Posted on 04/09/2002 2:13:45 PM PDT by Moosejaw
(CNSNews.com) - A top researcher says a new study strongly suggests the music of country singer Patsy Cline contributes to depression, suicide and violent behavior by women.
An analysis of Cline's most popular music by Dr. Lenore Morose, head of the Womyn's Studies Department at Radcliffe College in Massachusetts, showed a high percentage of songs that focus on the personal hardship of women involved in unsuccessful relationships.
A summary of the report warned that listening to Cline's music could result in "a dangerous engendering of depression and inadequacy among women."
"The number of depressing songs is so high, her albums should be available by prescription only," said Morose, who calculated the percentage of Cline songs with negative themes at nearly 92 percent.
According to Morose, the analysis of Cline's 'Greatest Hits' album showed that 11 of 12 songs included in the release contained themes of "pronounced clinical depression, obsessive behavior, inconsolable anxiety, creeping insanity and revenge."
Morose noted that the song 'Back in Baby's Arms,' the only song on the album not classified as "depression inducing," includes lyrics that "allude to the same dangerous themes we see in so much of this music."
Several Cline songs were determined to be "particularly hazardous," according to the study, which was published Tuesday.
"It's one thing to engage in personally obsessive behavior, but to wish such behavior in others is reprehensible," said Morose, who cited the song 'Walkin' after Midnight' as an example.
In the song, Cline sings about 'walkin' after midnight,' in an attempt to locate a former paramour. The song ends with Cline saying she hopes the man with whom she was previously involved "may be somewhere a-walkin' after midnight, searchin' for me."
"This proves a real and dangerous lack of regard for others," Morose said, adding that another risk factor in listening to Cline's music was the "illogical and unfounded reliance on the oppressive white patriarchy."
The study cited the songs 'I Fall to Pieces,' 'Crazy,' and 'You're Stronger Than Me' as examples of music that "fails to celebrate the strength and power of women and subjugates all females to male domination," said Morose.
Most troubling to Morose was data suggesting that many of the 43 women currently on death row in the United States may have listened to Cline's music prior to committing capital crimes.
"There's nothing to indicate these women were not exposed to Patsy Cline's music before the commission of these heinous acts," said Morose. "This is a serious public safety issue."
The study prompted similar concerns by the Greater National Association of Women (GNAW), a feminist group dedicated to advancing women's issues at the state and federal level.
"The harmful effects of these songs are exactly what GNAW has been fighting for the last 40 years," said GNAW President Pat Coprolite. "Women can never throw off the yoke of male oppression with lyrics like 'I cried all the way to the altar.'"
Coprolite suggested an outright ban on songs by Cline would be in the best interest of women, saying "you wouldn't hand a loaded gun to a child would you? We need to protect women from this destructive influence."
Supporters of gay rights also seized on the study to criticize Cline for "an abject lack of diversity," in her music.
"There's not a single song about the hardships faced by America's enormous gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community," said Amanda Reltney, a spokesperson for the Rainbow Social Action and Justice League of San Francisco. "This absence of diversity wrongly implies we don't hurt as well."
The diversity issue may manifest itself in a challenge to the city of Winchester, Va., the birthplace of Cline and the location of the Patsy Cline Memorial Highway along a stretch of U.S. Route 522.
"When cities incite hate by honoring the non-inclusive this way, we are compelled by conscience to take action," said Reltney, who also said the society was planning a protest in the Virginia town later this month.
Industry officials dismissed the criticism of Cline, who was killed on March 5, 1963 when the airplane in which she was traveling crashed near Camden, Tenn. on a flight from Kansas City to Nashville.
"This is about as sorry as a two dollar watch," said Elmer Freed, a spokesman for the Country Western Music Alliance of Nashville. "Sounds to me like some Yankee rich college folks live in a plastic bubble or something. Patsy's music is just about living."
Freed admitted some of Cline's songs could result in feelings of depression among listeners, but defended the music.
"I guess they don't call it white man's blues for nothing, but this is the stuff of life," said Freed. "Some days are diamonds and some days are coal. I guess Patsy just sort of gravitated to the coal."
Send a letter to the editor about this satire.
Crazy
regards
With a name like that, this has to be satire.
Is this a joke?
Who printed up the report? Dr. Inkster?
P Diddy's music, much of which includes graphic descriptions of penis's ready for use on underage whore's, is art
and the right of our children to be exposed to it should be defended at all costs!
Seriously?
Well written! Satire is most effective when it is almost believable.
"I lost my wife, pickup truck, and even my dog!"
Justice League of San Francisco. Now there's a scary image.
Damn, damn, damn. Thought I had a hot one for my funny-names ping list.
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