Explicit lyrics vs. edits- What's your take?

[ChrisLockhart]

I may be wrong, Dreamlink, but I think you're giving the artists too much credit/blame.

The artist writes (in most cases) the songs, and plays them, and if they are lucky they have some sort of say in the production and final mix. If they are lucky, they also get to be involved in the design of the packaging. From that point, the marketing and distribution is not handled by the artists. That's the service record companies sell to their clients.. marketing and distribution.

 

[Caylin]

How much of that is the artist's decision and how much does the record company force them to do for sales?

 

[TheDandyMan]

I personally think that music is better without lyrics at all, and, if so, at a minimal rate.

 

[DMBfanLongliveStrongBad!]

i think people have different convictions. i know that sounds flakey, but i know some christians who won't listen to anything that's not sold in a christian book store. they say that God's put it on their heart that staying away from secular music is right. But for me, i know that it's ok to listen to bands like U2, Ben Harper, DMB, Phish, etc.

i'm not saying that it's ok to listen to satanic music if you feel like it's ok. but it really just isn't black and white. it isn't the same for everyone.

 

[Im_A]

i think people have different convictions. i know that sounds flakey, but i know some christians who won't listen to anything that's not sold in a christian book store. they say that God's put it on their heart that staying away from secular music is right. But for me, i know that it's ok to listen to bands like U2, Ben Harper, DMB, Phish, etc.

i'm not saying that it's ok to listen to satanic music if you feel like it's ok. but it really just isn't black and white. it isn't the same for everyone.

i agree with you mostly there. basically everything up to the mention of Phish, sorry bro. i just can't handle them, even though they are extremely talented musicians!!! lol

but i agree with your point. i mean it is all a personal matter.

as for the edited vs. explicit, i think edited cds should be stopped personally. i think it is the parents responsibility to watch what their kids are listening to, and if they feel it is inappropiate at their stage in life to listen to stuff, then don't be letting them listen to the "clean" version of it, because it is the same thing, the kids just don't hear certain words that they hear on their favorite movies. edited cd's are a petpeeve of mine. i think it messes up the songs period, and the point of doing it is just not the recording industry or whatever group that got its start responsibility. that's how i feel tho.

 

[sykotick]

i have never bought an editied cd, and i never will. in fact, i dont even see whats wrong with it in the first place. i mean, parents let there kids watch horror movies, movies with nudity, and swearing, and killing, drug content, etc. and then when it comes to music they freak out when theres a bit of swearing. like, what the heck? tahts dumb.

 

[Dreamlink]

I may be wrong, Dreamlink, but I think you're giving the artists too much credit/blame.

The artist writes (in most cases) the songs, and plays them, and if they are lucky they have some sort of say in the production and final mix. If they are lucky, they also get to be involved in the design of the packaging. From that point, the marketing and distribution is not handled by the artists. That's the service record companies sell to their clients.. marketing and distribution.

Actually, you have a good point and are right for the most part.

This is where greed over artistic integrity comes in... the artist, knowing that they will have explicit lyrics and knowing the label will want edits for sales and airplay, can decide before they sign their deal if they want to put in an "edit clause". Chances are they won't get it, but they can choose to say "no" and go the independent route which means far less $$$.

So if money is the main issue, why not just write clean lyrics in the first place!

 

[JesusRox]

i have never bought an editied cd, and i never will. in fact, i dont even see whats wrong with it in the first place. i mean, parents let there kids watch horror movies, movies with nudity, and swearing, and killing, drug content, etc. and then when it comes to music they freak out when theres a bit of swearing. like, what the heck? tahts dumb.

That's what I've always wondered. Why is music so different from television shows and movies?

I know I may be wrong for listening to some of the music I do. I like almost everyone on a record label (which I don't want to mention to get into more of a debate) who is open about worshipping Satan. No, it's not death metal or black metal. A lot of the songs are just music so I've never seen much of a problem in that. There are some other stuff which I listen to about violent murders & beatings, drugs, anti-God & Christianity, and such. There's also Three 6 Mafia but I kind of find them as a joke. Man, me just typing this makes me think maybe I need to look at what I listen to again.

