Muffins, Muffins, and Rock 'n' Roll

Ok, I know the whole "sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll" image has endured for decades. And I can even understand why it started - a counter-culture, a statement against the "man", a way for people to make a new name for themselves. Hell, I can even appreciate some of what it added to music. However, I submit that this image is dead, and here's why.

First and foremost, if you can go through the top 20 Billboard hits and not find a single song about or containing references to sex or drugs, I would be astounded. There is no "edgy" factor to talking about sex and drugs when everyone is doing it and it's exceedingly popular. It's still a statement, I'll give you that, but it's saying something completely different now. It's saying, "This is the formula that's worked for everyone else, so I'm gonna keep using it!" It adds nothing to the message of the music. Period. (As a side note, at least the bands who started the trend had the lyrical ingenuity to hide their references with clever writing. I may not like it all, but I appreciate the lyrical ability.)

The second - and, frankly, the more upsetting -  reason is this: it is expected for musicians to abuse drugs, alcohol, have a multitude of sexual partners. They're expected to have little respect for people and laws. And why is this? Because they're "making a statement" or they're "eccentric". Except they're not. If this is expected behavior, you're no longer making any kind of statement or being eccentric or unique in any way. It's just pathetic and immature, which is, sadly, the image that most artists have adopted for themselves.

"Now, Pawn," you may say, "you don't listen to mainstream music. You like your metals and punks and hardcores and whatnot. Why do you care about any of this?" Well, dear reader, let me tell you.

I care, first of all, because the popular music dominates the entertainment sphere. It's what kids are listening to all day, every day. They soak it all in because it's what they're "supposed" to be listening to. So, if this is something that is so profoundly and completely impacting the next generation, why are we pushing substance abuse and a pressure to sleep with everyone you meet? Why aren't these public figures fashioning images of responsibility and a mindset that leads to the betterment of ourselves as a nation and as a species? This is my first issue.

Seems legit...

The other reason that I care is because it's spilling over into my scene. In the last couple of years, many of you have probably heard about the nonsense that Jonny Craig (of Dance Gavin Dance fame) has gotten himself embroiled in. He's been kicked out of almost every band he's fronted, sent to rehab numerous times, and even stole hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars from his fans in a Macbook scam. I wish I could say it was just him, but even more recently, members of I See Stars were arrested on drug charges as well! And the number of band members who have died from ODing is growing every year. Do a little research for yourselves if you don't believe me. The "sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll" mindset that has dominated pop music for years is permeating the underground.

And the worst part is that everyone has a tendency to play it off as yet another instance of them "just being rockstars" or having that "rockstar mentality", both in the underground and in the limelight. So that's what it boils down to: the image that dominated the early years of rock has just been held over into the current culture. Those artists did it because it was taboo, because they were standing against something they disagreed with. I may not agree with their choices, but I can understand the rationale behind it. The problem today is that it's not a taboo thing any more. As comedian Christopher Titus says, "You don't get to claim you're not accepted when you have over a billion hits on YouTube." He may be exaggerating slightly, but his point remains: if you have that many people listening, you're not making a statement against anything any more.

So, what is my aim in all this rambling? Why am I saying this to all 7 of you who might actually read this? Because I'm pissed at the state of things and I wanted to tell someone. If even one of you listens and takes it to heart - and if you actually start examining what you listen to, what you consume - I'll feel better. Because if I can convince someone to become conscious of what's going on, it means that there's a chance - maybe only a small one, but a chance nonetheless - that hope is not yet lost.

...

Or maybe 7 was too high of an estimate and I'm only talking to myself. Hello? Anyone there?

*grumblegrumble* Damn kids and their rap music...