Post #8: "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga (2011) AND "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry (2008)

     I really wanted to include both of these videos to compare and contrast the ways these two artists addressed the Gay Rights issue.  While neither of them explicitly tackles the role of legislation and government, both attempt to portray homosexual relationships as something natural and, really, nothing to worry about.  Katy Perry's approach is to downplay homosexual acts as something that happens all the time, to everyone, and as more of a personal rebellion against the social conventions of society.  Lady Gaga is more direct than Perry, not downplaying homosexuality but instead proudly proclaiming that her audience should not only accept it, but embrace it; that humans were meant to be this way--no rules when it comes to your body, anything goes!
     I have more to say about Lady Gaga's than Katy Perry's video, so I will focus mostly on that.  The most disturbing thing to me about this song is her distortion of the concept of God and how He feels about homosexuality (she brought it up, not me!):
A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M
I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way
No matter gay, straight, or bi,
Lesbian, transgendered life
I'm on the right track baby
    I'm sorry, but I am not entirely sure I know what god she is talking about; perhaps she has made up her own diety of indiscriminate love.  I know that any monotheistic God-figure (the capital H-I-M) that I know of certainly has a problem with homosexual acts.
In Christianity and Judaism:
“If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable."
Leviticus 20:13
"Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error."
Romans 1:26-27
In Islam:
"Do ye approach an abomination which no one in all the world ever anticipated you in? Verily, ye approach men with lust rather than women- nay, ye are a people who exceed [transgressing beyond bounds]."
Qur'an 7:80-81
"What! Of all creatures do ye come unto the males, and leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are forward folk."
Qur'an 26:165
I really don't know what God (HIM is most certainly a Biblical reference) would condone homosexual acts, as she portays in the context of her song.  However, I would like to share my views according to what I believe: 
     Homosexuality (as in feelings, emotions, and tendencies) is not a sin in God's eyes (from this point on, I will be referring to the Judeo-Christian God); it is a temptaion.  A homosexual person is loved by God just as much as any other person.  However, indulging in homosexual acts is clearly a sin in the eyes of God and is thus immoral.  But those are just my thoughts; what about the government's role in all of this?  I believe that a homosexual person no matter their conduct should be granted all of the same rights as any other American citizen: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, even freedom of sexual conduct--however, I do not believe that it is the government's place to redefine marriage to accomodate increasingly bizzare sexual practices, just so those participants can feel legally justified in some way.  "Who cares if God says it's wrong; the United States government says it's alright, and so it must be." What do you think?
     Lastly, it really irked me that she actually dared to use the DNA argument ("Same DNA, but Born This Way").  Boy, do I have alot to say on that!! First of all, the majority of have either an X or a Y chromosome, or some multiple of one or the other.  Whatever you do surgically to your body, whomever you have sexual desires for, whatever you do with your body, your DNA content is going to be the same.  If you are an XX, you were born [this way] female.  If you are XY you were born [this way] male.  If you have an odd combination, such as Turner's Syndrome or are a Klinefelter's male, I am very sorry that it is your lot in life to deal with those confusing complications, but that still does not mean that anything goes sexually, not by a longshot.  But again, those are just my opinions.  Politically, my viewpoint is that it is not government's place to redefine marriage. Period.
Sources:
http://www.twopaths.com/faq_homosexuality.htm
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=212197

Post #7: "Waiting on the World to Change" by John Mayer (2006)

     And...back to John Mayer.  He has the most incredible bluesy voice I have ever heard, and I really am a fan, but once again, he seems to be one of those celebrities who just dips his toes in the political bathwaters.  This is another protest on the Iraq war (seems to be the only issue he really takes a stand on), which is especially evident in the following lyrics:
Now if we had the power
To bring our neighbors home from war
They would have never missed a Christmas
No more ribbons on their door
And when you trust your television
What you get is what you got
Cause when they own the information, oh
They can bend it all they want
     It is always so easy for the critics of the Iraq war to image that they would have had the superhuman wisdom and foresight to determine the absolute right choices if only they were in the position of the leaders of our country.  I seriously doubt it.  It seems as though, if these yuppies were in charge, they would have sat on their haunches in the name of peace until all Americans--not just the victims of September 11, 2001 and those who have died in the War on Terrorism--were murdered in the streets, or at least in danger of that fate.  As a politically outspoken friend of mine quipped about this particular song and artist, "It's just so... pathetic. 'I am a whiny, pseudo-socially-conscious idiot, and the world just won't bend to my ignorant desires... I am so repressed.'"  Now, I can't pretend to be that blunt, and I do believe John Mayer's heart is in the right place, but sometimes I get very tired of the apathy and prideful ignorance of those who claim that they would have absolutely done the "right" thing had they been given the chance.