 

[Dreamlink]

i have never bought an editied cd, and i never will. in fact, i dont even see whats wrong with it in the first place. i mean, parents let there kids watch horror movies, movies with nudity, and swearing, and killing, drug content, etc. and then when it comes to music they freak out when theres a bit of swearing. like, what the heck? tahts dumb.

That's a TOTALLY good point. Should parents let kids (or Christian parents for that matter) be watching movies like that?

One viewpoint about music vs. movies is this. I'm not saying I can completely agree with it, but it's just a view point.

Most movies are not to be taken as reality, whereas most musicians claim that they write from the heart about real life, real things and how they feel.

In movies actors are just "playing characters" where in music, musicians are themselves- the real deal. Although, you have to wonder about Slipknot, Misfits, etc.

 

[JesusRox]

That's a TOTALLY good point. Should parents let kids (or Christian parents for that matter) be watching movies like that?

One viewpoint about music vs. movies is this. I'm not saying I can completely agree with it, but it's just a view point.

Most movies are not to be taken as reality, whereas most musicians claim that they write from the heart about real life, real things and how they feel.

In movies actors are just "playing characters" where in music, musicians are themselves- the real deal. Although, you have to wonder about Slipnot, Misfits, etc.

I kind of think that seeing something is worse than hearing it. If I see a murder in a movie or on a tv show I would have more knowledge on how to do something (unless it's really fake of course) than if I heard someone talk about it. I can think about things or visualize in my head but I still didn't see it happen.

 

[Dreamlink]

I kind of think that seeing something is worse than hearing it. If I see a murder in a movie or on a tv show I would have more knowledge on how to do something (unless it's really fake of course) than if I heard someone talk about it. I can think about things or visualize in my head but I still didn't see it happen.

O.K.- How 'bout this...

If you kept seeing murders in TV and movies would it make you want to go out and murder?

If you kept hearing the "F" word on CD's would you start wanting to say the "F" word?

 

[JesusRox]

O.K.- How 'bout this...

If you kept seeing murders in TV and movies would it make you want to go out and murder?

If you kept hearing the "F" word on CD's would you start wanting to say the "F" word?

It wouldn't make me want to murder and hearing the F word doesn't make me want to say it. I hear it all the time just from my family. The songs I listen to that have it in them may end up in my head but I usually think of a different words just like songs that have GD in them. The last time I even used the word was repeating something that someone had said.

 

[Infernal Freak]

The explicit lyrics are way better in my op. I think it gives more of the feeling to the music...and they all but HAVE to put out edited versions. I think they also have integrity

-Heather

 

[absolutely_lost_86]

yeh, it doesnt sound right if they edit the song, like other ppl said u know wht they r sayingh anyway

 

[Infernal Freak]

Yeah I agree, I know every word Eminem says on the edited versions when I haven't even heard the unedited ones lol... It's great...
-Heather

 

[twosteppin]

I'm going to jump in here

O.K.- How 'bout this...

If you kept seeing murders in TV and movies would it make you want to go out and murder?

If you kept hearing the "F" word on CD's would you start wanting to say the "F" word?

Hi Dreamlink.
I think we are more impressionable then our ego's would like to think.
Take little kids for example, Two kids and their mother walks into my work today, the kids are throwing a fit, going crazy. this was done after their mother through a tantrum and went crazy when she found out we didnt accept credit cards...
....makes you think.
Do we lose this when we get older, or does it just die down a bit?
This is what I think, When someone listens to the "F" word on a cd over and over again, they will pick up on the word and use it.Do they "want" to, I do not think so, but they do use it. I think we should be careful what we let our minds be subjected to day in and day out.
another example, I say "Oh my Lord!" a lot. My brothers friend use to come over our house all the time, so he always heard me say it. Well, one time we are having a conversation, and he says "Oh my Lord!" He never use to say. and I'm sure he wasn't thinking "Oh, I would really like to start saying that" (well, I hope not lol)
Ok I'm done rambeling.
proceed with the discussion....

