Is today's popular
music dumbing us down? 
Saturday, September 29th,
2007
Again, I hope this is not another sign that
I'm getting old. But I'm so disappointed in today's music.
It's not uncommon to hear someone say, "They just don't make music like
that anymore." It used to be that music not only was for
enjoyment, but also sent a message - be it peace, love, heartbreak,
whatever. But that is sorely lacking in today's popular
songs, if you ask me.
Take, for example, the top song on the
Billboard Hot 100 this
week. The number one song is "Crank Dat" by Soulja Boy. My
point is well illustrated by the father in the beginning of the video
wondering what in the world his kids are listening/dancing
to:
If you can't tell what they're singing
about, you're not alone. Here are the opening lyrics:
Soulja Boy Off In This
Hoe
Watch Me Crank It
Watch Me Roll
Watch Me Crank Dat Soulja
Boy
Then Super Man Dat Hoe
Now Watch Me YUUUAH
(Crank Dat
Soulja Boy)
Now Watch Me YUUUAH
(Crank Dat Soulja Boy)
Now
Watch Me YUUUAH
(Crank Dat Soulja Boy)
Now Watch Me
YUUUAH
(Crank Dat Soulja Boy)
[Verse 1:]
Soulja Boy Off In
This Hoe
Watch Me Lean And Watch Me Rock
Super Man Dat Hoe
Then
Watch Me Crank Dat Robocop
Super Fresh, Now Watch Me Jock
Jocking
On Them Haterz Man
When I Do Dat Soulja Boy
I Lean To The Left And
Crank Dat Thang
(Now You)
I'm Jocking On Yo Bitch Ass
And
If We Get The Fightin
Then I'm Cocking On Your Bitch Ass
You Catch
Me At Yo Local Party
Yes I Crank It Everyday
Haterz Get Mad
Cuz
I Got Me Some Bapes"
And now you're wondering, what are
bapes? It is short for "Bathin Apes," which is a shoe/clothing
brand:
I am not slamming this song because of it's
genre. I love Kanye West, who is #2 on the Billboards this
week - his songs have meaning, and a message. Soulja Boy's
"Crank Dat" is both a song and a dance, about hoes and bitch asses
and...shoes.
Let's take a look back at the #1 songs a
few years back:
- The #1 song 5 years ago today (September
29th, 2002) was
Kelly Clarkson's
"A Moment Like This"
- The #1 song 10 years ago today
(September 29th, 1997) was
Mariah Carey's "Honey"
- The #1 song 30 years ago today
(September 29th, 1987) was
Cantina Band's "Star Wars Theme"
- The #1 song 50 years ago today
(September 29th, 1957) was
Jimmie Rodgers'
"Honeycomb"
So what happened? There are still
emotion-inspiring songs out there today, don't get me wrong. But
something about our interests has shifted from the days of hard-hitting
thinkers like "God Save the Queen" or "Give Peace a Chance."
