How many of you enjoy hearing profanity in your music?
Call me old school, but it doesn't really work for me. That's not to say that there aren't songs where it has some context and is used to make a point. But even in those songs, often it just doesn't seem to sing well in my opinion.
The first song that I recall hearing a swear word in it was the Isley Brothers "Fight The Power". I was a little kid when it was released, and when it came on the radio there was a beep to get rid of the offending word. When one of my older brothers purchased the album, I was able to hear the un-edited version.
and when I roll with the punches,
I get knocked on the ground, by all this bullsh#$ going down
But really, are you able to listen to that in a ballad without cringing? I can't.
I have occasionally found myself making use of "colorful metaphors" at times, but I just can't bring myself to include that in a lyric. My best friend asked me to make a song I had written about the end of his marriage a little more raw. When I asked him what he meant, he said he wanted me to include some "colorful metaphors" to drive the point home. I told him that I understood his pain, but that just wasn't my vibe. In fact, I would probably break out laughing during the recording if I was trying to sing profanity.
So, what are your thoughts on profanity in music? Does it work for you?
Get 3 free downloads of my songs at http://www.leemanuel05.com/#!free-offers
Call me old school, but it doesn't really work for me. That's not to say that there aren't songs where it has some context and is used to make a point. But even in those songs, often it just doesn't seem to sing well in my opinion.
The first song that I recall hearing a swear word in it was the Isley Brothers "Fight The Power". I was a little kid when it was released, and when it came on the radio there was a beep to get rid of the offending word. When one of my older brothers purchased the album, I was able to hear the un-edited version.
Now, I was and am a big fan of the Isley Brothers. And "Fight The Power" actually had
some context and what I thought was a purpose to their using the expletive in
the refrain:
I try to play my music, you say my music's too loud,
I try talking about it, I got the big run around,and when I roll with the punches,
I get knocked on the ground, by all this bullsh#$ going down
So, the use of the expletive there to me, was in context and
made sense. But a lot of songs today appear
to be gratuitous. In fact they don't
appear to even have any shock value, since a lot of it is almost every other
word. Now before any of you accuse me of
being part of the morality police, I understand that a lot of people's normal
speech patterns are filled with what I recall amusingly from a Star Trek movie
as "colorful metaphors". And
maybe artists and writers believe that they are just "keeping it
real". OK, I get that, as far as it
goes.
But I have a hard time hearing the word motherf&^%er
sang with a melody, and can respond to it with, "yeah, that really flowed
well". Now, I'm sure that it
"flows" better in rap/hip-hop, because that's more about cadence with
speaking, and lots of attitude.But really, are you able to listen to that in a ballad without cringing? I can't.
I have occasionally found myself making use of "colorful metaphors" at times, but I just can't bring myself to include that in a lyric. My best friend asked me to make a song I had written about the end of his marriage a little more raw. When I asked him what he meant, he said he wanted me to include some "colorful metaphors" to drive the point home. I told him that I understood his pain, but that just wasn't my vibe. In fact, I would probably break out laughing during the recording if I was trying to sing profanity.
So, what are your thoughts on profanity in music? Does it work for you?
Get 3 free downloads of my songs at http://www.leemanuel05.com/#!free-offers
It doesn't work for me as a general rule, usually I find it distracting. (and irritating) and also, a bit funny too. (which is how I usually react when I hear "colorful metaphors" made in my direction).
ReplyDeleteBut, every once in a while, (and this does happen) if profanity is used very sparingly and in good context, then can I say it may add to the music. But this is something I have not heard too much...more the exception than the rule.
With profantiy, (I am showing my age here), I think there are usually so many better and honest ways to express oneself than to fall automatically into the profanity. Sometimes we reach for profanity when we really don't know what to say..we don't have the words, or won't work at finding them, so to speak.
But every once in a while... just ask me about George Bush and Dick Cheney, "colorful metaphors" fall off my tongue. I so rarely say them, but they add more punch when I do.
So, I think of profanity like a rationed medicine, only to be used when you really need it and it will add something to the conversation, instead of lazily taking away (which is what it usually does).
Yes, I am an old fart.