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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to censor pop music?

58 replies

Crabapple99 · 17/12/2011 23:10

I have just seen the thread on 12 rated games, and it started me wondring if I am the only mother who checks all lyrics of pop music in hte charts., about half the songs my DC want, I say no to, due to content about rape, S&M, drugs, etc.
DS wanted "Now thats what I call music 80" for christams, but the staff serving in HMV says they are banned from playing it over the PA system because ofthe content, and when I checked with the guy servin i nthe CD section of the local supermarket, he also said he wouldn't sell it to a child.
It's got 43 songs on it, fo I need to research and check the lyrics of every single one to find out what the specific problem is? or do other MNers know anything about it?
I would like to here your opinios

OP posts:

squeakytoy · 17/12/2011 23:14

Your children are 10 and 12 arent they?

I think that is a bit too old to be trying to shield them from mainstream music that they can hear on any radio or with their friends.

Albums with swearing on them have to have a label saying "explicit lyrics" and I bought the NOW album the other week.. it is absolutely fine and got nothing on it that isnt played on the radio.

MudAndGlitter · 17/12/2011 23:14

I don't. I also wouldn't ban games unless they were really brutal and I didn't think they were old enough to deal with it.
DS plays soldiers and knights, he has toy guns and swords. When he's older DP plans on taking him shooting.
I dont feel that listening to music with certain subjects in will make you go out and try that subject.

AgentZigzag · 17/12/2011 23:18

It'd depend on how old the DC is I would say.

Any drug references are going to go over the head of a three YO, but you might not want to be discussing S and M with a six YO.

I wouldn't go through the lyrics of 43 songs to check their context is wholesome, most songs aren't.

If it bothers you enough to do that, I'd say don't buy it.

AgentZigzag · 17/12/2011 23:19

You're OK with your DPs plans to take your DS shooting Glitter?

Shooting what?

PrincessScrumpy · 17/12/2011 23:21

dd is 3 (nearly 4) and sings along with Katy Perry and Lady Gaga - only certain songs but occasionally I slip up. She loves Lazy Song by Bruno Mars but there's a ref to sex in it. I love the song too so let her have it on. This doesn't mean I think you shouldn't it just means I'm not a great mum.

MudAndGlitter · 17/12/2011 23:26

Clay pigeon shooting. Both DP and stepdad have been doing it for years so yes I'm fine with it when DS is at an age to realise the dangers.

Original poster

Crabapple99 · 17/12/2011 23:30

well no, squeakytoy, they are edited forthe radio, the originals aren't considered broadcastable, this is the problem I have, if the album ISN'T a radio edit, doyou let children lissten? I normally go by the public library, if a cd isn't allowed out on a children 's ticket, then myDCs cant have it, but the latest "NOW" isn't in the librbry yet. It isn't really swearing I'm worried about either, its the other content

Have you listenede to the album yourself then? I don't know if the shops are just beig over cautious because soem of the previous "NOW" albums have contained the "adult" version of some songs that were only aloowed to be broadcast in a "radio edit" format.

I guess I'm going to end up rreserching and reading the lyrics of 43 songs....

OP posts:

squeakytoy · 17/12/2011 23:33

I think you are being ridiculously over protective towards your children. They will hear swearing at school.. they will hear swearing in the street!!

What "other" content? Presumably they know what sex is? Do you not let them read newspapers either?

hiddenhome · 17/12/2011 23:34

I sensor music. ds1 is getting an ipod for Christmas and I'll be seeing what he wants from itunes and making sure it's not too bad before he's allowed to download it. Some of the rap stuff is about rape and torture/gang violence and some of the mainstream stuff contains graphic language about sex. We don't listen to radio music in our house anyway, so he's not exposed to pop stuff at the moment. I play cds if I want to listen to music.

hiddenhome · 17/12/2011 23:37

"ridiculously overprotective" squeakytoy? Have you heard some of the lyrics about rape and violence towards women? These lyrics aren't just about sex, they contain references to drug abuse and hardcore violence. You wouldn't let a 10 year old watch A Clockwork Orange.

