- Hi Jeff,
-
- You and your guests talk a lot about the decline of American
culture, and a little research I did on the matter reinforced that point
nicely.
-
- I looked at Billboard's top ten of their 'Hot 100' songs
(which uses both radio plays and sales to rank songs) for 2003. I summarized
the theme(s) of each song in a couple of words and extracted a sample lyric.
If the song contained any 'mystery lyrics' -- those written in whatever
passes as 'English' these days, but which have no meaning to the average
educated person -- I included those as well.
-
- I then did the same thing for the year 1981, the year
I graduated high school. (Since songs were written in 'real' English 20
years ago, there are no 'mystery lyrics' among those songs.)
-
- The differences are profound. Whilst the 1981 lyrics
wax poetic about love and relationships, the 2003 lyrics are an orgy of
sex, violence and drugs. Oh, yes and a good helping of obsessive 'love.'
A sad comment on the state of our culture, don't you think?
-
- And before anyone protests that sex, drugs and violence
were also themes in songs from the 80s (or 70s or 60s), let me just say
that this little exercise was not meant as exhaustive research, but rather
to show the differences in the 10 MOST POPULAR, MOST LISTENED TO songs
for each year I researched.
-
- Read it and open your eyes to where we are headed.
-
- +++++++++++++++++
-
- 2003 Billboard Hot 100 (Top 10)
-
- 1. 50 Cent - 'In Da Club'
- [sex, drugs, alcohol, violence]
-
- You can find me in the club, bottle full of bub
- Look mami I got the X if you into taking drugs
- I'm into having sex, I ain't into making love
- So come give me a hug if you into to getting rubbed
-
- mystery lyric:
- But homie ain't nothing change hold down, G's up
- I see Xzibit in the Cutt that nigga roll that weed up
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/50-Cent/In-Da-Club.html
-
- =============
-
- 2. R. Kelly - 'Ignition'
- [sex]
-
- Girl, please let me stick my key in your ignition,
babe
- So I can get this thing started and get rollin', babe
- See, I'll be doin' about 80 on your freeway
- Girl, I won't stop until I drive you crazy
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/R-KELLY/Ignition.html
-
- =============
-
- 3. Sean Paul - 'Get Busy'
- [sex]
-
- It's all good girl turn me on
- 'Til the early morn'
- Let's get it on
- Let's get it on 'til the early morn'
- Girl it's all just turn me on
-
- mystery lyric:
- Me want fi see you get live 'pon the riddim weh we
ride
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Sean-Paul-Busta-Rhymes/Get-Busy.html
-
- =============
-
- 4. Beyonce Knowles - 'Crazy In Love'
- [obsessive love]
-
- Got me looking so crazy, my baby
- I'm not myself lately
- I'm foolish, i don't do this
- I've been playing myself
- Baby i don't care
- Cuz your love got the best of me
- And baby you're making a fool of me
- You got me sprung and i don't care who sees
- Cuz baby you got me so crazy
-
- mystery lyric:
- Young hova
- Ya'll know when the flow is loco
- Young b and the r-o-c uh oh
- O-G, big homie
- The one and only
- Stick boney but the pockets are fat like ton
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Beyonce-Knowles/Crazy-In-Love.html
-
- =============
-
- 5. 3 Doors Down - 'When I'm Gone'
- [obsessive love]
-
- Everything I am
- And everything in me
- wants to be the one
- You wanted me to be
- I'll never let you down
- Even if I could
- I'd give up everything
- If only for your good
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/3-DOORS-DOWN/When-I-m-Gone.html
-
- =============
-
- 6. Matchbox 20 - 'Unwell'
- [mental illness]
-
- I'm talking to myself in public
- Dodging glances on the train
- And I know, I know they've all been talking about me
- I can hear them whisper
- And it makes me think there must be something wrong
with me
- Out of all the hours thinking
- Somehow I've lost my mind
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/MATCHBOX-20/Unwell.html
-
- =============
-
- 7. Chingy - 'Right Thurr'
- [sex]
-
- I like the way you look in them pants, see ya fine
- You're momma a quarter piece, she far from a dime
- The type of girl that'll getcha' up and go make you
grind
- I'm thinkin' about snatchin' her up, dirty; makin' her
mine
-
- mystery lyric:
- Girl can I taste yo khaki for three hundred to step,
- Like buyin' a throwback
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Chingy/Right-Thurr.html
-
- =============
-
- 8. Aaliya - 'Miss You'
- [obsessive love]
-
- I...can't...breathe...no...more
- Since you went away I
- Don't really feel like talkin'
- Don't wanna hear you don't love me
- Baby do you understand me
- I can't do a thing without you
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/AALIYAH/Miss-You.html
-
- =============
-
- 9. Kid Rock with Sheryl Crow - 'Picture'
- [sex, drugs, booze]
-
- Livin' my life in slow hell
- Different girl every night at the hotel
- I ain't seen the sun shine in three damn days
- Been fuelin' up on cocaine and whiskey
- Wish I had a good girl to miss me
- Lord, I wonder if I'll ever change my ways
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Kid-Rock/Picture-Featuring-Sheryl-Crow.html
-
- =============
-
- 10. Evanescence - 'Bring Me To Life'
- [obsessive love]
-
- Wake me up
- Wake me up inside
- I can't wake up
- Wake me up inside
- Save me
- Call my name and save me from the dark
- Wake me up
- Bid my blood to run
- I can't wake up
- Before I come undone
- Save me
- Save me from the nothing I've become
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/EVANESCENCE/Bring-Me-To-Life.html
-
- +++++++++++++++++
-
- 1981 Billboard Hot 100 (Top 10)
-
- 1. Kim Carnes - 'Bette Davis Eyes'
- [seductive woman]
-
- And she'll tease you
- She'll unease you
- All the better just to please you
- She's precocious and she knows just what
- It takes to make a pro blush
- She's got Greta Garbo stand off sights
- She's got Bette Davis eyes
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Kim-Cares/Bette-Davis-Eyes.html
-
- =============
-
- 2. Lionel Ritchie with Diana Ross - 'Endless Love'
- [love]
-
- And your eyes
- Your eyes, your eyes
- They tell me how much you care
- Ooh yes, you will always be
- My endless love
- Two hearts,
- Two hearts that beat as one
- Our lives have just begun
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Lionel-Richie/Endless-Love.html
-
- =============
-
- 3. Kenny Rogers - 'Lady'
- [love]
-
- Lady, I'm your knight in shining armor and I love you
- You have made me what I am and I am yours
- My love, there's so many ways I want to say I love you
- Let me hold you in my arms forever more
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Kenny-Rogers/Lady.html
-
- =============
-
- 4. John Lennon - '(Just Like) Starting Over'
- [love]
-
- Our life together is so precious together
- We have grown, we have grown
- Although our love is still special
- Let's take a chance and fly away somewhere
-
- http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/John-Lennon/just-Like-Starting-Over.html
-
- =============
-
- 5. Rick Springfield - 'Jessie's Girl'
- [forbidden love]
-
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