Eminem is Right

Policy Review ^ | DECEMBER 2004 | Mary Eberstadt

[F16Fighter]

"I, too, could identify with a lot of the lyrics being sung by these artists...they were talking about my life as it was then. Unlike those artists, though, I used my experiences to learn what NOT to do as a parent instead of using it as a cop-out for bad behavior."

Therein lies the difference between you and Eminem.

[exnavychick]

That, and I don't get paid big bucks to complain about how terrible it was, LOL!!

[evets]

tick tick tick... ding

Your 15 minutes is up dude.

[TChris]

In Pink’s especially mournful (and perhaps best-known) song, “Family Portrait,” the narrator repeatedly begs her father not to leave...

Pink is a talented singer. I heard her sing that song on Letterman or Leno, and it's a powerful, heartbreaking song. Maybe I'm a bit more sensitive to it all since I, and my children, went through a divorce.

Libs aren't the only ones who have family problems and/or get divorced. There are some thought-provoking items in this article for every parent.

[Cronos]

Hey, Good Charlotte's song is fantastic:

I'm sitting here,
I'm thinking back to a time when I was young,
My memory is clear as day,
I'm listening to the dishes clink,
You were downstairs,
you would sing songs of praise,
And all the times we laughed with you,
And all the times that you stayed true to us,
Now we say,
I said,
I thank you,
I'll always thank you,
More than you could know,
Than I could ever show,
And I love you,
I'll always love you,
There's nothing I won't do to say these words to you,
That you're beautiful forever,
you were my mom,
you were my dad,
The only thing I ever had was you,
It's true,
And even when the times got hard you were there,
To let us know that we'd get through,
you showed me how to be a man,
You taught me how to understand the things people do,
You showed me how to love my God,
You taught me that not everyone knows the truth,
And I thank you,
I'll always thank you,
More than you could know,
Than I could ever show,
And I love you,
I'll always love you,
There's nothing I won't do to say these words to you,
That you will live forever,
always

[asgardshill]

Bump in hopes of an executive summary in there somewhere.

[NeoCaveman]

Good article. Long article. I must admit to not reading every word, but it was insightful.

[Polonius]

Interesting article. I can't say I like most of the bands involved, but it's pretty convincing to see the common theme running through all their music.

[Chemist_Geek]

Yes, the problem lies in breaking that sociological cycle.

[MEGoody]

So singing about the worst things that can happen in life, terrible things you'd like to do to others is the RIGHT thing to do?

Baloney.

[Cronos]

I had no idea Tupac's lyrics were so sad. I've never listened to any of his songs, but lyrics like these are heart-rending:

Daddy's home...

[2Pac]
Heh, so??
You say that like that means somethin to me
You've been gone a mighty long ***** time
for you to be comin home talkin that "daddy's home" ****
We been gettin along fine just without you
Me, my brother, and my mother
So if you don't mind, you can step the **** off, POPS..
**** you!

Had to play catch by myself, what a sorry sight
A pitiful plight, so I pray for a starry night
Please send me a pops before puberty
How can I be a man if there's no role model?
Strivin to save my soul I stay cold drinkin a forty bottle
I'm so sorry...
Instead of takin care of me, he'd rather live lavishly
That's why I'll never be a father;
unless you got the time it's a crime don't even bother
(That's when I started hatin the phony smiles
Said I was an only child)
Look at mama's lonely smile
It's hard for a son to see his mother cry

[SZonian]

Agreed. I took a hiatus from music during the '90s because of the crap they were putting out. I don't listen to rap because I don't consider it music. I do have both Good Charlotte albums, one Everclear album and several others from today's popular groups.

What usually first attracts my attention to a particular group is their music and how their lyrics work with the music. Then I will pay attention to the lyrics, and decide whether or not to purchase the album. I am always on the lookout for new groups to listen to.

The neat thing about the article is how well it ties everything together. Explaining why alot of kids are attracted to the songs, groups, etc. Lyrics are poems that draw out emotions in people. To deny this would be foolish.


All in all, I found the article very informative and enlightnening. Thanks for posting it.

Cheers!

[Stew Padasso]

And there is ICP's family:

After I was done killin' all tha yuppie fucks
all tha poor kids would come n' swing from my nuts
and I would walk home feelin' like a Samurai
I'd walk in tha house, and see my momma cry
I's ask why, she'd point to my drunkin' pops
he tried ta hit her again, but that sh*t STOPS
I kick him in his throat, you hear his neck break
I throw a roundhose and knock his beard off his face
I tell him, "Dad, now look at all your broken glass,
why don'tcha pick it all-up n' stick it in yer *ss."
I watch him do it, "Now hurry up ya take fo'eva'."
when he was done I'd squeeze his butt-cheeks togetha'
"Now get tha F*CK out my house, neva' come back!"
I throw a chinese star, stick him in his *ss-crack (Ahhhh)
I turn to my mudda, "I'm sorry that he hit'cha!"
DAMN I wish I could be a ninja

[rdb3]

I had no idea Tupac's lyrics were so sad.

The man could weave a narrative with his lyrics. If you think this is sad, you should hear "Brenda' Got a Baby" from his very first album. If you will indulge me, I'd like to share those with you here and have you tell me what you think.

I hear Brenda's got a baby
But Brenda's barely got a brain
A damn shame
The girl could hardly spell her name
That's not our problem
That's up to Brenda's family
Well let me show you
How it affects our whole community

You see, Brenda never really knew her mom's
And her dad was a junky
Puttin' death into his arms
It's sad cuz I bet
Brenda doesn't even know
Just cuz you're in the ghetto
Doesn't mean you can't grow

But, oh! There's a thought
My own revelation
Do whatever it takes
To resist the temptation
Brenda got herself a boyfriend
Her boyfriend was her cousin, now let's watch the joy end

She tried to hide her pregnancy
From her family
Who really didn't give a damn to see
Or give a damn if she
Went out and had a church of kids
As long as when the check came
They got first dibs

Now Brenda's belly's gettin' bigger
But no one seems to notice any change to her figure
She's 12 years old and she's having a baby
In love with a molester who's sexin' her crazy
And yet she thinks that
He'll be with her forever
In dreams of a world
Where the two of them are together

Whatever

He left her and she had the baby solo
She had it on the bathroom floor and didn't know so
She didn't know what to throw away and what to keep
She wrapped the baby up
And threw her in the trash heap
Guess she thought she'd get away, wouldn't hear the cries
She didn't realize
How much the little baby had her eyes
Now the baby's in the trash heap bawlin'
Mama can't help her but it hurts to hear her callin'

Brenda wants to run away
But mama said you're making me lose pay
With social workers here everyday

Now Brenda's gotta make her own way
Can't go to her family, they won't let her stay
No money, no babysitter
She couldn't keep a job
She tried to sell crack
But ended up gettin' robbed
So now what's left?
It ain't nothin' left to sell
So she sees sex
As a way of leavin' hell

It's payin' the rent
So she really can't complain
Prostitute found slain, and Brenda's her name

She's got a baby

[Cronos]

I dunno, the other one hit me pretty hard. This one is sad too, but the other one's raw emotion, raw anger was something like watching Schindler's List or The passion of the Christ. Both those movies hit me so hard, I could barely breathe.

[LisaMalia]

Now let's see who here actually reads the whole thing.

You caught me! But at least I didn't post an opinion on it yet, just reading the posts....:)