Freedom at its Finest

Yes, obviously there is censorship in music. When is there not? Well, I guess that depends on what music you listen to. But how is “Explicit” defined? Who is to say that a word or phrase is offensive? It’s up to the perception of the audience.

Green Day can attest to that. With their releases of American Idiot in 2004 and 21^st Century Breakdown in 2009, lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong  (pictured left) refused to edit their music to reach Wal-Mart’s policy. Therefore, in those years one wouldn’t find any Green Day record on the shelves of any Wal-Mart stores.

“There’s nothing dirty about our record,” Armstrong said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Personally, I don’t think they are being insensitive.  For Armstrong, as I see it, music is a way to publicize his views; especially in American Idiot hitting on the government and the near future of war. He wanted to be vocal. So he was.  Its Armstrong’s way to call the problems of our society to mind.  Its inevitable, no matter how you approach a subject, someone will take offence to another’s opinions. Who is to say we can’t voice personal perspectives on a problem at hand?

According to Armstrong, if you want to censor someone, what does that say about speaking his mind?

I believe it’s a limitation of creativity. If an artist decides upon language and context, that according to society should be censored, it’s their personal choice. No one is forced to listen to the music.

Even with Green Day’s decision of non-censoring to the biggest music retailor, 21^st Century Breakdown reached the top of Billboard 200 in the short span of 3 days.

But in an opposite viewpoint, to relate to a current event, recently an article was written about Philadelphia’s Neshaminy High School's paper, the Playwickian. The students were sent to the principal for being too sensitive . Too sensitive! How? Because their mascot, the Redskins, was seen as offensive by the students. They in turn removed the word “Redskins” from any piece of publication.

This is unfair to the students—being in trouble for the belief of censoring themselves. It was their decision to eliminate the word. And in the recent staff editorial, it states, “Detractors will argue that the word is used with all due respect. But the offensiveness of a word cannot be judged by its intended meaning, but by how it is received.”

By taking into account the audience, rhetoric is in mind. The stance is taken in position to account the perception of the reader. I see no reason why the school is taking offence to the matter.

According to editor-and-chief of the Playwickian Gillian McGoldrick, they are not giving into the pressure of using the word. No one should be forced into saying something they don’t want to.

It’s called freedom of speech. Sometimes the absence is stronger than saying the word. So, is the school breaking the first amendment?

 

I’d say yes. This is not in any way affecting the government negatively, which is the only reason why the first amendment would be suppressed. It is a decision. One made justly. One made thoughtfully.

Constantly we are told to use our voices for positive impact in our social world. But we are hindered by those educators, as shown above, who deemed it wrong to remove a simple word that could obviously be taken as an insult.

 

Averting Gaze

Two topics are avoided, touched but rarely spoken about. The room is silent without knowing how to respond to the darker, realistic, and true shades of life. But they need to be addressed. No matter how traumatizing the event, society sweeps rape and suicide under the carpet. It’s not a subject anyone wants to approach. It takes caution and sensitivity to broach such heavy issues.

But in music, topics of such are relevant. Music as we know is it, is a coping method. For some it is writing, others composing, as for the listener it gives insight and comfort knowing they are not the only one reliving with the relentless, horrid memories.

Music has an effect that touches people, moves people and creates awareness.

The Fray does just that in their song “How to Save a Life”. I realize this is a mainstream song, but it feels necessary to bring into light. The song was inspired by an experience of the lead singer, Isaac Slade, when he went as a mentor to a camp to help troubled teens.

He didn’t know how to help. The lyrics bluntly state that:

And I would have stayed up with you all night

Had I known how to save a life

I know you want to say that was just one person. But one person lost their life. To be honest, not knowing how to help occurs more than we’d like to believe. Like the rest of society, we don’t want to deal with confrontation of someone dying or their thought of killing themselves. It’s just normal. We say it’ll pass, but for those with suicidal thoughts, does it?

With no one helping them, it looks as if no one cares. If someone says they’re your friend, they need to help you through everything even if that means staying up ‘til 2am.

The chorus relays that because you didn’t help your friend, guilt is place upon yourself. Just as with the main character, Clay, in Jay Asher’s work of TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY.

Abbey Marshall, a fellow classmate of mine, wrote her own review of the book through her own blog:http://abbeymarshall.wordpress.com/2013/10/13/th1rteen-r3asons-why-you-should-read-this-book/. This is phenomenally written and is strait to the point. It highlights upon teen suicide and realistic motive behind it.

However, this song does not alone bring awareness to suicide of any age, but also focuses on the contributing factors.
 

Lay down a list of what is wrong

The things you've told him all along

With this particular line, its saying that you are repeating the information someone has already given you. It’s not, in anyway, helping them solve their problems or lifting the weight off your shoulders.

Factors of suicide could be anything including, stress, drug addiction, rape, social issues, or relationships. The list could go on and on. Unless you ask, you never know how someone is being affected by your words, how you act, or what you write.

In Sonia Rayka’s blog, One in Three, she depicts the seriousness of rape. Women are taught to avoid a situation and think about how they dress, walk in groups of two or more. But then why are men not taught and enforced that rape should not be encouraged. To read more:http://soniarayka.wordpress.com/2013/09/22/one-in-three/

Anything could be a factor, but frankly, do any of us truly know how to handle a situation, if it were to arise? Is the blame on us, or is it on society because they do not want to truly admit to what hides in the shadows and cobwebbed corners of reality?

My Views

Our world is jaded by the eyes which overlook values morals interest

we implant ideas into younger heads corrupting society           

and we ask: why is it that no one has individuality?

