[thoughtomator]

Teach her the difference between an accent and a gutter dialect.

[mhking]

I have my own "teenage daughter" battles (mine went on her "first date" yesterday) -- you're on your own, m'friend.

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[SirLurkedalot]

Talk like a rapper in front of her friends. Every time you see them.

[mtbopfuyn]

I don't recall Brooks and Dunn ever singing about @#%^&^$_(@#$^$^*$_(*!%&#%!

[wysiwyg]

...it's OK for country singers to talk "funny" in their songs...

What do you mean? Country singers don't talk "funny." Pennsylvanians -- now there's a funny-talking group of people! [Note tongue firmly planted in cheek] LOL

[4mycountry]

Well, let's see...

Country music is popular in the Southern part of America, and most of the singers are from Southern states (Texas, Oklahoma, etc.). Everyone knows that we Southerners have certain words all our own which get incorporated into songs, such as the ever-popular "y'all", "Howdy", and "fixin'". Some Southerners have an accent depending on what part of the South they come from. This does not cause them to botch the English language in their songs, however. Everyone who hears country understands the words that they hear.

Now, let's look at rap. Rapping is talking -- talking, not singing -- very very quickly, to music. This talk is often riddled with cursewords and slang. So if you can make out something the first time, you probably won't like what you hear. You may also not be able to comprehend what the "singers" are saying because of all that slang.


IMNSHO: Country is far better.

[Brainhose]

This is a no brainer. I had the same argument with an ex-friend, I complained about Rap's vile lyrics and he said: "Ya know, our parents complained about the Beatles".
A completely moronic argument, since I was young we've now gone from the scandalous "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (GASP) to rap lyrics that call women B*tches and whores and urging the killing of police officers.
Why don't you discuss that aspect with your daughter? Why quibble over dialect when the core of the songs are just so different? I'm sure you must find the subject of these rap songs terrible. I don't understand why you let your children listen to it.

[LisaMalia]

My son went through a "rap" phase in his mid-teens. I just told him that I trusted him enough to know that HE KNEW that it was just another form of music, and not to take the words to heart. Had I thrown a hissy fit about him listening to it, he would have anyway, and probably have really gotten into it. As it turned out, he lost interest in a short time.

As far as fracturing the English language, who wants to listen to music that is grammatically correct? Not me! My favorite music is "old country", and if a song don't have "ain't" in it, it "ain't a good song!...:)

Good luck! The fact that you are having this dialog with your teen shows that you're a good parent.

[supercat]

Grammar in song, rap, poetry, or other forms of verse should be considered a non-issue. Although better writers can maintain grammer while maintaining meter and (optionally) rhyme, it is better to use questionable grammar while maintaining smooth meter than to use sound grammar and awkward meter.

A much bigger complaint with most rap songs is the content. To be sure, complaining that "Life ain't much fun since I quit drinkin'" (popular country song) isn't exactly a great message, but even that's better than a lot of what rappers are putting forth.

[Keith in Iowa]

"Rap Music" is an oxymoron.