 

[Infernal Freak]

No, that can be true. I speak a LOT of what I listen to...but not really cuz I listen to it. I like listening to it...if that makes any sense whatsoever...lol I love listening to EMINEM's uncut CD's though.

-Heather

 

[twosteppin]

No, that can be true. I speak a LOT of what I listen to...but not really cuz I listen to it. I like listening to it...if that makes any sense whatsoever...lol I love listening to EMINEM's uncut CD's though.

-Heather

Hi Freak4J

I think I get what you mean.
You speak the lyrics to songs you like. not because you picked up on them, but because you like them and wish to say them??
lol

 

[wgjones3]

Here's my 2 cents if anybody still cares.

First off, I didn't know it was the artists' choice. I always thought the record labels were the ones who decided whether to ship edited versions of CDs. Reason being, Wal Mart won't carry PA stickered disks anymore, and like it or not, Wal Mart is a huge outlet for CD sales, therefore the labels don't want to give that up. Plus, they always have the hope that a lot of people will buy a CD at Wal Mart, not realize it's edited, try to return it and get the hastle at the service desk, and end up buying an unedited version somewhere else. Then again, no corporation would be that sneaky, would they? Hehe.

From my limited experience, an artist pretty much is at the mercy of the distributor. If they want to do something, the only choice is to break the contract (in which case the publisher keeps selling your work and you're out shopping for a new publisher) or go along with them in order to keep the money making relationship churning. Maybe I'm niave.

Secondly, I think edited CDs sound awful. I have a few CDs with PAs. Theory of a Deadman, Puddle of Mudd, Staind, Metallica, Saliva, stuff like that. I've never even tried to listen to an edited CD, but radio edits are horrid and I assume the CD edits are pretty much like that. I don't really want to waste any money trying to find out.

Third, I find it rediculous to think that it's okay for little kids to listen to the edited versions of CDs but not the PA versions. The meaning is the same whether or not they take a word or two out. Often, that PA is for something more than a cuss word or two. But I find it funny. Audioslave's CD and Prime STH's Beneath the Surface CD both have the F-bomb in it, there's no PA on it. So is it okay to have an F-bomb on there once or twice without a PA? Personally, PA or not, there are certian themes I wouldn't want my kids exposed to through music no matter how clean the words are--drug use and sexual degredation of women being two examples. It all goes back to taking an interest in a kid's life enough to know what they're listening to (my folks use to make my play my music in the car so they could hear it--a far cry from today's "That's what the rear-seat headphones are for, I don't want to hear it").

Maybe I'm cynical, but I have a feeling most kids are getting the "dirty versions" off Kaaza anyway.

 

[JesusRox]

I'm going to jump in here



Hi Dreamlink.
I think we are more impressionable then our ego's would like to think.
Take little kids for example, Two kids and their mother walks into my work today, the kids are throwing a fit, going crazy. this was done after their mother through a tantrum and went crazy when she found out we didnt accept credit cards...
....makes you think.
Do we lose this when we get older, or does it just die down a bit?
This is what I think, When someone listens to the "F" word on a cd over and over again, they will pick up on the word and use it.Do they "want" to, I do not think so, but they do use it. I think we should be careful what we let our minds be subjected to day in and day out.
another example, I say "Oh my Lord!" a lot. My brothers friend use to come over our house all the time, so he always heard me say it. Well, one time we are having a conversation, and he says "Oh my Lord!" He never use to say. and I'm sure he wasn't thinking "Oh, I would really like to start saying that" (well, I hope not lol)
Ok I'm done rambeling.
proceed with the discussion....

Hmm... It's been different for me. I've heard cuss words from music and my family my entire life and I've never wanted to use them. It actually turned me away from it. They may come to my head and not really because I want them to but very rarely come out of my mouth.