Sources:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1458921998#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=191010387616059&id=1458921998
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Waiting-On-The-World-To-Change-lyrics-John-Mayer/B2BCC190B8AD3B21482571B2003E83BD

Post #6: "Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)" by Toby Keith (2002)

   Time for a good-ol'-fashioned patriotic song!  This song's lyrics are very powerful, and the video's images are moving reels of American soldiers cheering for "the Red White and Blue."  The atmosphere during the release of this song was permeated by the anger and confusion following the attacks of September 11, 2001 on United States soil.  This song, to me, seems to be a defence of America's right to retaliation in order to protect our country, our borders, our people, and our values.  So many people, especially in today's political world, believe that America should stand for peace no matter what; essentially, apathy in the face of so many who wish to destroy everything we stand for, and everything we are.  My favorite part is:
Ohhh Justice will be served
And the battle will rage
This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage
And you'll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
'Cause we'll put a boot in your a**
It's the American way

Hey Uncle Sam
Put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty
Started shaking her fist
And the eagle will fly
And there's gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom
Start ringing her bell
And it'll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue    
     I don't know about you, but this gives me so much pride in our country! I know that we stand for justice, and equal opportunity for all, and freedom, and liberty; but when someone messes with us, we are no pussy cats.  We defend our rights, and we defend the honor of those sacrificed in senseless attacks like 9/11/2001. Justice will be served ...

Post #5: "My President is Black" by Young Jeezy (2009)

     Personally, I absolutey love the fact that we elected our first black (I can say that, right?) president--it shows how much progress America has truly made in the past 40 years.  It shows that the people who voted for him voted for the man, the voice, and the ideas of Obama, and I truly believe that those who voted against him only did so politically and not personally, nor because of the color of his skin.  Obama broke the glass ceiling for minorities, but someone else was responsible for the breaking of that glass--the American people themselves.  You simply do not get a majority vote for an African-American presidential candidate unless racism is almost entirely a thing in the past!  It made me very proud to be an American! [As a side note, if I had been voting-age during the 2008 elections, I wouldn't have voted for Obama, but that would have been a strictly political decision.  I am currently rooting for Herman Cain (who happens to be black) because I very much agree with his policies.]
     This video/song shows the same kind of pride, but one from a slightly different angle and point of view.  Essentially, the lyrics tell us that the author claims to have only gained his success by his own work and by sheer luck, and that he believes that the government is in part responsible for his struggles, or at least should have helped more than it did.  Now that we have a black president, he implies, the life of all African-Americans will be better; now the black president will be there for his people; now they have no worries.  Some of the lyrics from the song, which were actually sung by Nas:
Tell him I'm doin fine, Obama for mankind
We ready for d*** change so y'all let the man shine
Stuntin on Martin Luther, feelin just like a king
Guess this is what he meant when he said that he had a dream
Yeah, our history, black history, no president ever did sh** for me
Had to hit the streets, had to flip some keys so a n**** won't go broke
Then they put us in jail, now a n**** can't go vote
So I spend doe, all these hoes is trippin
She a ain't a politician, honey's a polotician
My president is black, rolls golden charms
Twenty-two inch rims like Hulk Hogan's arms
When thousands of peoples is riled up to see you
That can arouse ya ego, we got mouths to feed so
Gotta stay true to who you are and where you came from
Cause at the top will be the same place you hang from
No matter how big you can ever be
For whatever fee or publicity, never lose your integrity
For years there's been surprise horses in this stable
Just two albums in, I'm the realest n**** on this label
Mr. Black President, yo Obama for real
They gotta put your face on the five-thousand dollar billIn this part, he seems to be admonishing the president to not forget the African-American population; in fact, the tone seems to imply that they should be his number-one priority, as if that was Obama's entire purpose for being in office.  This does not sit right with me.  If racism is truly disappearing, I believe that a black president should consider all of the citizens of  America of equal importance: black, white, asian, latino, young, old, male, or female; just as a white president should, just as an asian president should, just as a female president should, etc.  He should not favor one population over the other just because that is "who you are and where you came from."  It would not be considered right to do so in any circumstance; therefore, the lyrics to this song and what they stand for seem to be a little ignorant and frankly, un-American.  A lot of African-American rap art portrays this same sentiment.  Personally, I disagree with the perpetuation of the myth that the American government is responsible for the problems and lifestyle of the people to which these types of songs speak.  If these artists focused their music and talents to promote a more positive message, such as education is the key to free yourself from the pattern of drug abuse and prison, perhaps the effect would be more dynamic for positive change. 
     Secondly, I really disliked the line "Yeah, our history, black history, no president ever did sh** for me."  WHAT!? Oh, I suppose Abraham Lincoln didn't write the Emancipation Proclimation, and he certainly wasn't assasinated for his controversial view that "all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons...sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution..."  I suppose Harry Truman did not completely integrate the armed forces by executive order in 1948 (thus bypassing any opposition from congress).  I suppose the Fouteenth Ammendment was not passed and ratified under Andrew Johnson, and the various Civil Rights Acts were not passed under various other presidents. No, I don't guess a white president ever did anything for the African-American population.