MudAndGlitter · 17/12/2011 23:41

But surely giving them access to the music provides a chance to discuss it with them. What songs mention rape?

squeakytoy · 17/12/2011 23:41

And as I said, unless there is a label on it, explaining that it has explicit lyrics, (which a NOW cd does not), then I would not even think of censoring it from children over the age of 10.

You still cant stop them from listening to it at school on another childs ipod though. Not all parents will care. I dont think young kids, or anyone with any taste should be listening to some of the hardcore rap stuff, as I personally think it is a load of shite (most of it anyway).. but it would be very difficult to stop anyone from hearing it.

Original poster

Crabapple99 · 17/12/2011 23:42

hiddenhome, that is exactly the content I am refering to, I am not worried about swearing.

OP posts:

hiddenhome · 17/12/2011 23:43

Plenty of contemporary songs contain lyrics that refer to rape and violence towards women. I can't name any offhand because I don't listen to contemporary pop/rap/rock but I've done searches surrounding this issue and there's plenty of stuff out there.

Original poster

Crabapple99 · 17/12/2011 23:43

squeaky toy, would you let your children listen to songs describing S&M?

OP posts:

AgentZigzag · 17/12/2011 23:44

Discussing rape with a five or six year old would be inappropriate Glitter, so depends on their age.

MudAndGlitter · 17/12/2011 23:45

Surely by 12 your DC would have heard references to drugs and violence? You can censor to your hearts content but they will find ways around it and not feel able to discuss it with you.
Also you could use rap as a way of educating them about different styles of music and origins. It's not all about getting high or getting laid.

squeakytoy · 17/12/2011 23:46

Yes I would. I wouldnt expect them to be going out later to try it out, so why not?

I was listening to plenty of music with risque lyrics when I was 11.. it didnt harm me, disturb me, or influence me. It was just music. Something I listened to with my friends.

Madonna brought out "Like A Virgin" when I was at high school... it didnt make me want to have sex. White Lines was in the charts too, but I didnt go and score some coke after listening that either.

SulkySullenDame · 17/12/2011 23:47

I did for dd, now 14 who loved Lily Allen at about 9 or 10 and I thought some of it was totally unsuitable. I just didn't want her to hear it and I am far from prudish or closed minded. OP, I don't blame you at all.

hiddenhome · 17/12/2011 23:47

Censor if you feel comfortable doing that Crabapple99. I intend to when ds hits itunes. What he does at school, I can't help, but at least he's not exposed to stuff like that at home. We talk about the content of music and he's aware of what's out there. We have open discussions, but I won't have stuff about rape and violence in the house. I don't intend to ditch my beliefs just because there are three year olds out there listening to music with explicit lyrics. Why be pressurised to sink to other people's standards?

AgentZigzag · 17/12/2011 23:47

Unless I've missed it (quite likely ) the OP's not said how old her DC are Glitter, the 12 bit in the OP is about another thread about a 12 rated computer game.

MudAndGlitter · 17/12/2011 23:47

But the OPs children are 10 and 12. If they were 5 then I'd agree. DSD sings along to Katy Perry songs and that makes me a bit uncomfortable but at 10 and 12 I'd expect children to know that this type of thing goes on and not brush it under the carpet and pretend that because you won't expose them to it that they'll forever live in a lovely bubble.

MudAndGlitter · 17/12/2011 23:48

Oh sorry misread the ages! How old are they OP?

AgentZigzag · 17/12/2011 23:50

Oh yeah, I see Squeaky said their ages Glitter, thought that was on another thread

DD1 likes Katy Perry

No taste.

hiddenhome · 17/12/2011 23:50

They can't live forever in a 'lovely bubble', but you can put off the day as long as you can. If you live in the 'they're going to be exposed to it anyway' frame of mind then you might as well allow three year olds to listen to explicit stuff.

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