It’s In the Air

Like carbon monoxide, sometime we can be poisoned without even knowing it, such is the case of today’s youth and their beloved iPods. Educators need to be in touch with what is being funneled into the minds of students via the headphones, because while the students may say “I just like the beat” it’s foolish to think that the lyrical content is not making an impact. Below we have the lyrics of two major pop hits.
The first, Dean Martin’s smash hit “Memories are Made of This” topped the charts in the mid 50’s. Contrasted, Rihanna’s hit “Rude Boy” topped out at number 1 just last year, 2009. We have 2 songs, about essentially the same thing; one written in a time when morality was more universal the other in a time where pragmatic morality rules the day. A cursory glance at the lyrics for the two songs leaves little to be discussed. (below are links to amazon.com for a sampling of the songs mentioned)

Memories are Made of This:
http://www.amazon.com/Memories-Made-This-Digital-Remaster/dp/B000SXO2EY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1271781548&sr=1-1

Rude Boy:
http://www.amazon.com/Rude-Boy-Explicit/dp/B002X1Z64Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1271781649&sr=1-1

Memories are Made of This; Dean Martin
Sweet, sweet memories you gave-a me
you can't beat the memeories you gave-a me
Take one fresh and tender kiss
Add one stolen night of bliss
One girl, one boy
Some grief, some joy
Memories are made of this
Don't forget a small moonbeam
Fold in lightly with a dream
Your lips and mine
Two sips of wine
Memories are made of this
Then add the wedding bells
One house where lovers dwell
Three little kids for flavor
Stir carefully through the days
See how the flavor stays
These are the dreams you will savor
With His blessings from above
Serve it generously with love
One man, one wife
One love through life
Memories are made of this



Rude Boy; Rihanna
Come here, rude boy, boy; can you get it up
Come here rude boy, boy; is you big enough
Take it, take it baby, baby
Take it, take it; love me, love me
Tonight I'ma let you be the captain
Tonight I'ma let you do your thing, yeah
Tonight I'ma let you be a rider
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up babe
Tonight I'ma let it be fire
Tonight I'ma let you take me higher
Tonight, baby, we could get it on, yeah, we could get it on, yeah
Do you like it?
Boy, I want, want, want whatchu want, want, want
Give it to me, baby like boom, boom, boom
What I want, want, want is what you want, want, want
Chorus
Come here, rude boy, boy, can you get it up
Come here, rude boy, boy, is you big enough >
Take it, take it, baby, baby, take it, take it, love me, love me
Tonight I'ma give it to ya harder
Tonight I'ma turn ya body out
Relax; let me do it how I wanna
If you got it I need it and I'ma put it down
Buckle up; I'ma give it to ya stronger
Hands up; we could go a little longer
Tonight I'ma get a little crazy, get a little crazy,
Boy, I want, want, want whatchu want, want, want<
Give it to me, baby like boom, boom, boom
What I want, want, want is what you want, want, want
I like the way you pull my hair
Babe, if I don't feel it I ain't faking, no, no
like when you tell me 'kiss you there
like when you tell me 'move it there
So giddy-up; time to get it up:
you say you a rude boy: show me what you got now
Come here right now
Take it, take it, baby, baby, take it, take it, love me, love me


Even the English is bad in “Rude Boy”, the lyrics are as they appear in the liner notes of the CD, aside from that it is the equivalent of musical pornography. Note even the view of women is radically different in Martin’s song which views them as something to be treasured for life while Rihanna’s mentioning of “pulling hair” and “take it” seem to convey the idea of women as objects. Contrasted, a steep decline in the moral landscape from the 50’s to today can be seen. Educators in touch with the culture need to realize that the likes of Rihanna’s wares are being hawked at students a young as 9, Rihanna was chosen to perform at the Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice awards this year. Educators have the means, the time and the influence to counteract this poison.