Post #4: "Wake Up America" by Miley Cyrus (2008)

     Aside from my mind being completely contaminated with the mediocre vocals and poorly assembled lyrics (which were so obviously not written by Miley herself; or maybe they were, which says even more about her skills as a songwriter), this song was...great.  But the purpose of this blog is not to criticize pop stars, but to constructively critique their attempts (however half-hearted) at producing political music.  I suppose you may be able to tell from my tone thus far the level of respect I have for Miley Cyrus as a person and artist, but I will attempt to keep it strictly business-like henceforth. 
     The message of the song is actually a really good one; she isn't pursuing any controversial issues nor aligning herself with a particular group or party, but then, that's just the problem.  I like how it is essentially a message to the youth of America to become more aware of how their actions can affect others and, possibly, even the planet.  It has a catchy tune and beat.  But I seriously cannot stand when pop stars and celebrities feel, at some point in their career, that it is their duty to dip their toes in the political waters for a few seconds, make a few ripples, and then yank them back out for years or even a lifetime.  It seems to be more of a marketing strategy than anything else, to me.  "Hey look, I must be a really good person because I have a cause to sing about.  You should buy my albums!"  Granted, none of them actually say this, but most of the time, these momentary commentators on political issues leave the scene after completing one or two stints, never to return.  I think I respect groups who devote their entire image to political activity, or at least a large part of their time and music, to important issues much more than those that follow the Hollywood trend of "showing up at the party" just to receive the publicity that follows.

Post #3: "21 Guns" by Green Day (2009)

     Something that really surprised me about this song, "21 Guns," was the comments posted below the Youtube video.  The first time I listened to "21 Guns," it was kind of obvious that this was a politically charged war-protest song.  However, the majority of commenters genuinely thought that it was simply a song about a couple breaking up and making up—just a pop song about relationships.  Although I can see that element in the video because of the young couple portrayed, I think that this song is something much deeper, and even deeper than a simple protest to war.

     I think that imagery in the video plays a big part in the full message of the song; the girl has a fragile beauty about her even though she dresses in a tough-looking leather jacket and has her dark hair pulled back.  I think that the most moving scene is when the bullets come piercing through the walls of their apartment while she shrieks and covers her ears.  At the same time this is happening, the lyrics sing:

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky, you and I

     There are multiple layers to this song: 1) It could be taken as advice to couples about knowing when it’s just not working anymore and when to let the relationship go; 2) It could be a typical war-protest song advising the leaders of our country to be cautious when entering war, and not to start battles over trivial matters; however, I don’t believe that this is your typical protest song at its deepest level; I think it is about an internal battle more than anything.

