During youthful years of all generations, we all listened to the pop and rock songs and music of the day, and I stand guilty as charged. However, I think there is, and has always been a ‘dark’ side to the industry, and I can even relate to popular music from the late ‘50s onwards.
At this time of life, I no longer listen to, or even enjoy, modern pop or rock music, so do not follow this industry closely. However, there have been some cases recently where the music industry has shocked us with content of a graphic sexual, and violent nature which have hit the headlines. The past 40 years have seen a great change in what our young people listen to, and use as a backdrop to their lives. Like it or not, all music has an influence, and that can be for good or evil. Again, like it or not, these pop idols are role models to many who want to be just like them. Some will copy them to the detriment of their moral, and yes even physical beings. That’s a lot of negative influence over body and soul, and to me that’s a scary thought.
It transpires that the music industry is now being asked to regulate their output in the same way as the movie business, and introduce a censored age rating system. This would especially affect the music video releases, and I think this is long overdue. If you have chanced across any of the music channels on TV, you will have seen the scantly clad, cavorting men and women who sing and dance to devilish lyrics in a manner which leaves nothing to the imagination. How much further can this moral slide go, without intervention by government legislation, or by God Himself? Of course, this behaviour already happens in UK prime time TV on shows like ‘X Factor’ and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Both of these programmes have a list of complaints made against them weekly, for this reason specifically.
So, what can concerned Christian parents, grandparents, or teachers do? I think we can be more alert and aware of the content of the music being churned out, and listened to by our young charges, and take steps to make sure the offending programmes are not watched, nor music and lyrics listened to, in our homes at least. I know it is not considered progressive or PC, but why not trash the CDs/DVDs, and regulate the TV channels through the parental controls already available? Can’t do that? Too authoritarian? Well maybe, just maybe, those are the same channels and music we like to watch and listen to ourselves. What would that say about our own double standards, and more importantly, what would that say to our youth, and their moral compass? Are we guilty of saying one thing, and doing another? Is the moral failing of our youth partly our fault? If so, my own older generation has a lot to answer for! Which ‘rock’ do you base your life on?
At this time of life, I no longer listen to, or even enjoy, modern pop or rock music, so do not follow this industry closely. However, there have been some cases recently where the music industry has shocked us with content of a graphic sexual, and violent nature which have hit the headlines. The past 40 years have seen a great change in what our young people listen to, and use as a backdrop to their lives. Like it or not, all music has an influence, and that can be for good or evil. Again, like it or not, these pop idols are role models to many who want to be just like them. Some will copy them to the detriment of their moral, and yes even physical beings. That’s a lot of negative influence over body and soul, and to me that’s a scary thought.
It transpires that the music industry is now being asked to regulate their output in the same way as the movie business, and introduce a censored age rating system. This would especially affect the music video releases, and I think this is long overdue. If you have chanced across any of the music channels on TV, you will have seen the scantly clad, cavorting men and women who sing and dance to devilish lyrics in a manner which leaves nothing to the imagination. How much further can this moral slide go, without intervention by government legislation, or by God Himself? Of course, this behaviour already happens in UK prime time TV on shows like ‘X Factor’ and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Both of these programmes have a list of complaints made against them weekly, for this reason specifically.
So, what can concerned Christian parents, grandparents, or teachers do? I think we can be more alert and aware of the content of the music being churned out, and listened to by our young charges, and take steps to make sure the offending programmes are not watched, nor music and lyrics listened to, in our homes at least. I know it is not considered progressive or PC, but why not trash the CDs/DVDs, and regulate the TV channels through the parental controls already available? Can’t do that? Too authoritarian? Well maybe, just maybe, those are the same channels and music we like to watch and listen to ourselves. What would that say about our own double standards, and more importantly, what would that say to our youth, and their moral compass? Are we guilty of saying one thing, and doing another? Is the moral failing of our youth partly our fault? If so, my own older generation has a lot to answer for! Which ‘rock’ do you base your life on?
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