Alicia Perry
10/16/10
What qualifies a song to be poor written, and just considered “noise”? Young people often hear that their music is “garbage” and has profane, ludicrous lyrics. As each generation gets older, it seems that the music becomes more and more extreme. Some songs that did well on the charts such as Deuces by Chris Brown, Like a G6 by Far East Movement, and California Girls by Katie Perry reflect a shallow light on our generation.
Deuces by Chris Brown is a song about meeting a girl that treats him good, and makes him want to leave the girl he is with. This sends some messages to the listeners. The line, “No more tryin to make it work…You made me wanna say bye bye, say bye bye, say bye bye to her” (stanza 2, lines 4-5) is insinuating that he is finished with dealing with him and his girlfriends problems. Also, that the new woman helps him forget about his current girlfriend. This is otherwise known as cheating which is looked down upon in society. The line “But all that shit I do for her, you gon hear bout it” (stanza 5, line 14) means he plans on treating his new girlfriend well, and he wants his ex to find out, and probably feel jealousy. Instead of just moving on, he makes an example by putting himself in an unhealthy situation. As a male, he makes it appear that it is okay to trade in girls for other girls, which is very disrespectful.
Like a G6 by Far East Movement is a song about going out and drinking. The line, “When we drink we do it right gettin slizzard” (stanza 4, line 2) means they are having drinks, and getting very intoxicated. The message being sent out is the “right” way to drink is to get completely drunk, or “slizzard”. Drinking to get drunk is discouraged supposedly, but then this kind of song promotes it. Music like this, which is most popular with my generation, shows that the generation does get reckless. The line “This is how we live, every single night” (stanza 5, line 3) also gives the impression of irresponsibility to the current generation. It is not a good model to put out for listeners that going out every night is a “daily occurrence” and that it is acceptable to do.
California Girls by Katie Perry is a song about females from California being irresistibly charming. The lines “California girls, we're unforgettable,
Daisy dukes, bikinis on top!” (stanza 5, lines 1-2) are referring to the California girls wearing short jean shorts and bikini tops. “California girls, we're undeniable” (stanza 6, line 1) is calling these girls undeniable. People from California are notoriously known to be rich, and good looking. This song is implying that the girls from there are the best you will meet anywhere around the world. This shallow idea of perfection reflects the views of our generation. People have seemingly become more and more superficial throughout the years. This almost portrays females as objects in the way the song only talks about how crazy these ‘perfect’ girls get, and how beautiful they are. It mentions nothing about personality or intellectual capability.
Daisy dukes, bikinis on top!” (stanza 5, lines 1-2) are referring to the California girls wearing short jean shorts and bikini tops. “California girls, we're undeniable” (stanza 6, line 1) is calling these girls undeniable. People from California are notoriously known to be rich, and good looking. This song is implying that the girls from there are the best you will meet anywhere around the world. This shallow idea of perfection reflects the views of our generation. People have seemingly become more and more superficial throughout the years. This almost portrays females as objects in the way the song only talks about how crazy these ‘perfect’ girls get, and how beautiful they are. It mentions nothing about personality or intellectual capability.
Success is measured through various new ideas that originated in the current generation. Throughout the songs I have analyzed I see that the singers, as well as the listeners who enjoy the music, find getting numerous girls, getting drunk, and looking good to be defined as success. This sheds obvious negativity on the current generation because of the trivial and irresponsible stand points in the most popular songs in the US.