     In other words, it may actually be a song speaking to veterans.  Its message may be a song of encouragement, a song to let them know that it’s ok to admit fear, it’s alright to be scared, and it’s normal to be scarred (not a misspelling, I mean to have internal scars).  I think the scene with the young girl serves to represent the shattering of a person’s innocence that battle and the horrors of war invariably bring, and that the entire song is a message to American veterans simply saying, “We know that this is what you’ve been through, and it’s time to take down your armor, time to let go of the tough-guy attitude, time to allow yourself to mourn for everything you’ve lost and grieve every scar (whether physical or emotional) that you’ve gained.”  

Sources:http://www.elyrics.net/read/g/green-day-lyrics/21-guns-lyrics.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r00ikilDxW4

Post #2: "Handlebars" by Flobot (2008)

    

"Handlebars" is a song about corruption and power.  The music video itself has a powerful effect on the listener's perspective because it is presented in a graphic novel, cartoonish style which causes the audience to immediately distance themselves from the world that exists in the video.  However, one of the underlying themes in the song is that this immediate distancing of human beings from the issues that are presented in the lyrics is actually extremely dangerous because corruption can sneak up on us without us even realizing it.  The second theme is that, even if an idea or action begins in innocence, just because you can do something, doesn't mean that you should do it.
      Both the lyrics and musical style of the song "Handlebars" begin whimsically, creating a false sense of security and well-being.  The proposed actions in the song also start out very innocent and childlike, such as a pair of friends riding their bikes "with no handlebars."  The author then claims increasingly more challenging and impossible things that he can do, and we notice that these things begin to involve more and more people.  By the end of the song, both the tone and volume have become harsh to echo the lyrics' blunt message: depravity begins with small steps, but can soon overcome persons, nations, and even the world if no one has the vision to see where those steps are leading and the courage to voice their suspicions. 
     Both in my own mind, and partly because of several allusions in the lyrics and video images, the song reminds me of Nazism in that no one suspected or saw the evil behind the little steps that began the movement, but by the time it became obvious to the world, the movement was too strong to be stopped easily.  So many truly frightening things have started in this way, and the only way we can avoid this dangerous trap is to be constantly aware of, and to constructively question, our surroundings and the changing tides within the world we live in. 
     This song reminded me of both Bob Dylan's "It's Alright Ma" and Green Day's "American Idiot" because, in all three, the common theme is that "group think" and blind obedience without questioning authority is extremely dangerous, not only to ourselves, but to all other humans.  Another theme that was pointed out to me by a dear friend was and power's power to corrupt (as she said, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely").  If you notice, as soon as our narrator accomplishes one thing, he moves right on to another.  The innocent act of learning to ride his bike "with no handlebars" came first, then the pursuit of things that are not necessarily inherently bad: money, fame, etc.  However, even that was not enough and our narrator moved on to larger tasks which allow him to exert control over larger masses of people:
I can hand out a million vaccinations
Or let'em all die in exasperation
Have'em all healed of their lacerations
Have'em all killed by assassination
I can make anybody go to prison
Just because I don't like'em and
I can do anything with no permission
I have it all under my command
I can guide a missile by satellite...
and I can hit a target through a telescope...
and I can end the planet in a holocaust.
 In the end, he was not able to find a stopping point, but continued on until he annihilated the human race.  I really liked how the song did not end there, but instead returned to the hauntingly innocent refrain of "I can ride my bike with no handlebars...no handlebars...no handlebars" to again drive home the point that corruption can start small, and no single human being is exempt from this possibility: ignoring that possibility is as dangerous (and even more so!) as willingly seeking out corruption and ill-used power.

Sources:
http://www.lyricsmania.com/handlebars_lyrics_flobots_the.html
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1458921998#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=2007560956198&id=1458921998&cmntid=2007573796519