Making “Good Girls Go Bad” is a Bad “Love Game”
The other week I was driving around some high school girls who couldn't handle the silence in the car, so without a decent CD to listen to they cranked up the radio. No big deal.
I love singing in the car--it's like karaoke on wheels. Anybody that knows me knows that I'm not a big fan of karaoke (or in Korean, NRB's), but not because of the stigma that surrounds it (drinking, losing control) but I just don't like wasting money on something that I can do for free on my own. In fact, I've done my fare share of lip syncing and karaoke on my own.
But I do believe there is a fundamental difference between liking a song and celebrating it.
Liking a song could mean several things: You like the beat, there's a hook or a line that's really catchy, it's fun to dance to, etc.
But celebrating a song, I feel, goes beyond just liking, but idolizes and perpetuates the overall tenor and message behind it.
Let's be real honest, there are a lot of pop songs out there that are lyrically very weak but make up for it by sheer talent of the celebrity, word of mouth, and maybe just the beat itself.
The other day, some radio DJ played Lady Gaga's "Love Game" saying that it was new school music. Have you heard the song?
Just in case you didn't get it, here's the chorus:
Let's have some fun, this beat is sick
I wanna take a ride on your disco stick
Don't think too much, just bust that [kick]
I wanna take a ride on your disco stick
It's catchy, I'll give you that, but picture this. No, don't picture the chorus, quite yet, but the girls that were in the car were girls that I have seen grow up since they were 6 or 7 years old and now here they are, juniors and seniors in high school, who are "just having some fun." These girls are like nieces to me, so precious and dear. But try to imagine them singing and dancing to this song, let alone picture what they are actually singing about.
IT BROKE MY HEART.
I'm not even a father yet, but I imagine if their father's heard them their hearts would not only be broken, but enraged--not angry towards their daughters, but towards the fact that such innocence has been lost... in fact, stolen. I'm not for over-protecting people, robbing them of choice or freedom, but on the flip side what is freedom? When people pursue their "wild" side, are they not enraptured by their own passions???
You would think, "Oh, stop over-reacting." But then came this other song: "Good Girls Go Bad" by Cobra Starship.
"I make good girls go bad." Is that even something to be proud of??? It makes you wonder, but again, people celebrate these lyrics when they say things along the lines of "I love this song, oh my gosh turn it up!". You may argue that this isn't a message, but come on, get real, what is it then? Please, enlighten me because love is not a game, making good girls go bad isn't something that men should strive for nor should women be wise to pursue such relationships with that kind of man.
Why do some people over-react? It's because there are some major things at stake. If you're telling me that relationships, which influence and impact every arena of your life, are not sacred, then by all means celebrate songs like this. But if people are sacred to you, and not merely sexual objects or trophies, you have an obligation to turn off the radio.
Imagine this, though, and I am not a parent, but how lacking in love would you be if you did not react in such a manner if your most precious child celebrated such things???
If you were one of the students in the car and are now reading this, you know that I love you dearly, and as I sat there wondering how I ought to respond in turn, my heart was so saddened by what I heard that words just... yeah. I prayed silently in the car after the radio was turned off. You are too beautiful and precious for words. Please don't associate my critique of the songs as a critique towards you.
You were meant for more beautiful songs than that.
