It is all the rage to eat organic foods. To go vegan. To eat nutrient dense food and watch everything people put in their body.
So, why do we put crap into our brain?
Ever listen to the lyrics of the music out there?
I mean a lot of the lyrics aren't great advice. Like the song "Need you now by Lady Antebellum"
It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now
Okay, maybe I can get behind that but keep listening...
It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now
When did anything good ever happy at a quarter after one under the influence of alcohol.
Now I could go on about an awful lot of songs. Rape, murder, drug use, and general anti social behavior but I'll stick with songs that actually hit background music in stores.
My kids always think I'm a little crazy because I listen to the lyrics. They say "It's all about the beat Dad" but is it really? The brain remembers things. It remembers song lyrics even better with those catchy beats to go along with them. Does it hit the subconscious and affect behavior? No idea. However, for all those people who are so conscious about what they put into their stomach where there is a pit of acid designed to protect us why wouldn't you look at what you put into your brain where there may not be a filter to protect you.
Now this isn't something new to me. When I was young I would have said exactly the same thing as my children do now. Then again, my Grade 8 English teacher had us listen to a song by "The Police" called "Every Breath You Take" release way back in 1983. She had us listen to the song and then tell her what type of song it was. The general consensus was that it was a love song. Then she had us read the lyrics. I can't put them all here because of copyright but:
Every breath you take, every move you make, every bond you break, every step you take, I'll be watching you.
Listen to the lyrics and you will soon figure out that the song is about a stalker watching his prey. Which is pretty creepy.
Now one of the artists I really enjoy listening to is Weird Al. He parodies all types of music. Indeed with his parodies it is important to hear the lyrics or you won't find the humor. Even he wrote a song about how the quality of lyrics is missing in many songs.
One song he wrote is called "This song is just six words long". It's an entire song about how an artist got lazy, didn't bother doing the work to find good lyrics, so he is going to make a whole bunch of money with a song that is just six words long.
Of course the song does have more words than that but still with lyrics such as:
I just didn't get to complete it, so that's why I've gotta repeat it
Kinds of sums up his opinion on some of the lyrics out there these days. Lackluster.
To sum it all up?
I listen to an awful lot of Christian music. Sure many of the lyrics are kind of repetitive as they sing a message for the listener to remember. The message of Christianity is pretty simple so there are only so many songs out there. BUT... I can listen to the lyrics of the song and see if the song resonates with me. So many contemporary songs out there the lyrics are muffled, hard to hear, of nonsensical. Those that I can hear are things I often find offensive. Sure there are good songs, but in general I'm going to stick with what I listen to.
Are the lyrics of a catchy beat really worth what I may be putting into my brain?
Must like is the yummy taste of junk food worth the questionable nutrition I'm putting into my body?
In the end everyone makes their own decision. I'm not going to blame anyone for what they listen to just as I'm not going to judge people for eating junk food.
Having said that......Just because it is popular doesn't necessarily mean it is good for you.
Just my take and feel free to disagree or leave a comment. Either way, thanks for taking the time to read my little thought on that.