For the sake that we want to fit in

we want to be accepted into a group

not out casted

we are alienated by the characteristics that are against society’s ways

but reality we are humanoid

influenced by music books movies television, mainstream or alternative,

anything that occurs daily

no matter how much we say we break away

it’s bound to influence us

that’s how culture is shaped

we are shaped by our actions words thoughts

we are not ourselves

if we decide that this world is not right

that’s when change can occur

but until we admit the fact that along the lines something took a wrong turn

we cannot pave our own path

but it’s by unconformity that we become a destined person

together we stand strong

but apart we create an interesting world

conflicting ideas challenging one another is what spreads new ideas

no one said we have to be a like

don’t be

what’s your worth if we are all one in the same?

Relieve Me

Although We the Kings usually catches my attention with their up beat, punk-pop sound, their lyrics from Just Keep Breathing always calms me.

The song is portraying the message that through any situation we can prevail. The emotion is tangible through every note. The words are not forced, but flow together to tell the listener to see life in a new light.

Take breath, after breath—in essence that’s what is moving you forward. That’s how a new day will blossom. Take you life day by day. There should be no reason to stress, if you live for every day. Not necessarily waiting for something good to happen because I believe you should work toward happiness and success. But be appreciative for the miracles that occur.

Every time this song replays through my playlist, I take a step back from my chaotic life. I acknowledge the moment and realize what I have, what I should be grateful for, and what is weighing me down.  I refocus on the important strongholds in my life.

 

The second verse definitely hits home every time.

 

The beginning's just another end

It's not too late to start again

When hope is all too hard to hold

Just take a breath and let it go

Every time I restart obstacles reappear. That’s unavoidable. And when hope is all lost, which happens, take some deep breaths. Come too with a clear head.

This message ties into one of my favorite quotes by Lao Tzu:

“If you are depressed you are living in the past.

If you are anxious you are living in the future.

If you are at peace you are living in the present.”

Sometimes I just have to remind my self not to get caught up in all the drama of life, which might be my own or someone else’s. I have to be consciously aware that I don’t get lost in my own head. My thoughts are always consuming me, which I guess is not the best thing.

It’s songs like Just Keep Breathing that pull me back to the surface when I’m drowning from stress and life in general. It brings me back to reality. I love living in my fictional worlds, but my imagination and thoughts are nott what my life should only consist of. Real people are important too.

It’s time to live day by day; breath by breath. You’ll never know when a moment will be your last. Make the most of what you have.

Brave

“Among 12- to 17-year-olds, 47 percent of girls and 34 percent of boys report having been bullied either face-to-face or online, according to a survey by Mintel, a market research firm,” the New York time states in a recent article.

And it’s true. I know it. You know it. But what do we do about bullying? Most of us are bystanders watching the events unfold, if that is to mean watching statuses posted on line, verbal or physical.

But bullying is not just relevant in a middle school or high school setting. Become aware that bullying happens in every school, at every age. The idea is not to brush off the situation. Now after being the victim, perspective  change.

Two years. Two consecutive years.  By two different people.

At the naïve age of 8, I didn’t know. I didn’t push away the fact that I was being threatened, but I evaded questioning why it was happening.

I avoided him. Yet it was constant. I couldn’t get away. The words were thrown at me in our small groups. But I didn’t want to tattle. I didn’t want to find trouble, if that meant I dealt with the threats of being killed, then so be it.

It was in the corner of the classroom that I remember him stating, “I’m going to kill you. I’ll take a knife and slit your throat.” Or another common one; “I have a gun. I’m going to find you and shoot you.”

As an eight-year-old I didn’t know how to react. I knew it wasn’t normal. Kids in my small group just watched. Their mouths silence. And I was alone. Not a word was ever spoken about the reoccurring event.

With the third-grade rolling around the following year, to say the least, I was relived. Until I was targeted again.

Another student decided it was ok to, again, verbally abuse. Yet this time instead of just in the classroom, it was at recess too. I couldn’t escape. I tried to continue playing with my friends, but it wouldn’t always work like that. He began to snag my friends form underneath me, promising them that he was better, saying that I didn’t need friends. And that they were not allowed to talk to me anymore.

The two years were rough. But looking back these events created who I am. I’ve become more aware of the circumstances around me. And with October here, it’s time to advocate for Anti-Bully Awareness Month.

It is never ok to sit back and watch the bullying happen. That makes a situation ten times worse. It makes you feel like you are stuck in the same position. There are programs dedicated toward the prevention of bullies. And even in music you can find liberating messages.

For Sara Bareilles, her song “Brave” is leaving in its wake a message to take a stand and be who you are.

“It’s acknowledging our own internal silence,” Bareilles said, “What are we not speaking out loud because we are afraid of what that might expose us to, if that is judgment, criticism or vulnerability?”

This song is for encouragement and motivation to stand up for ourselves, mostly, but for others as well. Because you are recognizing that something is wrong, or you’re not acting yourself, it gives you power to change. Rise above the chamber that’s confining you, and breaking the chains that bind you in darkness.

“Letting the light in is a metaphor to the truth,” Bareilles said. “It is such a beautiful, broad concept.”

 

You don’t have to look far for comfort. Standing up is a way to grow into your own skin. It teaches fearlessness and courageousness.

If a friend is not someone you can lean on, there are people who have been in your shoes. No matter what you believe. Someone is experiencing pain, just as you are.

 

And I find it easiest to find meaning within lyrics, if that maybe on the radio, on the internet, or elsewhere. You can always find lyrics that are connectable to describe you situation. Always.

 

To read Anti-Bullying from The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/01/business/media/the-fight-against-bullying-in-schools-expands-to-store-shelves.html

To listen to Sara Bareilles “Track-by-Track” Commentary of Brave:

http://www.vh1.com/video/interview/sara-bareilles/937407/brave-track-by-track.jhtml