Music, lyrics and the PMRC

Sitting here writing this, I'm listening to some of the most profane music that I could possibly find. It gets me in the mood for this topic. I want to write about the PMRC.

Although this isn't really a relevant topic any more, I want to talk about their legacy. I'm sure anybody who's a fan of Twisted Sister (I'm not personally, I'm just aware of this) is aware of the court case in which Dee Snider testified against the PMRC, and in particular Tipper Gore. The PMRC had placed 'We're Not Gonna Take It' on a list called the 'Filthy 15', which recommended that these songs be banned. It was apparently there for being violent, which, reading over the lyrics now, is not a theme that appears to be present in any way, instead, Gore was probably offended by the anti-establishment themes to be found there. Ironically, a song by Judas Priest (who I have nothing but respect for) called 'Eat Me Alive', with mild sexual connotations, was also included for 'sexual' themes, that, although being present, are minor, and certainly not on par with the antics that she and Al got up to later!

Also, I feel that musical censorship is less important than many other forms of censorship. Aside from the god awful 'Don't Want You Back'/'Fuck You Right Back' stuff that emerged several years ago, mainstream music is never particularly offensive, and at the ages that people usually start hearing less popular stuff, they're usually mature enough to handle the lyrical topics. The two possible exceptions that I can think of are the popularity of Eminem, who is fortunately (for my argument) falling out of popularity, and Green Day, due to the political ideas of the more modern stuff. In addition to that, I feel that they can often be a portal to more politically minded and aggressive music: for instance, once, in my youthful folly, whilst looking through Green Day albums on Amazon, I was presented a link (through the 'Customers who bought this item') to Discharge's album 'Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing'.

Although in this case, most kids will not care too much about the political standpoint on the lyrics, but there will be one or two who take the opportunity to read deeply in the lyrics, and possibly develop predetermined political sentiments based on it - I should know, I was one, Green Day fanboy as I was (I'm nonetheless happy to have these sentiments now, and have taken several opportunities to re-evaluate my politics over the years, so as I feel that I would now feel this way anyway).

Despite this, I still feel that this sort of possible indoctrination of juveniles is morally wrong. Frankly, I couldn't care less about what Green Day's politics are, I just feel that young people should have the chance to develop political views of their own, whether they're the same as mine. I wouldn't mind so much if the lyrics offered reasons why they felt the way they do (and in fact, given the musical direction they've taken over the past ten years, is rather hypocritical), but the fact is that they simply present a mindless 'FUCK THE GOVERNMENT' stand without offering arguments (although in the context of music, there may not be a chance). This is therefore the music that I feel should be censored. I couldn't give a damn about music that promotes violence - someone who has a malleable enough mind to follow that shit will probably feel right at home in jail - nor, indeed, do I particularly mind music that talks overtly about occult or sexual topics, as these are frankly nothing major any more, and the music which goes deeply into these topics, as I said before, is usually unavailable to those who would be immature about it.

However, I know that nothing's going to change, less standards getting more and more relaxed, and that young people will continue to be influenced by the music they listen to; I think I'm personally past that stage (aside from apparel), but I have been in the past. Unless a nouveau Ms. Gore comes along, I think that we can rest safe in the knowledge that the lyrical content of what children listen to will largely be controlled by their parents and the output of the music industry, rather than the state.

Persona 101