Chade,
The point is that it doesn't matter what the lyrics are if they are not understandable.

Remote in the shape of a handgun. Not to kill the TV, but to eliminate the 'artist'/ programme / commercial I do no wish to watch or listen to. Personal satisfaction to knock him off.

One advantage of getting older, I don't have to do or watch anything I don't like and I won't.

As a parent and someone who has been a fan of and played music since I was young ,I agree the level of pap that is churned out by the commercial media, especially Gangsta rap is pathetic. I have exposed my children to a range of music and we have always tried to encourage them in their own musical endevours. My 14 year old son is a fan of fairly hardcore rock and is in a band. My daughter plays the violin and is into musical theater and singing. Like all parenting, role modelling is the key-my observation is the kids of parents with muzak musical tastes usually have fairly low level commercial music preferences. Music is something you need to be snobby about. Same as what newspaper you read and what TV you watch- its not that complicated.

Ah for the good old days. Remember Kenny Rogers and 'coward of the county'? The fact that a woman was packraped by three men was incidental. The important thing was, her husband proved he was not a coward.
When I mentioned this to people -men and women- at the time, the usual response was a shrug and: "what do you expect? It's country and western."
It may not be right, but the application of different standards for different categories (of anything) appears inevitable.
And then there's the question of how many people actually listen to the lyrics, whether or not they can understand them, or think about the lyrics...
(Actually, I would have been more impressed with the courage of the 'coward' if he had fought the three rapists, and lost. Unthinkable in American culture, of course...)

I am a fan of hip hop music, including the gangsta rap the author (perhaps unknowingly) is critiquing. Unfortunately her fears will not be answered if she has not spoken with fans of this type of music and lyrics. Then she might discover that what on the surface seems objectionable is often, in the vast majority of cases, redemptive. You cannot sing about your problems by ignoring what the issues are - these issues include the reduced or lack of self-esteem that the author is concerned about.

Furthermore, much of this music is progressive in that it deals not only with inappropriate male sexuality (still much a taboo subject) but also it is reclaiming the repressive language previously used to suppress black people (nigga, ho, bitch), along the lines that Mediterranean people have reclaimed the word "wog". An 18-year-old female acquaintance of mine frequently refers to her female friends as bitches, with no obvious ill effects. It is as normal for her as it was for the author to find Madonna "feeling like a virgin" or Chrissy Amphlett’s desire to "touch herself", subjects that were also offensive at the time and still are to some people today. Supposed empowerment for one is still a raunchy dollar for another.

Certainly regard should be given as to who gets to hear these impactful lyrics and when. To the best of my knowledge all such CDs include a warning sticker and I have yet to hear gangsta rap in my local shopping centre. If I were the author I’d be more concerned about the misogynistic or vengeful violence that films such as Wolfe Creek or Reservoir Dogs have on impressionable and disturbed minds.

The author needs to recognise that it is "unlikely that hearing lyrics in a song creates sexist attitudes that do not previously exist", as she herself quoted in her article. That is not to say there is not a problem. All prejudice can be broken down with empathy and understanding.

I agree with the article Claim back the Music. Totally agree. I believe there are so many mixed messages being sent out, and while the teens and younger are adamant they know what's what, they AND their parents scream loud and protest vehemently regarding innocence if anything 'happens'.

But 'innocence' can't possibly be there, can it? The girls with their 'just above the fluff' jeans and shorts, the tops only really working to cover the nipple and then to top it off they sing and wriggle to those songs.

And besides all that, where HAVE the great lyrics gone? And the music? Apropos of that, I've heard some, but as its not 'radio worthy' apparently, that music doesn't make the cut. Our music director (I believe there's really only one for Australia ?) appears to find out what is happening overseas, and will slot in an Australian or two, particularly if they're good for a barbeque and beer, and that's that.

Where are the GOOD radio stations, with fine, fun, music? And lyrics?

Oh, and interestingly the other day heard Mark Gable talking to Steve Cropper and his mate Gary Jones I think it was asking Steve when were Booker T and the MGs going to tour Australia? Now the MGs were there, and Booker T was replaced by the very very talented Lester Snell. But STILL they asked and indicated they'd go and see Booker T and the MGs - if Booker was with them. I thought that was a bit of a snarky slap and I'd give eye teeth to know whether they actually went to see Lester Snell and the MGs?

yes, one whole day of listening to this song only http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=aPDcMyPlFvw

LOL