“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,” wrote Evelyn Beatrice Hall. Hall goes into describing how we have every right to say exactly how we feel, but there is always going to be someone who disagrees with your word choice or personal opinion. While citizens censor the lyrics of certain songs, we begin to cut down song artist, telling them that what they are saying is unnecessary and how they are expressing their feelings and even opinions is not right.
The idea of censorship in music has become a very controversial state; many of today’s population can agree either way with the topic, “There is no consistent evidence that rap music on its own significantly influences behaviors or attitudes,” wrote Jennifer Copley. While others sit and argue that we are potentially “ruining” younger kids and teens, we need to allow them to hear certain lyrics and feel certain ways. Leading up to this, 83% of surveyed people have come to agree that censorship in music lyrics are not necessary for reasons such as freedom of speech rights, consumers choice, and the placement of warning labels (debate. rg). One of the most known amendments in the constitution is Freedom of Speech Rights. “The first amendment to the United States Constitution enshrines the principles of freedom of speech and a free press. ” (Censoring Music Lyrics) But when we begin to tell a crowd what they’re saying is not okay we are no longer following the first amendment.
We should be able to understand how an artist would feel cornered into trying to produce clean, enjoyable music to suit the freedom of speech nay sayers. Especially for an artist who tends to use language hat some would consider foul. Aren’t we entitled to our own opinion? , People have the right and should continue to have the right to say, (in this case sing) exactly how they feel without being discriminated against. “Censorships Impact Today” (an online article) referring to the idea of censorship of music lyrics quotes, “It prevents ideas from flowing freely, creativity is restricted. ” Song artists are basically being discriminated against, and being told that the Freedom of Speech Rights amendment doesn’t pertain to them.
They are told their word choice is wrong and unnecessary, but all this does is go against our American rights. In addition to freedom of speech rights, there are other reasons as to why censoring music lyrics is unnecessary. Consumers choice gives us the option to listen to what the people believe is “right” and what they personally enjoy. Many people believe that music with specific lyrics is not okay, yet we have the right to choose what we listen to. Sitting here and complaining about the lyrics on the radio station people are hearing is doing nothing. So if you don’t like it change the channel/station and be responsible for you, not others. ” (debate. org) Without help, you could resolve your individual disagreement against the music lyrics and let your ears hear what they “want” to hear, and what they think is “right. ” Keeping this in mind, not everyone prefers the same type of music. Therefore, if certain individuals listen to only rap, by censoring music lyrics this genre of music could be taken away.
This can and eventually will begin to upset not only the music industry, but also the consumers of music whose music begins to be cut off. Preventing and choosing what consumers listen to is chosen by personal opinion, on top of consumers taking things into their own personal preferences, the music industry started to place stickers on albums with “explicit” content. Without being asked or confronted by the government the music industry began to label explicit content by adding stickers on the outside of albums with “choice words. There’s never has been a law enlisted saying that the placement of these stickers must happen It was started because so many people started to complain about “unnecessary” lyrics. The music industry was trying to make the situation somewhat better.
Since 1985, sticker placement, in the bottom right hand corner, has allowed you to be aware of what might be potential issues for younger people and what to expect in the album. Although you may think some albums need PAL (parental advisory labels) stickers, rs may not. Individual record companies and artists decide which of their releases should receive a PAL notice, indicating that the release contains explicit content. ” (www. npr. org) Additionally, you can almost always count on a cover, clean version, or a radio edit of your favorite song with “choice words. ” , Everyone has their own opinions, and the people who most want or need censorship seem to be parents. Parents want censorship t because they have younger kids that they are trying to protect from “unnecessary” lyrics.
Not everybody agrees that censoring music lyrics is a bad thing though, there are many people that think censoring music lyrics is going to make music on the radio so much more enjoyable, much more fun to listen to and “easier” to listen to. As an adult, parent and, guardian, it becomes easy to view the idea of censorship differently. Parental figures view censorship as beneficial. Their thoughts towards censoring music lyrics and the use of PAL stickers are much different from the kids that are listening to the music.
These adults are meant to help children make decisions, and so it becomes their job to impact a child’s life in a positive way. With this in mind, it is said that it becomes the parent’s responsibility to make the decision on what their kids are allowed to take heed of. “Secondly, other people believe that music censorship is important for the security of the children and for tolerance. They say that violent music is linked to crime and killing, so if children listen to violent music, they will be more attracted to commit crimes when they will be older. (News Activist) It’s said that it is not right for these young ears to be hearing about this violence, they begin to understand things such as drugs, crimes and killing, that could lead them to commit these actions later in life.
We have the ability to take in our choice of music, to say what citizens are feeling is an American right. By having the option to directly censor all music lyrics or to not censor music lyrics at all creates an opportunity for citizens to push against local constitutional rights. ese rights being the communities freedom of speech rights. This being said, many arguments will arise within the community. Arguments such as, why individuals are being cut down for how they choose to express their opinions and thoughts. For the most part, majority of the United States populations is in agreement that censorship in music lyrics is unnecessary and morally wrong. Next time when you catch yourself bobbing your head to one of your all time favorite songs, think to yourself, would this song still be my favorite song with the censoring of its lyrics?