bikini top on her she was poppin' right out of that South Georgia water. Thought 'Oh, good lord, she had them long tanned legs.' Couldn't help myself.” – Florida Georgia Line

When you remove the charming country twang, this song gets a lot more creepy, objectifying, and mysognistic.

 “Slut, you think I won’t choke no whore / Til the vocal cords don’t work in her throat no more?!” – Eminem

Yay domestic violence. Eminem, you are such a good role model. 

Some people might ask what kind of influence is Popular music having on our culture? But I think it's far more important to ask what kind of influence has our culture had on popular music? How has our societies values and beliefs been represented in pop music, and more importantly, what can we do to change those?
I don't want to live in a society where "b*tches ain't sh*t but hoes and tricks" is representative of our belief system.